Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-29
Joe DobbS'S Random Shot,

Joe DObbS'S Random Shot.
The scene. a box canon in Southern
Arizona, was lonely enough. The rocky
walls shut out the morning sun rays, aud
the only trees in sight were sombre ever
greens and thickets of chaparal. The
aspect of the rugged landscape was sug-
gestive Of their primitive inhabitants, the
Apache Indian and the grizzly bear.
Yet in this secluded spot there were
signs of human life and activity in the
shape of a rude miners "shack,' open
ia front. with three sides formed of up
right poles chinked with mud, and a roof
of overlapping splints. 1t stood near a
large freshly dug hole in the canon side.
Picketed by 4 rope tied to his fore leg
an aged burro was feeding on the dry
herbage of the canon's bottom. In the
excavation in the mountain side raw
looking youth was working very mod9r-
ately, using alternately pick and
shovel. A shock of tow hair ran wild
beneath his hat brim, and a stray tuft like
e. tassel appeared through hole in the
crown. This young fellow was Joe
Dobbs. late of Missouri, and the object
of his labors was to develOpe Peg Leg
Crawford's newly located mine, Great
Cipch. in Bueno Canon IN the Chirica-
hua range.
This mine was at present in the stage
of hole in the ground with prospects
ahead; but the indications of mineral
were good and had grown better as the
digging went on. A good face had been
cleared against the rock, aud when the
proprietor-now on trip to town for
supplies-should return, blasting was to
begin. Joe was not to share in the
profits Of the mines development. lie
was merely a shiftless boy picked up
"dead broke" at Camp Bowie and taken
along by Crawford for the sake of his
work and company at the price of his
"grub" and a shadOwy promise Of wages
if the mine turned out well. The de-
crepit burro had been turned out to die
by his Mexican owner, and Joe had driv-
en- him to camp "as starter iora herd, "
he said.
The shadow Of the beetling cliff on the
southeast, which during the first half of
the day lay across the canon's bottom,
slowly shifted eastward until blaze of
bright sunshine in the mouth of the tun-
mel informed Joe Dobbs that "noon
o'clock" as he termed it, was approach
ing. The boy was not fond of labor, and
it did not require many minutes endur-
ance Of the hot suns rays to convince him
that it was time to stop work and get
something to eat. There is little doubt
that he arrived at this decision fully an
hour in advance Of the time 1t would
have been reached had Mr.. Crawford
been with him instead of presumably
somewhere on the San Simon plain CON-
inc back with his burros and supplies.
Having repaired to the shade of the
"shack, " he cut some slices from the
small piece of bacon for his use and raked
together the embers of the camp fire.
There was no wood cut and before set
ting out to get some Joe sat down to
rest. His eye fell on the large yaiise
that Peg Leg Crawford always kept care
fully locked and out of the way ofharm.
In the hurry of departure The miner had
left the key in the lock, and it occurred
to the boy that it would be good time
to see what was inside.
Joe turned the key and opened the ga
cred valise. 1t contained two pairs Of
cotton socks, some specimens Of ore, and
bulky package wrapped in scrap OF
army blanket.
Joe united the cord that fastened the
marcel and unrolled the covering from Il
wooden box that once had held Malaga
raisins. Prying of the top of the box
with his knife. he saw that it contained
about two dozen of what looked like long
thick candles. Had the youth been
more thoughtful, aud known more of
letters, he would have spelled out the
words, "dinunitc dangeruss," y" written
in blue chalk Oh the cover, but as it was,
that inscription passed unheeded with all
the warning of risk that it conveyed.
lie had heard vaguely of u powerful ex-
plosive called dynamite, but knew moth
ing of how it appeared OF should be
handled. The cylindrical objects before
him he half thought might be some form
of candy.
al don't see why ole Peg Leg should
be 50 mighty partiklar bout this outfit
o. stuff, !" he said to himself, as, picking
up fake of The substance that had
scaled from one OF the pieces, he put it
in his mouth and tried it with his
tongue. 1t lad a swcctish taste, and he
set his teeth into it.
If Joe had applied his grinders with