Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-18
He Thought of Hnnner and Killed at

Eobber.
One day "the bank, as we called it,
reached Grizzly Slide. 1t was San
Francisco broker, escorted by four men.
He had bags Of gold coin with him, and
he took MP our nuggets and dust and paid
Us in yellow boys. suppose he made
pretty good thing out OF It, but as 1t WAS
a great accommodation to us we had no
complaint to make. Only two or
three days previously one OF our
men. known to us as Peaceful
Sam. had made a find OF humping
big nugget, and this, added to his wash,
pave him over So, 900 in handsome coin.
lie was a man of forty-fiye, humble and
pence loving. and he had a wife back IN
illinois. lie had never said anything
about going home, although he was
waiting. like the rest of rs, for luck, but
no sooner was the coin passed over to
him than his bones ached to take the
road for home. He must 90 over to
Johnson's camp, distance OF sixteen
miles, alone, and from there go downthe
valley by stage line. The chances
were that he would be held up at the
trail, and we argued and coaxed Tor MN
10 stay. Next morning, however, he
was of. having 800 in his pocket and
the rest of his money in his blanket on
his back. He never carried 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
had story to tell. He had gone about
three miles from camp when a stranger
Joined him, coming in on the Deep
river trail. Peaceful Sam was no chick
en-, and he wasn't long sizing the stran-
ger up as bad. -
" bound for Johnson's 2" asked the
man as they walked along.
"For Johnsons and home"
"Made your pile and going back to
the old woman, ehY
Made three hundred, and have con-
Guided to light out while it lasts. Han
psh has been writing for me to come,
and il can even lay hundred in her
lap it will be more'n she ever saw before:
Lands but when | think OF home and
Hannah can't walk fast 'nnf.
The stranger didn't show his hand un-
hi afternoon. Then, when they reached
particularly lonesome place, he sud-
denly halted, pulled a gun. and said
"Give me them $500 or I'll I'LL you
with lead !" :, ,
"What 'Gwine to rob me ?" replied
Peaceful, looking as innocent as an old
cat.
"Come down."
"But think o. Hammer She's been
waitin' and waitin', aud now if you take
nv money may never see her.
"D-n Hammer Shell out or I'll pop
you !"
"Hain't you no soul
"Nary soul.
"And I've got to shell out }?
"You have"
Peaceful passed him out the $500 and
then sat down on q stone and pretended
10 cry. Tie stranger counted the CONS,
dropped them into his pocket, and
started off, saying:
"You sot right there for an hour, and
then take any road you want TO. Ii you
follow me I'll pop you.
He Was no sooner around the penu
than Peaceful began scrambling up the
mountain-siie. BY making short cu'
he struck the trail again, and was Just 10
time to heave rock, which struck the
strangers head and killed hmm stone
dead on the trail then Peaceful de-
scended, took $3.50 of the body, AND
started back for our camp. Next morn
ing half dozen Of us went to the spo'
with him. and there lay the body. Wher
we asked Peaceful why be had owned W
to having $500 with him he replied:
Law me but il / hadn't he'd have
! suspected had heap more ana sho
me without warning. That's what cal
kerlsted on when l put that sum In my
pocket"
But what possessed you to follow OF
and kiln himg You never even struck {
man in all your life"
81 dunno. gentlemen-I dunno. n
pleaded, his hps trembling and his chil
iquisezing viii emotion. ~ just ~