The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-04-19
"OLD PLUG HAT"
A Texan Tells a Story of Days Gone By.

vanced in years his figure was tall,
straight and athletic, and evidently he
had been a man of action and adven
ture. His hearty, natural manner
and ready conversation soon made
him a favOrite with all present. Some
one in the company suggested that he
might describe or tell a story of frontier
life. At the request, his black Eyes
sparkled, and with a broad smile,
which deepened a scar in one Of his
bronzed cheeks, he at once showed his
readiness to comply.
Said he: There are a good many
stories to tell about that kind of life,
and I hardly know what to pick out
suitable for church folks; 1T perhaps
you might like to hear about old
Plug Hat, a young Methodist minister
who came out way nigh on to
thirty five years ago?
"Well, about that time a young,
slender chap came to our cattle ranch,
which was something like forty miles
west of San Antonio. He said he had
studied for the ministry in some Con
necticut college, 1 forget which, had
broken his health, wanted to rough it
with us to see if he could get strong
again; was willing to do anything for
his keep, or would pay his way. His
pleasant, frank way won the boys at
once; besides, he was a novelty for us;
we'd w seen much of fulIgrown
parsons; so we made the yerlin' wei
come, gave him his quarters and let
him run himself pretty much as he
liked.
He stayed with us over a year, and
soon got some color in his cheeks and
a straighter backbone and heavier
shoulders than he had when he came.
All of the boys liked him on account
of his plucky way. He and l became
close friends. We taught him to ride
fearlessly, manage a lariat, and by his
own practice he could handle a re-
volver surprisingly we'll, particularly
a small, fancey one he owned. One of
his pe~culiarities, which l suppose came
from his prim Yankee training, used
to amuse us. Every Sunday he'd care
fully fix himself up city fashion, and
his shiny silk hat appeared odd among
a and more of sombreros. Some
one p~layfully nicknamed him Old Plug
Hat, 'andhe was oftener called that than
anythingelse He never bored us with
church things. I've known him to
pay his share for whiskey and tobac; 90
promptly, though he could not be in
duced to use any. If any of us were
sick or hurt he was the kindest nurse
you eve saw-some of the gang said
it paid to be laid up a week or so, so
as to listen to tae interesting things
he'd tell EN-.
About three months before he left
for his home two noted desperadoes,
part Mexican, part Indian, but really
more devil, made their appearance in
our region. They were known as
BLACK Mex and Big Cactus they had
been long feared and hated border
terrors on account of their cruel cum.
ing, bloodthirsty character. They
knew every road, pass and secret
hiding place in that part of Texas, and
had robbed and murdered, unscathed
seemed to possess charmed lives.
1--WE and the ranchmen near US felt
rather gloomy when we found out the
wretches had appeared in our neigh
borhood, for we realized sooner or later
some of our bands would muster a man
or more less. You see, those wern't
railroad days down there then as now;
and there were times when one or two
of us had to ride on errands to town.
Some Of the boys would perhaps want
to take or send their money in for safe
keeping, or have it mailed or expressed
to their relatives; besides, medicines
and other special supplies had to be
ordered or obtained. Several good
fellows were robbed and killed in the
first six weeks after they began their
prowl; was from our camp.
How could we be sure he was
killed? Well, when his horse escaped
and found his way back to us, blood
spattered and riderless, it was a pretty
strong sort Of a telegram? Another
one of our men had his horse and
pouch stolen, and was left bound fast
to a tree on a dismal part of the trail.
He would have died there or made a
supper for wild beasts if an army mail
carrier had not accidentally seen him.
1t got so serious that we called a crowd
together and held a sort of a council of
war. Mind you, there was plenty there
who would have openly faced one or
both of the r~ascaIs; butnobody wanted