The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-05-25
A DANGEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Tie Shot Too Well aud So They Took
Him out OF Tenn ptntion.

Him out OF Tenn ptntion.
"Away mp In the Sicrras, where tho
mountains rear their snow white peaks
and stand like scntinels In armor guard
ing the gold that lies hidden in the rocky
canyons below, ! once saw au exhibition
of rifle shooting which have never
lince seen equnled," remarked n grizzled
nd man whose sands OF life had nearly
run, as he stood surrounded by group
Of interested listeners in well known
Clark street sporting resort the other
night. What was | doing up there.
you ask. Why, hcrding sheep, in order
to get together enough for grub stake,
30 that might start out again on n
prospecting tour.
1--WE had 10000 sheep, divided into
four bands, with three herdcrs and M
many dogs 10 each one of them, and we
campcd wherever night overlook MS.
tell You slept sounder in those days.
rolled mp in pair of blankets and with
n log of wood FOR my pillow, than | do
now in tho best bed that | can find in II
hotel.
ave followed the old stage road that
led mp from Stockton through Sonora
and Cherokee camp. and then struck
out over n trail that led through the
Big Basin and M to the hcadwaters of
the Tolumnc river II was in June and
the air was full Of the fragrance Of
flowers, while the sunlight ns il lick
cred through the trees made n chess
board on tho velvet green carpet that
l.. 90, lao a. La. l,,.
onks.
ave had long before left civilization
behind us, when late one evening we
came out of the woods into little
mountain meadow that was known ~
Cranes flats, and was the headquarters
for n band of cattle hcrdcrs Most Of
them were italians, but they gave us a
warm welcome. One of them in particu.
lar attracted my attention. He was tall,
litho and muscular, and walked with the
easy swing Of professional pedestrian.
His eyes were of BLUSH gray. and he
seemed to be "a leader among his com
panions. all of whom were swarthy aud
dark eyed.
elf You can get that fellow to show
you some shooting you will see some
thing wonderful in that line whispered
one of my companions.
"'Who IL hey | asked.
"Italian Joe, was the reply.
II had heard of Italian Joe before. AT
Sonora, at Cherokee at the Confidence
mines and in hundred other places his
fame ms n rifle shot had been dinned into
my cars.
"Tho next morning | asked him to
| give us an exhibition of his skill. Shoot
ing was his weak point, and he consent,
ed. Unlike the coy maiden, who can
sing, but wishes to he coaxcd before she
does, he had his notes with him. TAX
ing u Colts revolving rifle in his hands
he paced off n hundred yards and pinned
n common cap box TO the trunk of a
huge oak Coming back, he wheeled aa
quick as lightning. and without sight
ing, apparently, he emptied the cham
bers. Six of the shots were in circle
around the edge, while the seventh was
a plumb center,
Loading again, he glanced about
him. High up in the heavens n hawl,
Gircled warily through the blue, looking
for something to prey upon. There was
n moment of hesitation, n 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 a bullet hole through them
He missed nothing that he drew bead
on. He could beat all the Carvers and
the Buffalo Bills that you ever saw"
what became of himl" asked an
eager listener
He shot at n man and he didn't misl
him, either. He was captured by band
of vigilantes, and when came out Of
the mountains in the fall his skeleton
white and ghastly, was hanging to 1
tree at the entrance of the big basin
The vultures had picked all the fiesl
from the bones, and the sun, wind ant
rain had bleached them to snowy
whiteness. Pinned to a tree was thii
inscription, written with charcoal upor
a pine shingle;
| ...'..'''''''.''''.....