The National tribune., 1889-12-12
A HOLY TERROR.
What Kind of "WeapIng Was 1t, Pard,


Immediately after the war young man who
| had been the farrler ofsa Yankee regiment of
cavalry which had gone into service from one
| of the New England States, concluded that he
would try his fortune in tho wild and woolly :"
| West, and he emigrated to Colorado
| He struck one of tho mining towns of that
| great State about the middle of November,
| when everything was dull, the Winter season
| coming on much sooner In those high attitudes
| than almost anywhere else in the same latitude
on this continent. lIe took with him L it of tools
| with which TO ply his vocation but being un-
| able to get work OF any kind, he had gradually
| reduced his implements by lending them TO his
fathers brother, I'm other words, pawning
| them,) until his only tool was big rasp with
| which farriers prepare horses hoof to receive
| the iron.
Perhaps because he could not dispose of this
last implement of his trade was the reason he
still retained it.
He was suffering for the necessaries of life;
was cold, hungry, and, he began to think. God
| forsaken. He was in one of those frontier
towns which are composed almost entirely of
saloons, gambling houses and resorts for aban-
doned women. He had in fact, nowhere to go
but TO saloon or gambling house for shelter
or warmth, and in consequences he was found
one day standing by stove in ono of the first
class barrooms of the place by one of the Holy
Terrors" of the region, fellow who called
himself Tiger Bill, - "a Bad Man from Bitter
Creek" one who had killed more men than
anyone west of the Missouri River He was q
well-known sport, had even been known to
shoot some inoifensive citizens, which had
given his terrible name additional horror to
peacable citizens.
We'll, while our veteran farrier was warm
ing himself by the stove, this " Holy Terror"
entered, ordered drinks for every man in tho
place. and desired TO see tho "Galo0t" who
would refuse to drink with "Tiger Bill"
Our friend tho farrier would have been glad
TO have accepted an invitation TO dinner or
luncheon; but he was not n drinking man,
strange to say, after four-years service in
cavalry regiment, and he consequently declined
the honor of drinking tho A0.rod whisky that
was offered by Tiger Bill"
This was too much for his Imperial Highness
Here was Il "tenderfoot who had the audacity
to decline an invitation to imbibe from the
worst man in the Rocky Moutains, and he must
be dealt with accordingly.
Our veteran farrler, totally unaware that he
had committed the one unpardonable crime In
that region, that of refusing to drink with any
one when invited, stood inn0eently by tho
stove, while the Holy Terror" lashed himself
into the proper trim for such an emergency
When he bad worked himself up to the pitch,
the Bad Man from Bitter Creek went for
our veteran farrier, aud gave him to understand
that his liie was not worth a peanut, or in other
words, that the insult of refusing TO take a
drink with such man as he was, could only
be atoned with the hearts blood of the person
who had nerve enough to offer such an insult.
This threat was accompanied by brace Of six
shooters, ono in either hand, while there was n
suspicion of big Arkansas toothpick peep
ing from the top OF one of his boots.
To say that our veteran farrier was dumb
founded at this attack from such notable per-
sonage would be TO state the case very mildly.
He protested that he was not in the habit of
nrip iYtsy mia d. - ali 81.
no purpose. The insult must be- washed out in
gore, FOR no man could insult the '' Holy Ter
ror :" OF the Rocky Mountains with mpunity.
When the veteran farrier saw that there was
no use in trying TO apologize with the iratc
man from Bitter Creek, he opened his coat aud
drew forth his only weapon. the big rasp, his
only remaining tool, aud with it he swiped the
Holy Terror" "a couple Of times across the
neck. IN the neighborhood of the jagular vein,
in such manner Rs to take tho entire skin
from the places hit. When the Bad Man
from Bitter Creek got the second swipe not
thinking OF returning compliments. he turned
and ran from tho place with the speed of
quarter horse. Then everything became quiet,
aud our veteran farrier returned his rasp TO its
place beneath his coat.
la a short time the Holy Terror" came
looking into the windows of the saio0n and
finally ventured inside tho door, but holding
both hands above hts head to show his late an-
taSohisS tbat ha was pcaceaby uisposed, saying
at the Same time, kon't shoot. pard you've
licked me fair aud 81 Rre. Don't shoot l give
in"
When everything had been arranged TO the
satisfaction OF everybody the Holy Terror" /"
approached our veteran iarrior and said:
Pard, excuse ms for my curiosity. / have
fought many men In the Rockies aud have al
ways been called gamo. But you got away
with me mighty easy; especially for tender
foot, Now, Uari ynu wont think me too curi-
ons will you. ii ! ask you what kind of weap-
ing that Is that you used on mep want TO
get one just like IL, for II beats q navy six.
RlOotef ali huiIgr y