The Butler weekly times., 1893-03-23
BITS OF WESTERN LIFE.
The Early Days in B0die and
Virginia City.
Fights With Blank Cartridges--R. N.
Daggett's Coal Mine on the COM
stock and How he UnIOaded at
u Handsome Profit.

sLOck anu How he UnjOHded at
u Handsome Profit.
San Francisco Examiner,
When Bodie was in the prime of
its prosperity about ten years ago
there WAS among its citizens wild
Irishman noted for his sharp
tonge and bowling disregard for
money and position When partial
ly primed with whisky he was fond
of mounting a barrel or dry goods
box and indulging in style of
rough and tumble oratory, which,
while it was not as polished as the
rounded periods of Bob Ingersoll.
was nevertheless certain to draw an
admiring audience.
He was finally discharged from.
one of the mines for some exhibition
OF freshness that insulted the digni-
ty of the superintendent, and he got
revenge by climbing on to dry
goods box that night in front of the
superintendent's Office and speaking
to large street gathering.
"Och, boys, didn't I know the
blatherin' upstart when he was
packin' his dinner basket in the
Crown Point at Virginia City and
his sister was doin' the washin'
for the Belcher mine! The whole
outfit came west on an emigraut
car and meself and some of the 9th
er miners helped schrape the gray
backs off the family before they
could land in Silver City"
This sort of talk became some
what monotonous to the superinteu-
dent, who was in hearing, and man
who knew his temperament slipped
into the Office and offered to knock
tho orator off the box for $40
The money was forthcoming at
once and inside minute the man
who was hired to squelch the talker
jumped up on the box and by well
directed swing of his right knocked
his man completely out. He fell
senseless after being struck and was
clrried into drug store by his
friends.
When he tcco vered consciousness
the man who had knocked him of
the box was leaning over him and
holding his hand.
'.Bedad, who was the blackguard
who hit me behindt the eal?'
s.Pat, it was me-
''What fors'
"For twenty dollars, and you're IL
for half. Here's the money"
''Bill, you're the right man in th'
right place. No other man III Bodi
could lay me out like that, and NJ
other would divy up so square. II
bs at that same box to morrow
night with two six shooters-loadet
with blank cartridges Of course-aut
you can charge 'em five hundred to
tackle me. Lave the balls out o
your gun and we'll have a devil of I
circus"
The plan worked to charm. l
twas announced in the afternoon pa
per that the orator would speal
again at s o'clock, that he was heel
ed, and defed any man who wor,
lair to stop him.
His friend secured the contrac
of opening up shooting matcb,go
bis $500. and after the other hat
amounted the box he pillow ed his wa,
through the crowd, and with hi
harmless weapon began banging
away. The man on the box return
ed the fire and the vicinity was rap
idly cleared Then the orator start
ed down the street on the run GOV
.ering his retreat with fusilade Q
~ bank cartridges. and amid tn
smoke of four barking revolvers tn
two slid out of town, after whic
they met in convenient ravine an
divided the money. The dry good
box orator kept on his way heading
! for Keeler, while the other, who's
name was Bill Gillhooly, returned i
an hour or SO to be congratulate
On his plucky work. By oommo
consent he became elevated TO ,h
q position of the boss fighter OF .h
town, and few days later he Ma
offered IN engagement by ieadsa