New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01
STEWART AND SAM BROWN.
AN EPISODE on THE COMcIOCk.


Brown family described by the author OF rom rs easily
In unadutered and notorious badness ne Il, TeyaSa
Hr' lie was was Stripping SIX footer, toughened by NE
Of EXPOSURE and peri He revealed in an atmosphere
re and the creator OF the uncbed license Of the
early camp 1t iattered his vanity to be haiea as
e @Inur e' camp lie exuted in knowledge that
peaceful citizens stunned him as pestileGee tn na
wa s,oe ID in the cingins OF weddings and toades
lie was not lacking In courage OF me recHes oohst
devil sort hut he took every advantage OF Do" pedt
inc and swagger and purposey exaggerated the com
mon dread Of him by paradng as walking arsenal;
sne p pint s SSh nP boot DS
single incident voached for by dozen zen e SIars
momSnt Of rcvcatio weak unidentified loungcr
whose feeble dcytlo was blurred out In drink aias
Some poor lest ut which sam took offence on the In,
he slns one OF his long arms about his prey anu
knife the hlIt In his sde turning Maltese Iasii,
he flung the bleeding and manged body on the floor
| OF the bnrro0nl. and when some rough Sainarluns
ycnted In to carry away the man. nan s sun la grasp sgah
cloth of one Of the pool table,, sleeping as calmly as
! n child hushcd 10 rest by his mother seemingly
| there wa, no check to the rulanS bravado aud bru
''! 10 deputy dared arrest him. No picked up jury
could be trusted to convict him. The nmsy cooler
that served as a jail would not contne him for day
lie had a ruIian following likely warn and rescue
| him or revenge his taking oil, aud he was himself
WHO CLOSED his way took his life in his hands. and
no one was ready to take the risk and responsibility
Of Kidding the camp Of Its nghtman ,.,, an ,,o
| big red haired attorney came To the Comstock lie
heard Of sam Brown at once and sam soon meaH %, ci
| law. which he was pleased to defy. The two men
could not I've In the camp without meeting, ana
| meeting OF such mnst be n collision.
The occasion soon came mining claim n, IN ols
a mile away from the main camp. There was a bar
in the house and tolls were taken and drinks wero
served with monotonous regularity stewart was en-
| gagged "a attorney for the plaintiffs and sam Brown
was hired rs witness for the defence: 1t was =,
possession and backed By sam Brown. This comb
nation was more than nine points OF the law S Oh Tue mo
contcsting attorney would dare to confront 1t and
was made. 1t ringing test. Shortly before
neon the Jury met agreed. took drink and went
out together 10 inspect the actual ground Of the claH
Then the twelve iurymen returned TO the toll house
and took drink, and Stewart was called upon 10
produce his witnesses. The fourth man WAS TESTIFY
ing and the jury listening with interest 10 the
plain straightforward unfolding Of The cas- under the
| simple and direct questioning OF the lawyer VI n
sudden the door was slammed wide open by thunder
ing Kick.
The witnes. stopped short with gaping mouth The
startled urymen rose half out Of their seats. They
"erc sitting on rude wooden bcnchc, IN corner OF 'i
them on three legged stool. lie Turned his head,
did all. toward the open doorway.
Filling the entrance with his bury body sam Brown
stood scowlnS dirkly on the spectators. lie was on
The butts Of two heavy reviewers buced ont at his hips
md IN MS boot was thrust his cleaning knife: double
IL
What would he dare What would he dol 1t
would dare anything and do murder 10 wreak his humor
When fired with liquor the slightest crossing reused
his fury. and his deadly. Better beard the
lion or pluck mor,cl from tigers mouth than risk
the knife or bullet Of the pltile's devil
70 man alone after the first shock revusion
came like the rcol Of fine steel. His nerves were
strained tense, but they did not waver stewart knew
the bully the first glance, though he had never
him before. NO one camp ever spawned two sam
lie had looked for the coming Of Brown. and was in
measure prepared TO face him HIS hand fell in,
under his long black coat lie cooked his pistol with
out drawing IT, and held his finger against the trigger
helpless target Killing a witness was not strictly
profcs siona but it was less Objectionable than being
There was 10 chance of lodging the encounter and
no hope Of ignoring tn" runans rSolencc. lie must
to his case before the jury and fatal TO his hope Of
leading the bar sam brown and hi, fellows would
II his life Wa spared II would be at the cost Of his
sell Prospect and there was no assurance that erngns
| an adder but he would tread worm.
SO the lawyers resolution was hardened In the
that showed the threatening figure with his foot on the
sill. lie kept his seat on his stool but turned slightly
WITH his h hand on h his NIP to ,rng his eye and his
doorway calculated 10 round out the impression. sam
nr2Tn on up me sort Sm rS % and s stamping
for the court and his mood for rumpus
few feet from the startled spectators he halted,
drew himself up to his fun height. and stood with
his feet apart glowerng at the jury and stewart.
No olc on the benches cared to catch his eye by
keen eyes from the face Of fic rufian since il was
shown nj the door. sam shrugged his shoulders con
at home and drawing down his heavy eyebrows
tried to iroNn the attorney rS ont Of Sonnenanoe
threat. stcwnrs teeth were close set and the lines
In,oIeraGIe eIroocry. and he was ready to sting
CSp and saSrPeG as d the crack Of whip came his
This pricked the skin OF the bully. who gloricd in
his VICTORIOUS fame h. the camp. :" am sam Brown.
he ns D"st Se Take Off your hat
and SIT down. When We want you as witness you
This was shot at the buIIseye It COMPOUNDED
savagcly at stewart and his hand stole toward his hip
but did not reach it. He caught the instant flash
pistol hand lie was bold after his kind but ne saw
death In tn" mirror Of that face ana It shook his
iy a dash. lie had Killed men before by firing
through Ids pocket and he saw that his Challenger
10 snlcn bcwiIacrmenl. He took of his hat awNt
"" @war r' went On with his examination but always
conyed to keep an eye on the bench and his hand
lTown he pulled the truth ont Of The reluctant wit
by searching inquiries and showed conscious
ness that day bur he careful to observe bearing
Of rgid politencss II was novel experience for the
The trial came TO an end, The jury returned yer.
dic without momGns delay Siewor won hts case
witness lingering behind. and he felt that threat
sun hung over him But he surprised by the adj
vance Of Brown without "a suggestion OF blustcr.
"will you take n drink with me. Mr.. stewart'' he
asked. with amos, paintvc note In his tone. Ac
coyiing to the manner Of the camp refusal Of this
olive branch would have been a gross insult. Yes.
thank yon." said the lawyer. and walked mp to the
bar lie careful however. to keep his pistol hand
free and his pistol pocket toward his entertainer. He
raised his glass but he did not raise his eyes II was
guard and the lifting of friendly glass had been
the signal for n shot.
But Sam look notice. apparently Of the LAWYERS
distrust lie drank of his glass shattered II
the bar. with IN admrng oath. "Yon are the snf:
Mr. stewart he cried. "Wil You shake hands ?"
The lawyer held ont his hand and sam squeezed It
devOuty. From that day til he died. shot like
wolf In the night he was trumpet for the "boss Of
the bar" In the camp. The bloodhound had met his
master and fawned at his feet.