San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-13
A CLOSE CALL.

| usually made the purchases, and at
times was obliged to travel far into the
Sierra Neyadas, taking with Inc several
thousand dollars upon each trip. To
carry this sum | used q pair of saddle
holsters with II receptacle for the money
and place for Il pair of pistols. The
latter were necessary: for much of my
way la amid the wild and rugged mount
aims fer from the main highways. When
| halted at the waySide hotels l was
obliged to carry the money to the table
with me and keep it III my room at night,
for few of the stopping places had any
secure safes or vaults. Paper money was
not generally accepted by the owners of
wool, 50 the greater part of the money
Was in gold. Two attempts had been
made to rob me, and had become wary
and Suspicious; Yet the profits we made
were so good that | was unwilling to
give up the trips.
One day we received telegram that
read: Secure all the wool you can. 1t
is sure to advance in price"
That means hard trip for me-" l
said, CHANGING at the yellow slip, but
the sooner am off the more wool can
get"
The telegram reached us at 5 in the
afternoon. At . the next morning was
on the road and had nearly $1,000 in
gold coin.
For the first three days | gradually
assembled the mountains. and by midday
of the fourth hal reached the summit.
This did not mean Il rapid descent upon
the opposite si0p", bat journey for sew
eral days over the ridges rising from this
central plateau Some of these were
dcnsely wooded with pine, spruce and
fir. while others were more open and
contained fine pastures for focks and
herds.
| was DESTROYS of reaching one man,
who kept his sheep during the summer
upon high and rugged range some
miles from my usual route. | halted
for dinner at Il small public house lately
built to accommodate teamsters engaged
in hauling lumber from II new sawmill.
The surroundings were not inviting, but
| was accustomed to the poorest accom-
n0datiOps whilc upon these mountain
trips. While half breed Indian was
caring for my horse | inquired of the
landlord if he could direct me to Ruck-
ers sheep camp.
Yes, was the reply, but it's a hard
81,
me the directions as nearly as possible.
! shoOic my head as he ended, saying:
Il could never find the place in a years
time. Is there no one here acquainted
with the route who can go with me?"
He hesitatcd moment, and then
said: There's Bill, the half breed; he
knows the trail as well as old Rucker
himself. | reckon you can get Bill to CO."
Bill was promptly interviewed. You
pay me 81, and | take my horse and CO."
was the brief but satisfactory reply.
The required sum was promised, and
he at once prepared to accompany me.
The moment dinner WAS eaten we set
of. Instead Of biting sullen and morose,
like most half breeds, my guide was
laxative and intelligent fellow, and
gave me nUch information about the
surrounding region.
Upon reaching Hackers camp we
found the owner absent, and it took us
an hour or more to fud him and the
band Of sheep he was hcrding. He de-
tanned Us longer to tell about the bears
and pantheTs that annoyed his sheep
than the tine consumed in bargaining
for his wool and making the necessary
arrangements for shipping 1t to us.
When we got back t. the public house
it WAS too laJa to go further that night,
unless travelled after dark, and to this
Iohjectcd on account Of the gold.
Tie landlord said he could give me
straw bed. adding, You see, the place
is new, ami we have nothing better for
ourselves
was wiling to take the bed, and SO
turned my horse over to the half breed
to take care of FOR the night.
Just before supper two more travellers
rode up and desired to stop.
Rooms are pretty scarce, as Won can
but we can feed you us well us not"
said the host
The men. like myself, were not par.
tiGular as to beds. so remained for the
night. They were rather laxative, and
overheard them ask the landlord my
name and business. My suspicious We're
easily aroused, and l noticed that they
seemed interested in me and the holsters
guarded so closely. As we left the din
ing room one of them said. Mighty