Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-06-09
JUST HIS LUCK
How n Mining Boss Came Out OF Two
Hot ScrImmagcs Unscathed.

How n Mining Boss Came Out of Two
Hot scrimmages Unsoathed.
After nearly century's sleep some
four years ago San Filipe, in tho
state of Guanajuato, Mexico, walked
up with mining boom. The long
abandoned shafts, up whose rough
hewn steps the peon of the alcaldes
toiled labOriously, bearing leather
bags OF ore, were pumped out and
equipped with modern machinery.
says the St. Louis Republic. Old
veins bled wealth anew and even dis
carded things were worked, yielding
heavy percentage of profit. There
was tremendous influx of popula-
tion. White men and yellow China
men thronged into the adobe town
and rubbed shoulders with the list
! less MeXicans, who had been eating
! their tortillas so many years in peace
and quiet, save when surplus of
pulque was let loose and the deadly
machetes paved the way for a few
extra funerals.
OF course the gamblers, the hang
ers-on and the painted women fol-
lowed the miners, and the sleepy old
town walked up at night and furnished
high revel for the Invaders. Plug
hats and "blled' shirts were ex-
ceptional; overalls. top boots, with
large-caliber Colt as plated orna-
ment. furnished the costume dc rig
ueur. MeXicans carried knives in
their hair, and tried to keep up with
the procession by consuming fiery
'mescal" whenever their ender pay
would allow it, and tho female mem
ber5 of their families skirmished for
the supply of red peppers and bril-
liant calicOes necessary for the pur-
pose of food and fashion.
One evening Tole, the big mining
boss. was attracted by noisy crowd
clustered about the monte table. lie
noticed two villainous Mexicans hold
ing a 'jawing match" with his inter-
prefer, Eduardo, and Immediately
concluded that his favorite was
doomed TO death one way or another
The talk had evidently reached a
climax, for both greasers whipped
out their long knives. Tole, who
had drawn his revolver anticipating
trouble, fired at the first Mexican.
There was a yell and wild rush.
The crowd at the table Joined the
melee. the lights were blown out and
a wild fight followed.
The next thing that Tole heard
was that another Mexican had been
gathered TO the halls of Montezuma
q 1,;n
the thought OF the dead man weighed
heavily on his conscience. He
moaned and muttered in his sleep
and was up early in the morning.
During the following months poor
Tole was in constant fear of arrest,
but could learn nothing of the muir
dered man or the one who escaped.
The facts of the case had been pur-
posely suppressed.
One morning he met the interpre-
ter, Eduardo, who had left town the
day after the trouble. "Buenos Dias,
that was quite racket" said the
interpreter, nonchalantly.
II did not mean TO kill the man."
said Tole, YEARLY, but l thought
they were going to end you"
Nonsense, responded Eduardo,
they were quarreling about their own
affairs. You did not kill any one
your bullet struck one of the greasers
in the heel and started them on the
run, but the last one put his machete
through the other mans heart just
rs he was climbing over the wall.
You want to practice with that new
gun of yours"
The shot saved the other Mexican's
life, for, by showing his wound he
impressed the jury that he fired in
self-defense, which made him life
saver instead of a murderer in the
eyes of the lenient and slow-going
Mexican law.
This same Tole had a remarkable
: adventure in Gold Hill. Nevada, in
1871 He had charge Of mine and
incurred the enmity of the laborers.
One night three stalwart walking
delegates" attacked him in bar
room. Two OF them pinned him down,
while third stood over him with q
revolver. The muZzle almost touched
his stomach. Once, twice, thrice, a
fourth and a fifth time the weapon
snapped. Tole closed his eyes; each
moment he expected would be his
last. The Disguised ruflian threw
his disappointing weapon on the floor
with an oath. and, joined by his aids,
left the place.
Tole wiped the cold sweat from his
brow, mechanically picked up the
discarded weapon, went to the door
and fired of every charge, remarking
that it was "just his luck"
, A Moss-Grown Road.