The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-09-04
HE KILLED A ROBBER.
But 1t Was All on Account OF Hanner-A
California Experience.


One day 1.-THE Bank" as we called it,
reached Grizzly Slide. 1t was Sar
Francisco broker. escorted by four
men, He had bags of gold coin with
him, and he took up our nuggets and
dust aud paid US III yellow boys. ]
suppose he made pretty good thing
out Of it. but as it was Il great accomo-
dation to us we had no complaint to
make Only two or three DAYS pre-
viously one of our men, known to us
rs Peaceful Sam, had made find of P
humping big nugget and this. added
to his wash. gave him over $4,000 ir
handsome coin. He was man of 10.
humble and peace-loving. and had
wife back in Illinois. He had never
said anything about going home, al.
though he was waiting. ike the rest OF
us for luck, but no sooner was the coip
passed over to him than his bones
ached 10 take the road for home. He
must 90 over TO Johnson's camp, 3
distance of sixteen miles, alone, and
from there 90 down the valley by
stage line. The chances were that he
would be held up at the trail, and we
argued and coaxed for him to stay.
Next morning. however, he was off
having $500 in his pocket and the res
in his blanket on his back. He never
carried a weapon of any sort and he
started on this trip without one. We
never expected to see him again, but
he was back at night and a story te
tell. He had got about three mile.
from camp when stranger joined him.
coming in on the Deep River trail
Peaceful Sam was no chicken and he
wasn't long sizing the stranger up as
bad.
Bound for Johnson's?" asked the
man as they walked along.
For Johnson's and home"
made your pile and going back te
the old woman, eh?"
Made three hundred and have con.
cluded to light out while it lasts
Hammer has been writing for me tc
come, and if can even lay hundred
in her lap it will be more'n she ever
saw before. Lauds. but when | think
of home and Hammer | can't walk fast
'nuffr'
The stranger didn't show his hand
until afternoon. Then, when they
reached particularly lonesome place,
he suddenly halted, pulled gun and
said:
Give me them $500 or I'll fill yor
with leadr'
What! Gwine to rob men replied
Peaceful, looking as innocent as an old
cat.
Come down."
but think o Hammer. She's been
waitin' and waitin', and now if you
take my money | may never see her."
'D-n Hammer. Shell out or I'll pop
YOU"
"Uain't you no soul.n
Nary SOUL
and I've got to shell out?"
You have"
Peaceful passed him out the 5000 and
then sat down on stone and pretend
ed to cry. The stranger counted the
coins. dropped them into his pocket
and started off saving:
You sot right there for an hour,
and then you take any road you want
to. If you follow me Eli pop you"
He was no sooner around the bend
than Peaceful began scrambling up the
mountain side. BY making a short cut
he struck the trail again. and just in
time to heave rock which struck the
strangers head and killed him stone
dead on the trail, then Peaceful de-
scended took $3.50 off the body, and
started back for our camp. Next
morning half Il dozen of us went to
the spot with him, and there lay the
body. When we asked Peaceful why
he had owned to having $500 with him
he replied:
Law, me, but if | hadn't he'd have
suspected | had a heap more and shot
me without warning. That's what l
calkerlated on when put that sum in
my pocket"
But what possessed you to follow
on and Kill him? You never even
struck Il man in your life"
Il dunno, gentlemen-I dunno" he
pleaded, his lips trembling and his chin
quivering with emotion. Il just re-
member that | thought of Hammer, and
how them $500 would put new shingles
on the old barn and buy rag carpets
for all over the house. and fust thing
knew he was lying dead. Lemme git
alone and wrassle with the Lord and
see if He won't kinder excuse it
off on Hammers account. IN. I. Sun