San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-12
THE PLANO IN CAMP.

In 1s5S-it might have been five years
earlier or later, this is not history for the
public schools-there was littJs camp about
ten miles from Phoebe, occupied by upwards !
of 800 miners, every one of whom might have
packed his prospecting implements and left
for more inviting fields any time before sun
set When the day was over these men did
not rest from their labors, like the honest
New England agriculturist, but sang, danced,
gambled and shot each other, as the mood
seized them.
One evening the report spread along the
main street (which was the only street, that
three men had been killed at Silver Reef and
that the bodies were coming in. Presently a
numbering old conveyance labored up the
hill, drawn by couple of horses, well worn
out with their pull The cart contained a
good sized box, and no sooner did its outlines
become visible through the glimmer of
stray light here and there, than it began to
affect the idlers. Death always enforces re-
pect, and even though no one had caught
lght of the remains, the crowd gradually be-
came subdued, and when the horses came to
a stand still, the cart was Immediately sur
rounded The driver, however, was not in
the least impressed with the solemnity of his
commission
"All there's" asked one.
Haven't examined Guess So"
The driver filled his pipe and lit it as he
continued:
Wish the bones and load had gone over
the grade"
man who had been looking on stepped
up at once.
81 don't know who you have in that box,
but if they happen to be any friends of mine.
I'll lay you alongside"
1--WE can mighty soon see," said the team
ster, coolly. Just burst the lid off, and if
they happen to be the men you want, Pm
here"
The two looked at each other for a mo-
ment, and the crowd gathered little closer,
anticipating trouble.
The teamster began to pry up the lid. He
got board off, and then pulled out some old
rags. A strip of something dark, like rose
wood presented itself.
Eastern collins, by thunderl" said several,
and the crowd looked quite astonished
Some more boards flew up, and the man
who was ready to defend his friends memory
shifted his weapon little. The cool man
ner of the teamster had so irritated him that
he had made up his mind to pull his weapon at
the first sight of the dead, even if the de-
ceased was his worst and oldest enemy
Presently the whole of the box cover was
off, and the teamster, clearing away the
packing, revealed to the astonished group
the top of something which puzzled all alike.
Boys" said he, this is a pianner"
A general shout of laughter went up, and
the man who had been so anxious to enforce
respect for the dead muttered something
about feeling dry, and the keeper of the near
est bar was several ounces better Off by the
time the boys had given the joke all the at
tention it called for.
Had dozen dead men been in the box,
their presence in the camp could not have &C.
casioned half the excitement that the arrival
of that piano caused. By the next morningl
it was known that the instrument was tol
grace kurdy gurdy saloon, owned by Toni
Gosiin, the leading gambler in the place. 1t
took nearly a week to get this wonder on its
legs, and the owner was the pro udeSt indi-
vidual in the state. 1t rose gradually FRONT
a recumbent to an upright position, amid
confusion of tongues, after the manner of the
Tower of Babel.
OF course everybody knew just how such
On instrument should be put up. One knew
where the ''off hind leg" should go, and an
other was posted on the front piece"
Scores of meR came to the place every day
to assist.
I'm put the bones in good order"
To b Continual