The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-03
A CASE OF IDENTIFICATION.

~ SeAAS~ AooAA
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 brimmed
hat, tucked his pantaloons into his
strong, high boots, and was heavily
armed, not only against the wolves,
rattlesnakes 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 mining country is ION
the shoot" Unnecessarily comes to
pass in this perniciouss state of things,
that to obtain from his neighbors a
high estimation of his moral and ply
steal virtues, a 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 a proud prominence in the aston
ishing readiness and dash with which
they. handle their Shooting irons. They
have closely studied the matter, and
have so simplified 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 gentleman who differs in
opinion with him is unbuttoning the
Hap OF his holster drawing his pistol
and cooking it, our Texan, with
nothing in the world to hinder,
clutches his revolver, and in a twink
ling let's daylight into the other be-
tore ne understands what on earth is
the matter; but who, perhaps, with the
supreme intuition given to some at
thelast moment, learns too late that
slmpllcatus optima est is a 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;
ne was now going home to his family
with the money which had required
unceaslng and often desperate efforts
TO keep, and to save from MANY q
wretch who would commit murder
with pleasure to steal ten dollars or
ten thousand. T"~,.~
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 his gold dust and gave him
therefor draft on their main bank
ing establishment in st. Louis. at
which city he arrived in due course
OF time, late at night.
Inc next morning man might
have been seen walking with a stall
wart tread through the streets OF St.
Louis, the strong breeze blowing his
bronze beard over his shoulders.
There was an absorbed, far-awav
look in his steel-blue eyes, an express
sion pervading his whole person that
ne 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 a quick nod by way d
.salutation, he strobe on into the
cashiers room drew out an old
Foocket-book, took from it and threw
5 r.. ...as.4 ....