The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-08
JOINING A GUN CHoRus
froublous Times Caused by the F,.sL-
ing Oros OF Mexican Ssnorita.
From the Netv York Sun


Humphreys to a number of friA,ds !.
social gathering, but in the days Of
early forty-niners we all carried our I;
in our hands, and it was my usual bsbi,
carry revolver day and night: bnf a
knew everybody, and didn't think had
enemy IN tne world. son laid aside
weapons and went fearless of persol
da ger every where in Sa Franc,sco n
did, too, even IN the hottest davs Of ,
'thirty-three committee as the eSecnti
heads OF the 'vigilRntes' called tbe,nssI,,,
But had one scare that nearly causa5
Frenchmen his life, and nv own es 90
from accidental death was inarveIons
brawny Scotchman, Dugald McPherson
name came to the mining country in "a
lorna py way OF Greg u, with 81 600
gold as his capital. He came in among =,
pioneers, struck 1t rich the first svear. W
ooid oper aUor, peaceful when sober. and
devil lncarnate when Yexei or Under =
influence .
Forty miles from San Francisco the y
bachelor MCPHERSON had rancho xbera
boys loved to soJourn over Sunday Y
had magnificent teams of high stem,
dashing bays, and could reach Old NrI5--
sons rancho in about three hours and a IL
from the doors Of our Frisco hotel. TAe
center OF virgin oak forest, surround,Dy
shrubbery that Shenstone might haven
Wed, lived the old Scotsman, surroundDy
hundred henchmen, with cellars willled
with rare and costly wines from all or the
world. The home of the generous Mher-
son was gastronomic bonanza for th0oys.
Presiding over the old mans hon and
mistress of the rancho V a
Spanish senorita, fat and over foryears
old. was very young, and we pin our
time very joyously with dogs and eis and
bottles, not forgetting the pleasurelf the
table, for the female boss of the lcienda
was miraculous cook. l certain had no
eyes for the senorita. but after d gone
back to Frisco, leaving my frienCbehind,
some OF the ways in the party toldne gio-
Tious old scot, our host, that | lad been
using the whispered speech that vers use
IN conversation on May mig on the
piazza of the adobe mansion withlis dusky
senorita. The green-eyed passn seizsd
mine host.
This was fun to the boys, but like to
have been death to the city sveyor of
San Francisco-that was me, hocent OF
any filtration, being a plain, bnU man,
who loved my country. and new hankered
overmuch for the blandlshmt of the
blessed damoZel, imagine my ceilings of
discomfort and antonishment ,nd anger
when told by one of our party >, my Office
in the city, and in dead earnt, that the
antique Scotchman from the lal Of Bruce
had sent me wod that he inca to put a
bullet hole IN me on sight, premably for
ny alleged gallantry viii up in
the mountains. lew my
man had began PREPARATIONS
60 trstG nti. My revolvers VERSION hunted
up; they were badly ruSted nth the in
nocuous desuetude of two ears, aud l
fastened around to the neart gunsmith
ind rNi 81.
period of California history. he dealer in
six-shooters admired my sYer-mounted
brace of pist is. the gift of thegeaeral, my
mill airy brother, but said: 1t was a
simple lmpossibIlity to putnv shooting
iron in shape that day. He )tfered and |
accepted two single-barrele pistols with
very hair triggers. Then 1 cit better. l
didn't mean to be killed ~ the bloody
minded Mcpherson withut "a chance
for my white alley IS the boys
say. With my haiErigger ps-
tolls, one in each pantaloons pocket, l saun-
tered down town and into oe OF the most
gorgeous saloons in 'Friscy for we had no
clubs in those days of 40. The transi ion
from the barroom to the fro room in the
rear of the saloon was natral, for. though
did not play, was sure to meet there
many big men and city )fficials, all we'll
known to ne. The Scotishchief, thought,
was sill baskipg where 'th May sun sueds
an amber light the new-lAved wood and
lawns between up on lis own elegant
ranch, or hunting fvepronfied bucks
among the mesquite BUSES in the noun
tains.
II got close up to one ofthe faro tables,
both hauds in their respective pockets ready
Tor immediate acti n. Fas much inter-
ested in the play Of litts short, souatty,
half breed, semi-demi French Mexican
gambler, who was plugging wildly with
his gold dust all over thethirteen cards on
the faro layout. | was within six inches of
the dangerous looking lalf bred. l looked
up-my God!-ten pa)es away, on the OF Ter
side of the table, tow.ring like another Saul
among the gambling Israeltes, stood, six
feet in his boots, IMMORTAL enemy-Dugald
Mcpherson. He advanced. l stood still,
both hands graspiig my trusty single bar>
rels in poche. Suddenly there was an ex-
plosiol; hundred revolvers were instantly
drawn in the gaming room, and the click in
cooking the shooting irons drowned the click
of the ivOries' and the buzz Of the roulette
wheel.
'Sac-r-r.re-e damn cried the little half
breed, scattering his handful of gold dust
nadly acr IS the room, and making a wi d
jump he mounted the faro table at a bound
The dealer drew his pistol, and the half
breed was very close to the gates ajar' of
another world. The French gambler
strangely among the chips, scared
out Of his wits. With my left | drew my
remaining pistol and pointed it at the burly
Scot MCPHERSON. All my life was crowded
In that one moment. when the sense OF
danger was calcul tied to stretch an honr
into eternity or eternity in moment. Nc
Pherson threw up both hands and shouted
lmy pistol still holding a oil bend on
him: Don't; I'm - fool, general l
found out the boys we're lying to me!' Tab
leau.
Down went my pistol into my left
pocket, while | began to clap my light hand
on my burning pocket (ny right pantaloons
pocket ives on fire., with my weather eve
still on the Mexican Frenchman, who was
ready and eager to fight me. The bullet
had creased the gamblers skin and cut
open his pantaloons which covered the
broadcast part of his person, and hur-
riedly begged his pardon. dragged him out
Of the gaming room, glad to get out alive,
ana with difficulty explained the situation.
when he began to comprehend he
laughed till the tears ran down his face,
more particularly after tod him, in the
BEST Mexican | could mas er, that if he
would meet me at my hotel the next day at
noon would order for him at my tailor's
me best suit of clothes money could buy.
ne suit cost me 500, and gave him be-
'ldeS sou In gold, and the 'jingling Of the
guinea helped the hurt his no or fe t.
I posteriori. This man proved to be a
rough diamond, aud became my fast friend.
"The old Scotchman spent a week with
ne, but he never again recognized any of
The nrnuu1 ruhOEa tpla -