Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-05-31
A CASE OF IDENTIFICATION.

He was handsome, grand-look-
ing man; unusually tall and power
fully built, with blue eyes, keen and
flashing as well-tempered steel, which
yet on occasion could melt with sweet,
sunshiny beams. A tangle of red
bronze hair was brushed back from
his forehead, and long, thick, silky,
curling beard, parted in the middle,
was blown hither and thither by the
breeze as he walked.
A miner from Pixies Peak. Like
all miners, he wore the regulation
red flannel shirt and broad-brimmei
hat, tucked his pantaloons into his
strong, high boots, and was heavily
armed, not only against the wolves,
rattlesnakes and"grizzlies" of the
desert and mountains, but against
the fiercer and more dangerous ami
mails OF his own species.
As, by stress of circumstances,
every man in a mining country is "on
the shoot" Unnecessarily. comes to
pass in this pernicious state Of things,
that to obtain from his neighbors a
high estimation OF his moral and ply
steal virtues, man and miner must
dictate his opinion out ofhis revolver.
Situations constantly arise for immi-
nent and instant use of this persuader;
and however much the pious-if
there are any of that sort-might
trust in the Lord" they one
and all took just as much care
to keep their powder dry" and their
BULLETS forthcoming.
Among miners from every State all
quick-witted and alert, the Texans
hold proud preemnence in the aston
ishing readiness and dash with which
they handle their shoting-irons. They
have closely studied the matter, and
have so simplifed ways and means,
that instead of wearing their pistols
in the ordinary way, that is, uncock-
edin leather holsters at the belt, the
long-headed Texan suspends his re-
volver at full cock from steel hooks
attached TO the belt; the other end
of the hook passes through ring in
the stock of the weapon. Thus,
viii a gentleman who differs in
opinion with him is unbuttoning the
| flap OF his holster drawing his pistol
and cooking it, our Texan, with
nothing in the world to hinder,
clutches his revolver, and in twink
ling let's daylight into the other be-
fore he understands what on earth is
hematter; but who, perhaps, with the
supreme intuition given 10 some at
thelast moment, learns too late that
simplicatus optima est is factor of
vital Importance down in the
mines.
Our "Piker," who was from Mis-
souri,, had caught the Texan trick,
and more than once he had owed his
life to his trusty, ready six-sh ooter;
he was now going home to his family
with the money which had required
unceasing and often desperate efforts
to keep, and to save from many O
wretch who would commit murder
I WIN piSfbohlE W DbCtil Jen uOItIIH OF
ten thousand.
The miner arrived safely at San
Francisco, and straightway proceed
ed to branch of the st. Louis house
of Page, Bacon & Co., which house
bought mis- gold dust and gave him
therefor a draft on their main bank
ing establishment in st. Louis, at
which city he arrived in due course
of time, late at night.
The next morning O man might
have been seen walking with stall
wart tread through the streets OF st.
Louis, the strong breeze blowing his
bronze beard over his shoulders.
There was an absorbed, PARKWAY
look in his steel-blue eyes, an express
sion pervading his whole person that
he had left the fatal dangers OF his
life behind him forever, and was near
ing the longed.for peace and happi-
ness Of his home.
Presently he arrived at and entered
the banking-house Of Page, Bacon &
Co. With quick nod by way of
salutation. he strobe on into the
cashiers room drew out an old
pocket-book, took from it and threw