The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-22
THE DEATH SHOT.

In the autumn Of 1S49 among the thou
sands who were drawn to California by the
excitement of the discovery of gold were
two young men named Hubert and Watson.
They struck an extraordinarily rich vein,
and gathered hundreds of dollars worth Of
the yellow particles every day.
They continued increasingly at their labors
until the season was far advanced, when the
vein, or rather deposit of gold upon which
they had happened became exhausted, and
they were AT the lend of their rope"
They had secured fortune, however, and
were content Both had INDECENT parents
and needy brethren and sisters depending
upon their success in the new gold country.
and they were now as impatient TO get back
home as they were to leave it the better part
of year before. So they lost no time in
making their preparations to start for San
Francisco.
On the last night before their departure
they lounged around the 0utsidesof their
cabin, smoking their pipes until a late hour,
when they Withdrew within their dilapi-
dated tent and lay down. They were so
wearied with their unusually hard labor
that both sank into a heavy slumber.
Before stretching out upon their blankets
Watson placed the sack containing the
greater part Of the gold where he felt GER
tain it could not be disturbed without
awakening him.
Watson Was awakened an hour or two
after by something about his head. For Il
second or two he was bewildered aud then,
when he regained his senses, he caught the
glimpse OF a mans hand disappearing
through a rent in the canvas; and the same
full moon which displayed this startling
fact revealed the more alarming one that
the same human hand contained his sack OF
gold.
BY this time the truth flashed upon the
miner. and coming bolt upright with the
suddenness of lightning, he emptled the
whole five barrels of his revolver after the
disappearing form of the thief.
Hubert, starting up at the same time, did
the same, and both dashed outside the tent
As they did SO they saw the figure OF man
of enormous proportions leap across small
brook.
The two did not hesitate moment, but
started in full pursuit of the thief, who
shortly after turned to the left and took to
the woods.
The latter, however. were quite open and
sparse, and, in the bright moonlight, they
could see his huge form fitting in and out
among the trees.
A few hundred yards or so revealed the
interesting fact that both fugitive aud pUr-
suers were about equally matched.
Our young friends shouted to the thief
and ordered him to stop, under pain of being
instantly shot down, but, as matter OF
course, he paid no heed TO them. Once or
twice he glanced fartively over his shoulder,
but he made no reply or cutlery.
a fter fifteen or twenty minutes fitting In
and out among the trees, the fugitive
reached a level tract of country, being, in
fact, sort of prairie, where they had an
opportunity for q fair chase.
Here the fugitive began gaining on his
pursuers. AS the latter saw him steadily
deawing away, they almost sank to the
ground in despair
"Oh, that had my rilel" exclaimed
Hubert, as he pulled and painted. few
steps in the rear of Watson, s. L would drop
him before he could take another stop"
He acts as il he were wounded. Very
likely we shall be able to overhaul him after
ALL"
BE careful; such fellows are always
armed and il he hasn't pistol, he has his
knife ready"
Il think / saw knife in his hands few
minutes ago. when he looked over his
shoulder"
At this time scarcely a hundred yards
separated the two parties, ana it was rapidly
diminishing Suddenly the fugitive turned
ON his heel and fred two shots IN rapid sue
cession. The NhiZZ of the bullets was
heard. but they sped wide of the mark.
The fugitive, as matter of course, owned
a rifle, which he had probably secreted
somewhere, ia order that his flight might
not be impeded by it. With the discharge
of his pistol he broke into q run, which was
SO rapid that he distanced his pursuers at
much faster rate than before.
BY this time 1t was growing light in the
east, and, in the open country over which
they were journeying he was becoming
more distinct to view as he sped farther and
farther away.
"Whats the user' suddenly exclaimed
Hubert in the accents of despair We are
beggars, ana we may as well stop"
Watson sullenly assented, and the two
paused.
hand upon the arm of his companion, at
the same instant pulling him down TO the
ground
As the two gazed ahead, they saw party
of Indians suddenly come to view within
hundred ieet Of the fugitive. They Sprang
from q grove of timber toward which he
was fastening He instantly turned to avoid
them, but 1t was too late.
As he wheeled, the sharp crack of several
rifles broke the stiffness, and lie threw up
his arms and fell dead, while several dashed
forward to scalp the body.
The pursueTs, feeling that their own
safety was imperiled, turned and made
their escape while the opportunity was
given them.
When fairly beyond danger, they con-
cealed themselves and waited until the
afternoon, when they stole back to where
they had seen the body fall. No signs Of
the Indians were visible, and creeping for
ward they found the corpse dreadfully mu-
tilated.
With delight inexpressible the sack Of
gold was also discovered undisturbed, and a
few weeks later they embarked for the At
lantic States with their entire fortune with
them.-EX.
KNIGHTS AND LADIES.
The Degree Conferred Upon a Number of