San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-29
ghe daily Eight.
Holiday Edition, December, 1890.
SIXTEEN PAGES.
OWED HIS LIFE TO STEWART.


How II senator, when a Rising Young Law
yer, Saved II Man from the Moose.
Senator Stewart dug gold by daylight
and read law by freight. He was admit
ted TO the bar and practiced. But his pro-
iession didn't prevent him from going into
mining operations. There were few min
ing camps from 1850 to 1865 in which Sage
brush Bill Stewart, as hC was called, was
not familiar figure. re has great repu-
Jation as "A Traveller. He has been all over
the world. IL is said that he can climb
mountain now quicker and easier than nine
men out of ten, without limitation as to
age. Senator Wilbur +. Sanders, of Mon
Jana, made a reputation in the days of Nir-
ginia Gulch by hanging bad men.
He was the legal adviser and executive
officer of the vigilantes. Senator Stewart
never hung Il man, but he saved several
when he thought the vigilantes were too
hasty in their action. One day. while rid
ing his law circuit, in 50 or a, Stewart
approached a mining camp where prepara-
lions were being made for an execution.
AS he dismounted in front of the hotel,
with his law library in a pair Of saddle
bags thrown across his arm, he saw a crowd
away Off The signs were plain enough to
his practiced eye. In front of the hotel Il
little bit of Texan desperate named
Jack Watson was standing. He had come
ont to the mines with Jack Hayes party.
He wouldn't weigh more than l2O pounds.
But he wa,'.l grit. There was look of
disgust upon his face.
He was gazing down the road toward the
mob. Stewart inquired what the trouble
was about. Watson said the man to be
hung was II stranger, an Englishman, who
had come into camp and had stopped there
all night. Some money had been stolen,
and the stranger was to be hung for it.
The Texan expressed the opinion that the
stranger was not guilty. Stewart remarked
that somebody ought to interfere if an in
nocent man was about to be executed. In
"a flash the Texans manner changed. He
drew his hands from his pockets, threw
the right hand upon the hilt of his revolver
and giving Stewart a penetrating look eX-
-claimed:
''Da'St you?"
Stewart mildly replied that he dared,
and without another word Stewart, who
has the longest pair of legs in the United
States senate. was striding down the road.
Little Watson was beside him and going
on trot They went into the crowd and
pushed heir way to the front, where the
moose was being put in place.
Here, boys" said Stewart, this man
may be innocent. Let's see about it,"
without any delay Judge Lynch's court
was reronvened. The witnesses were put
ON the stand. In fifteen minutes the young
lawyer had shown the flaw in the case.
One of the first questions he asked was
whether all of those who had slept in the
hotel the night of the theft still remained
IN camp. The witnesses said no. One
man had left camp on mule in the morn
jng.
That man is the thief" said Stewart.
a force Immediately started in pursuit.
The missing man was overtaken. Part of
The stolen money was found on him. He
was brought back and hanged. The En-
glishman was turned loosc.-Cor. St. Louis
Globe Democrat