Arizona republican., 1892-07-03
A DANGEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
He shot Too We'll and So They Tool
 Him Out of Temptation.

A DANGEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. He shot Too We'll and So They Took
 Him Out of Temptation.
 Away up in the SieTTas, where the mountains rear their snow white peaks and stand like sentinels in armor guard ing the gold that lies hidden in the rocky canyons below, l once saw an exhibition of rifle shooting which l have never since seen eQualed, remarked grizzled old man whose sands of life had nearly run, as he stood surrounded by a group of interested listeners in a well known Clark street sporting resort the other night. What was l doing up there. you ask Why, herding sheep, in order to get together enough for a grub stake, so that l might start out again on a prospecting tour.
 I've had 10000 sheep, divided into four bands, with three herders and as many dogs to each one of them, and we Camped wherever night overlook us. tell you l slept sounder in those days, rolled up in a pair of blankets and with log of wood for my pillow, than l do now in the best bed that l can find in a hotel.
 "We followed the old stage road that led up from Stockton through Sonora and Cherokee camp, and then struck out over trail that led through the Big Basin and up to the headwaters of the Tolumne river. It was in June and the air was full of the fragrance of flowers, while the sunlight as it flick cred through the trees made a chess board on the velvet green carpet that lay stretched out beneath the spreading oaks.
 "We had long before left civilization behind us, when late one evening we came out of the woods into little mountain meadow that was known as Cranes flats, and was the headquarters for a band of cattle herders Most of them were Italians, but they gave us a warm welcome. One of them in particu- lar attracted my attention. He twas tall, 1.-the and muscular, and walked with the easy swing of professional pedestrian. His eyes were of bluish gray, and he seemed to be leader among his com paniOns, all of whom were swarthy and dark eyed.
 "If you can get that fellow to show vOu some shooting you will see some thing wonderful in that line whispered one of my companions.
 "'Who is heF asked
 "'Italian Joe, was the reply.
 .T l.F T.. N.,f Sonora, at Cherokee, at the Confidence mines and in a hundred other places his fame as a rife shot had been dinned into my ears.
 "The next morning 1 asked him to give us an exhibition of his skill. Shoot ing was his weak point, and he consent ed Unlike tho coy maiden, who can sing, but wishes to be coaxed before she does, he had his notes with him. Yak ing Colts revolving rife in his hands he paced off a hundred yards and pinned a common cap box to the trunk of a huge oak. Coming back, he wheeled as quick as lightning, and without sight ing, apparently, he emptied the cham bers, Six of the shots were in a circle around the edge, while the seventh was a plumb center.
 Loading again, he glanced about him. High up in the heavens a hawk circled warily through the blue, looking for something to prey upon. There was moment of hesitation, a quick report and down came the hawk with bullet in his head. Pennies, dimes and quar. ters that were tossed in the air came down with bullet hole through them He missed nothing that hedrew bead on. He could beat all the Carvers and the Buffalo Bills that you ever saw"
 What became of himy asked all eager listener.
 He shot at a man and he didn't miss hin. either. He was captured by band of vigilantes, and when 1 came out of the mountains in the fall his skeleton white and ghastly, was hanging to 6 tree at the entrance of the big basin The vultures had picked all the flesf from the bones, and the sun, wind and rain had bleached them to q snowy whiteneSs. Pinned to tree was this inscription, written with charcoal upor pine shingle;
 .,''''.'.sss'''s''',..''.' ''.''''''''''s''''' |: HE COULD SHOOT TOO WELL, AND WE HUNG HIM. =