The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-02-22
JosEPHus- SAVED OUR scALps.
a Wild West Goat on the warpath some
Of HIS Franks,

a Wild West Goat on the warpath -sone
Of HIS Franks.
Josephus" was character. Now.
although Josephus was a character.
the innocence Of his expression and
the subdued manner in which he
walked about among the tents and
cabins Of Hard Pan Bottom" contin-
ually got him into trouble, as well as
those temporarily associated with him
Hard Pan Bottom was a rough mining
camp In the Black Hills, and the com
panions Of Josephus were for the most
part a reflex Of the landscape, hard
looking and rocky" How Josephus
received his name no one in camp
knew; it was said TO have come
nat'ral." He had a long grayish
beard. exceedingly prominent ears
and great curved horns In fact, Jo-
sephus was q well developed Rocky
Mountain goat.
The ''boys" all liked Josephus, that
is, after they had made his acquaint
ance and introduced their friends.
This latter operation was always pro-
ductive Of much mirth TO the mutual
friend, and consisted In enticing some
new conner TO meet 1.-THE Judge"
The meeting usually took place in
front Of Buckeye" Smiths ''pizen'
shop. .osephus entered into the spirit
of the affair with great gusto, and
never failed to make hit with the
public. The operation consisted in es-
corting the victim to Buckeyes"
shanty and engaging him in CONVEX
sation, while the Judge" as he was
nicknamed, was sent for. During the
conversation process a piece of red
flannel was pinned TO the waistband
of the new boy"
One or two shrill whistles generally
brought Josephus on the double quick
and Il was without in the least slack.
ening his pace that he made bee line
for the red rag, and the consequence
was that the new acquaintance inva-
riably measured his length on the
ground, and as he scrambled upon his
hands and knees, was again laid low
and SO it continued until the rag was
removed or Josephus asked to have a
drink. During the ceremony Of In
PRODUCTION, cries Of Here's the judged
"Mr. Jones, Mr.. Josephusl' ''Shake
hands with him, pardl" 'Be respect
full, strangerl'' and similar remarks
accompanied by shouts Of laughter
were banded about by the delighted
spectators, while the yells and pisto
shots helped to bring the surprised
stranger to demoralized condition o.
abject fear. He then stood treat to thu
crowd.
The beard of Josephus was contin
ual source of annoyance to him, as thu
miners enjoyed pulling it to provoke
its owner to fight.
During the early morning, befou
daylight, in the tent of "Yellov
Nike" the boys first realized the value
Of Josephus. A party had all the nigh
been devoting their energies to tn
noble game of poker and to discus
sing the Indian outbreak, when sud
denly, just outside, there was dull
thud, a blood curdling yell, anothe
thud, another shrek and through tn
side of the tent, in all the hideousnes
of his war paint, tumbled a full f1edges
Indian brave, while close behind cam
Josephus. All hands sprang to thei
feet, revolvers were drawn, the Indial
was kill.d and the camp aroused, JUS
in time, for already were the wa
whoops sounding and rifles cracking
It was only after three hours Of har
fighting that the attack was repulsed
when the surprise having failed tn
savages drew off. AS for Josephus, b
received the rank Of colonel, although
moro often spoken Of as 1.-THE Sp
Killer" But Josephus did not lon
live to enjoy his honors. Unimite
''red eye" whisky was too much 70
his constitution and he died fghtin
imaginary Indians. The entire cam
attended the funeral, which was PR
nounced to be the most high toned o
record in the county.-New Yor