New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-26
REASON ENOUGH TO BE ANGEHED.

. WESTERN SHERIFF. WHOSE PATIENCE GAVE
OFT WHEN \ MAN SHOT HIM
Tho Colonel ALWAYS burns his bcnedctine. lie takes
c,eat nlea>ure in this operation aud the dch'a'@N
tinted flame seems 10 warm him INTO eioq"r"'o
Ahout the time the match is applied to the Hqud ne
prepares to tell a story.
- tbi,k tina. if was in 1859 thar McCi--
ras sheriff of Sweetwater County," he said. baanclng
mis- spoon over the coffee cup and then waiting lol
,he burning benedictne and sugar to turn TO Al'ud
amber. ,o,.
dates so far back that. At any rate II was Wheh
NcG-- was sheriff. Any one who was in that
mart of the country at the time will remember all
ahout IT, and tell you scores Of stories about John.
,a was a terrible fighter John was born 70 fight.
lie was silent always l never knew him 10 say more
than twenty words at time He didn't Iho"
how to talk. lie was six feet Two, MADE "i
IRON and could lIft an ordinary man from
the ground with one hand and snake the
life ont Of him. as if lie were miserable rat lis
,ve was gray dcepset and keen, and his Jaw showed
q strength of will that could not be broken
Those were lively times in the south Pass district
Cold excitement ran fever high. and the Nhoahonc>
were lust restless enough and just PientiuI enough
10 make reckless men particularly la"leN>' Ihe"
was good deal Of prom,cuous shooting gong on ana
tbe silent McG-- had abOnt a much deVnI'h a"
,.esness 10 contend against a one man could well
s,ooppc shoulders moving up and down the long
cracked street at any time Of day or night He "aN
,r harroor,s rambling bells and hotels one after the
other always calm. always unconoerned' ana away
omnously on the alert. He always reminded me "'
a watohful eagle, expecting az any moment 10 no
hroucht TO earth. He was a man who knew pcrfrclY
tbat danger was always near and yet who never
seemed 10 doubt that he more than match for
H. never saw him display weapon 'N''P' ""'l
there was deadly use for it.
81 saw him in white heat from anger only
once and then the grimness Of his face was terrible
We were sitting in the sage-ofice. waiting Tor ZIG
sxnress when some one came in and said that q
couple of men had been shot in a gambling room
Iohn COL I'D and went quietly down the street. The
Iau was block house, down wherf
tbs bridge crossed the creek les ihli
fifty yards from the window q the Nttle 'ta;' Once
We watched for Johns return, mildly interrtd Z
know who had been raising the devil ms time l
was a long time in coming back, bat hnalN we cauSh
sight Of his broad shoulders. lie lhd one "i NI
recent arrivals by the collar and every once I'D
while he would give him fearful shaking IL llau
m. sbiver 10 see the way In which he would IN al
mat shaking fellow and then whip his BODY arouh
IS If lie were going to wiring h worthless neck il
held the fellow with hand and marched MN ai"a
of him at arms length. 50 that he msh' Shake IL"
around the more cmphatically
went out and walked across to the jan WIN 'Ien
Iohn,s Inns were close together. They WEI" Ht'l
bIue and his ewes like polished metal. II
was white with rage. Tie wretch whom ne heu wa
ouyering with fear and pain A. often a. tdl 'efrD
grin closed on his neck and lifted him from hiN re
onIy TO slam him 10 the earth again hr cioNcu ~
,ves and whined pitifulN. HIS teeth CaSheu loScuI
md ne was 50 weak that his knees gave way "hU
ti,D He was like a broken willow, ana sun jon
Lent ON shaking the strength and liie out OF HHI'
was surprised 10 see John III ~uch i"l\ an
asked him what the trouble Was. bat he StlH uOiuiu
half dragging, half pushing and Away sh'hhS J.,
man until we reached the jail. Then afcr "prnii
the inner door he picked The prisoner up a. Il
we're "A bundle of rags and flung him into 'oIhcl
get i'm there he said. and he wore hcdntiViN .
"T7e miserable devil lay on the moor. shiverl'g III
man who had the ague, but thankful 10 be IN jan
Anywhere out Of that fearful eilp
..What made yOu mad. John y ! asked
Mad he said looking AT me WIN those o.'
Mad Look here And he took oil his coat. me
faking nv hand he placed IL under his Wlstc"ai Oh
lefi shoulder. warm and damp there.
That white lyercd coward there he SAID ana "
oaths were wonderfully eloquent, shot me IN 4
shoulder Wonldn't that make yen mad have
mind 10 - but he thought II was not worth Willie: !
ne gave the door kick to express hi d,3i>I ana
went OF 10 have his shoulder dressed il John IS y
alive he carries that bullet vet aS reminder oi
thing GA made him mad. but could not MAKE h
vince or show the pain which he was suffering