The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15
What are we vigilants

doesn't concern you. What are we vigilants
for >"
Il have duty. men, to perform, as we'll
as you, aud will not be deferred from dning
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 I'M
presSiTe than any mere plea Tor mercy
could have been. The rough fellows taikeu
to one another, the culprits gnardsIpet-
hapS Northumberland TIER VlgliaHce'
and in the confusion the ahkee uisap-
peared. giving his comrades and wooie-De
exeeutioners time to let their anger cool
Young Togue did not die:
The paTson, who gave his name as joel
Baldwin. constituted himself the sufferers
nnrse attending TO his every want. dressing
his wound and feeding him like child
through the long days and nights, more
tenderly, the grateful old saioOn-keeper
said. than any woman could have done.
This act of devotion touched the heart or
the camp, which lay deer, but was not dead.
When Sunday afternoon came round the
CONGREGATION was crowded one.
At the very outset Of the proceedings the
preacher made an important demand upon
the goodwill and foTbearance OF his audi
ence.
He commenced By pointing ontthe danger
carrying shOotiBg-irons, enforcing bis argu-
ment by reference to the critical condition
of young TOgue. lie. then further urged
the appropriateness 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 miuistTati0nS should deliver up their
weapons to the salo0n-keeper on entering.
The gaunt miners looked foOlishiy sheep
! ish, laughed, demurTed, and then. when they
saw that the man meant what he Sald,
handed over the irons into the custody OIL
Togue took charge of all these, placing
them in the box which served as pulpit so
that the parSon tired the carnal weapons
under his feet.
Several weeks passed and the influence of
Parsen 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 eXtraordl
nary success; not a man among US would
have missed it upon any consideration, the
DarSOn had such q winning way with hlm.
| Togue junior, too. began to improve under
the care Of his self-cODstituted nurse.
The gold, which yielded heavily both in
dust ard 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 rs 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 c0nsign to the aurifer-
Gus dust During this time he had increas-
iuCly endfared himself TO all so that more
than one rugget 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 the remark that he had enough
for has personal needs, and sought not
theirs, but them.
All this increased Parson Joels reputa-
/ ton for goodness; he became idOliZed OF
/ all.
About this time the pirates Of the prairie
/ became increasingly daring, and there were
TumnTs shat band Of them had allied with
the road agents, forming 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.
This occurrence served to make rs in
creaSngly careful; but no one appgehended
/ serious Trouble, such as an attack nP0n the
camp. which al this time numbered 100
souls all t0ld-men whose hands could keep
their heads.
The month was drawing 10 a close. The
Saturday night saw the last bag Of dust de-
posted; and the honest brokers retired,