Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-01-23
A CLOSE CALL.

The firm of which I was the Junior
partner bought large quantities of wool.
l usually made the purchases, and at
times was obliged to travel far into the
Sierra Nevsdas, taking with me several
thousand dollars upon each trip. To
carry this sum used pair of saddle
holsters with receptacle for the money
and place for a pair of pistols. The
latter were necessary; for much of my
way lay amid the wild and rugged
mountains far from the main highways.
When [ halted at the wayside hotels
was obliged to carry the money to the
table with me and keep it in 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, SO the greater part of the
money was in gold. Two attempts had
been made to rob me, and I had become
wary and suspicious; yet the profits we
made were so good that I was unwilling
to give up the trips.
One day we received a telegram that
read: "Secure all the wool you can; it
10 SuAC W Ill price.
The telegram reached us at 5 in the
afternoon. At 8 the next morning was
on the road and had nearly four thousand
dollars in gold coin.
For the first three days I gradually
assembled the mountains, and by midday
of the fourth had reached the summit.
Twas DESTROYS of reaching one man, who
lSonf hic cbooY 4l,o
high and rugged range some miles from
my usual route. / halted for dinner at a
small public house lately built to
accommodate teamsters engaged in haul
ing lumber from new saw-mill. While
a half-breed Indian was caring for my
horse I inquired of the landlord if he
could direct me to Fuckers sheep camp.
eyes, i" was the reply, "but it's hard
place to find" at the same time giving
NE the directions as nearly as possible.
shook my head as he ended, saying:
II could never find the place ia years
time. Is there no one here acquainted
with the route who can go with me2'
He .hesitated a moment and then saiG:
"There's Bill, the half-breed; he knows
the trail as we'll as old Rucker himself.
reckon you can get Bill to 60"
Bill was promptly interviewed. "You
pay me 81 and take my horse and go, +"
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 Off
Instead of being sullen and morose like
most half-breeds, my guide was talks
tive and intelligent fellow, and gave me
much information about the surrounding
region.
Upon reaching Fuckers camp we
found the owner absent, and it took US
an hour or more to find him and the band
of sheep he was herding. He detained
us longer to tell about the bears and
panthers that annoyed his sheep than the
time consumed in bargaining for his
wool and making the necessary arrange
ments for shipping it to US. When we
got back to the, public house it was too
late to go further that night, unless l
travelled after dark, and to this 1 object
ed on account of the gold.
The landlord said he could give me a
straw-bed, adding: "You see, the place
is new, aud we have nothing better for
ourselves"
/ was willing 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. They were
rather laxative, and l overheard them
ask the landlord my name and business
My suspicious were easily aroused, and
noticed that they seemed interested in
me and the holsters Iguarded SO closely.
Determined to be on the safe side,
pulled my bed against the door when
retired for the night, and securely fas-
tened the only window.
slept soundly till past midnight,
when was awakened by n0gement OF
the bed. 1t appeared as though some
one was slowly opening the door and
causing the bed to move across the floor.
l reached under the pillow, firmly
Grasped one of my pistols, and awaited