The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-26
A "REMINISCENCES.

A kEMINlSChNCE.
A Glimpse of Frontier Life in the Lone
Star State.
FLOR THE SUNDAY HERALD
1t seems kind fate never designed US 10
become skilled shot, for in truth, we had
in early childhood the danger of firearms
impressed upon US and when we landed IN
Texas, now trifie over thirteen years ago,
we had never handled a shotgun. VI
course prior to our advent into the far west
of that state we purchased Winchester re-
peating rife and a big Colts navy SIX
Clad in true frontier style, with heavy
load of war munition around our slender
waist, we may have caused some to imagine
that the newcomer was a HSntenlnS
striker with his gun but we never
thought so. The principal amusement
among the boys OF the range Wnen not
punching cattle was gambling, INDUCING
in a social glass of peculiarly thin bourbon,
made with chemicals and about 50 per cent.
water, shooting at marks or recount,ng
hair breadth escapes in Indian lights. we
were greener than the greenest blade OF
grass, yet we had sufficient Judgment to
or listener and not try to tell any of our tales
of ease in the states One day, we
remember it quite well, the boys espied
snakes head protrudingtfrom the water on
the opposite side of an arroyo Creek and
called on US to show our Workmanship.
Prior to this escapafe our reputation as
Carver or Bogardus was unknown, but
when we elevated our rifle and shot, we at
once gained caste among the boys and the
somewhat dlSQhed
bank account. When the smoke cleared
away noise resembling that of q stuck pig
rang out clear and loud, and imagine our
chagrin to know we had killed a fine porker
about twenty feet to the left of the snake.
That experience cost US just $40. From
that time on we wore our arms
| for style only for the knowledge, gained by
ornaments, il we had to handle them, than
to be used at target shooting. Having q
| few spare months some time afterwards we
went to northwestern Texas, up in the
Pan Handle country-it was intended only
as bit of recreation, to see the country,
then return. We returned, but not until
we had another vision, which left our pate
rather scant of hair, which to the present
time all the patent hair restoratlves have
failed to restore as per advertisements. We
arrived at an out of the way country seat,
about ninety miles from the nearest rail
road. The town was on the total absti
nence plan and had blue ribbon society.
One saloon graced lone corner and that
especial gin mill afforded endless
material for Sunday sermons and
Temperance lectures. The law had just
been passed by the solons of the Texas
legislature making the carrying Of fire.
arms misdemeanor in all organized coun-
ties This whisky shop had large
patronage, cowboys, judges, lawyers,
doctors, bald headed pillars of the church
as well as the sheriff and his deputies.
Having heard that the nabobs, as well as
the common hordes, met at this popular re-
sort to while away their leisure hours, we
also en- a,red and met an old-time friend,
the sheriff, who at once gave us billet as
special deputy. 1t was the most up
|. pleasant days of our existence, those two
weeks of deputy sheriff. 1t was tough
county and tougher still the numerous
law breaker that lived within its con-
fines. We had scarcely taken the pre-
scribed oath, when little boy came in
town to announce that his father had
been murdered just as he was leaving
his ranch en- route 10 the nearest railroad
station with load of WOOL "Get your
horse,'' said the sheriff. land you and
! shall go to the place at once" With ALAG
rity our bobtailed pony was saddled, rifle
in scabbard, pistol in holder, and we
started, speeding toward the home Of the
unfortunate man. Arriving, our eye:
rested on foul murder, and feeling tina
our superior officer was to be with US il
the chase for the murderer, the palpita
, ton of our heart subsidized somewhat, bu
! ! commenced worse than before when the
sheriff said, ''You stay here, scout around
and 1 shall send Deputy out tt
9 go with you. Don't you come back withou
your man" For three long hours W,
,ho,, lataA ~, \.
: official vineyard arrived we commenced
: our hunt. Fortunately our companion
!. was an old timer at the business, carried
l lead in his anatomy as evidence of his cru
! sades against deSperadoes, and to him fea
:. was unknown. The murderer rode a mag
=. ni6cent big bay gelding, just shod the da.
y prior to the act which was to cost him hi
| life, and after an hour of reconnoiterln
= the trail was struck. which we followed
until Red River was reached. From
. town, which we made the night we lost gu
: bearings, we wired an officer in the India
!. nation, describing our man, etc, askin
| him to keep lookout. Crossing the murll
waters of the river the next day we acc
: dentally ran across half breed who ha
= met him, and to our JOY, he was riding int
!, the very point to which our telegram ha
q been sent. About noon OF the followin
: day we espied a crowd riding towards US
and you can imagine our Joy to recogniz
the murderer in the midst; caught, yes
. . neatly trapped By the Indian police. H
= was turned over to US, secured on hi
. horse, he was safely brought bach
U Whilst hunting him we picked up sever
notes Of warning to desist, as he woul
never be taken alive. We did not renal
to the hanging. This was ample expert
# ence for US. We had lost no murderer.
'r cattle thieves or law-breakers, and as GU
It talents and inclinations did not permit of
IS longer stay we resigned, but not until seN
d eral cowboys whom we had admonished M
Il to be too fresh with their guns had told L
e to attend to our own business. We rea
/, lied our situation. Not being dead sho
II we had no business in that section anon
e men whose every bullet hit the mark. o,
d bullets hit marks, but not the ones we sh
ID at. FRITZ.
% Boys overcoats S1.25 each at S.
D, Nathan's.
lie R. NJ. BIELE, FRENCH HAIRDRESSER
~ Specialist in bangs, cutting, curtin
y smuggling. Dealer and manufacturer of fiji