The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15
,esn't concern YOU. What are we vigilants

duesn'teoncern you. What are We vigilants
Il have a duty. men, to perform. as we'll
rs you, and will not be deferred from dnlng
it. You say you will Stay this man. Then
hear me; you will only kill him over my
body"
The miners liked grit wherever found.
and low murmur of applause greeted TINS
speech. which was to them far more in
pressive than any mere plea Tor mercy
could have been. The rough fellows talkeu
10 one another, the eulprits' guards-per-
hapS Northumberland tlieiT FlsisanOe'
and in the confusion the ankee d,sap-
peared, giving his comrades and woule-Oe
exeeutionars time to let their anger cool
Young Togue did not die:
The parSOn, who gave his name rs joel
Baldwin, constituted himself the s9HeTer
nurse. attending to his every want. dressing
his wound and feeding him like child
through the long days and nights, more
tenderly. the grateful old salnon-keeper
said, than any woman could have done.
This act Of devotion touched the heart OF
the camp, which lay deer, but was not dead.
When Sunday afternoon came round the
CONGREGATION was a crowded one.
At the very outset Of the proceedings the
preacher made an important demand upon
the Goodwill and foTbearance Of his audi
encP.
He eommeneed by pointing ont the danger
carrying shootiug-irons, enforcing his argyll
ment by reference to the critical condition
OF young Togue. lie then further urged
the iEappropTiateneSs OF these destructive
weapons being brought into the house OF
the Prince of Peace, stated bis personal
dread Of such, and concluded an earnest APP
peal By insisting that all who might attend
his miniStrations should deliver up their
weapons to the sal0ou-keeper on entering.
The gaunt miners looked fo0iishly sheep
] ish, laughed, demurred, and then. when they
saw that the man meant what he sald,
handed over the irons into the custody OF
! Bert TOgue.
Togue took charge of all these, placing
/ them in the box which served as pulpit so
| that the parS0n tired the carnal weapons
under his feet.
Several weeks passed and the influence of
I Parson Joel. as he was Familiarity called,
began TO effect marked improvement in
/ the camp. Duels became less frequent
irregularities less pronounced; the weakest
/ found that they had some chance In the
battle for wealth and life. The Sunday
afternoon preaching became an eXtTaordi-
nary success; not man among US would
/ have missed it upon any consideration, the
! parson had such q winning way with him.
Togue junior. too began to improve under
! the care of his Self-cODstituted nurse.
TIE gold, which yielded heavily both in
! dust and nuggets, was regularly deposited
:
! inspired their clients with confidence. Once
/ in every month an armed escort came over
from Frisco and conveyed the accumulated
precious metal to the bank.
Parson joel had been with us three
/ months, finding plenty of work both IN in
structing and nursing his rough flock, more
| thar one member Of which 1t had been his
melancholy duty to eunsign to the auTIfeT-
Gus dust During this time he had increas-
/ ingly endeared himself to all. SO that more
/ than one nugget had been pressed upon him
/ for acceptance by rough fellows who could
/ conceive Of no other means of showing
/ their gratitude. These were invariably de-
clined with tie remark that he had enough
/ for lis personal needs, and sought not
theirs, but them.
All this increased Parson J0ePs reputa-
ton Tor goodness; be became idoliZed OF
/ all.
About this time the pirates Of the prairie
I became Increasingly daring and there were
/ rum0rs that band Of them had allied with
/ the road agents. forming a camp IN the hills,
/ under the leadership of a daring female
named Bess, whom they had constituted
| their queen.
The rumor acquired force from the fact
that man who had recently joined us was
found shot dead IN the scrub.
1 This occurrence served TO make US In
/ creaSBgly careful; but no one apprehendeo
serious trouble, such as an attack u?on the
camp. which at this time numbered 10(
souls all told-men whose hands could KEEP
/ their heads.
The month was drawing TO q close. The
Saturday night saw the last bag OF dust de-
posted; and the honest brokers retired