The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-10-09
Arrest OF a Desperate.

A few years ago had q great desire
to enter the United States service. l
didn't care in what capacity JUS so
so long as | got my living from Uncle
SAM. Mentioning my desire to the
United States marshal for the north.
,ern district Of Florida, it was feratih-
ed. was ut once ushered into the
presence OF the United States judg,,
held up my right hand and, with q
heroism worthy Of ID better cause,
swoce to support the Constitution OF
the United States, though at the time
I Was hardly able to support my own
substitution. Taking my formida|iis,
commission and 81 supply OF station
airy, went back to the village OF
Dead Pine to await orders.
Dead Pine is o small town so nam
ed because there is a large live oak in
front OF tho principal saloon. Dead
Pine IS not an imposing place. At
that time it had 81 little depot, some
stores, some mortgased farmers
and three saloons. It also had IL
malarial back country, with plenty OF
bad men, living in it, a couple OF
half starved churches, and some
Christians loauiny money at from 2
to any PR cent. monthly to their
struggling neighbors. 1t was also the
center OF q lumber and turpentine dis
trict, where prominent citizens steal
state and government timber and call
it business.
In a few days my trouble began. I
received o portentous document from
headquarters at Jacksonville. 1t had
four impressive and sinister looking
official stamps on the envelope, and
ordered me to at once seize the body
OF Thomas Perkins, supposed to be
lurking somewhere in the country and
bring said body before the United
States court, then in session at Jack.
,sonville. BY q careful reading OF the
somewhat ditfusive warrant, discov-
ed that Thomas had been guilty of
perjury in violation Of the statutes in
such cases made and provided.
An hour later the following dispatch
was handed to me: III
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla
To United States Deputy Marshal, Dead
Pine, Fla.
Understand Perkins desperate charac.
helm 70. Ia,l
alive. .
MARSHAL.
That dispatch made me very indis-
nant. Get help indeed! Not l! ] was
6 feet / inch in height, weighed 1856
pounds. If I couldn't alone arrest
one man | was unworthy to wear the
bright red ribbon on the lapel OF my
vest labeled Omitted States marshal"
Besides, it I got help, there would
not be enough glory to 60 around. l
wanted 1T all for myself, and deter.
mined to bring in the prisoner.electb by
my own unaided efforts, or occupy
one OF the misft collins at the village
alndertaker's.
The first thing was to locate the
gentleman, who, suffering from some
affection Of the intellectual liver, had
resorted to perjury. l located him.
Six miles from town, in a veritable
wilderness, two miles from any other
house, lived, moved and had his be.
ing, Mr.. Thomas Perkins, in whom
this great government Of our was so
intensely Interested.
The next thing was to make neces-
sary preparations. Imade them. In
the morning by the bright light, OF a
beautiful winters day, a stout wagon,
drawn by two sturdy and reflective
mules, was drawn up in front OF the
village hotel, which was very map
propiately named 'The Delmonico."
On the front seat was my negro driver
and pilot, Bill. On the rear seat sat
the writer. Under blanket at my
tcet was Winchester rifle
and q double barrel shot gun
well loaded with buckshot, al.
though L was oppressed with
a harro wing doubt as to whether /
hadn't put the buchshot in first In
the pocket OF my overcoat was q
Smith & Wesson double action sixty
eight. and IN the breast pocket OF
my inner coat 81 bowie knife that
had once belonged to Texas evange.
list.
A curious crowd had gathered to
see me Off. They knew my mission,
though none OF them knew who was
alter. They cheered me with novel
suggestions and we'll meant advice.
Il say, Cap" said one, 'ye'd better
take d bottle ofwhisky erlong WI you.
There amt no barroom whar you're
goin.'"
My driver looked approvlngIy at
this speaker.
lie won't look very pretty comm
back here with furrer driv cPar
through his chist, will he?'' said an.
other
'Iwouldn't do fer him to 90 out
bar hunt'n' at night with that red
nose shin!n', would hit?'
That last remark hurt my vanity.
My nose was rather red, but it come
from an undue partiality for stewed
n q Va, S,,<>, ~ go