The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29
WHY HE WASN'T CHALLENGED
His Partners Escape from Death
at the Hand of a Desperate.
Once Saved by the Senator and Again by
His Own Extraordinary Courage
in Moment of Great Peril.
STAR Correspondence Of the journal.


another one of his bitter denunciations of
President Cleveland's anti-silver policy
and as he stroked his long snow-white
beard and partook of a light lunch he
talked in a husky voice of some of his
early mining experiences and the dangers
to which he had been subjected. He has
led a checkered life. Senator Stewart who
Is Familiarity referred to around the capt.
tol as "Old Santa Claus" was started on
his "reminiscences by an observation upon
the part of his Populist confrere Senator
Allen, OF Nebraska, about the physical
hardships which a few of the silver Sena-
tors had been subjected to during the
siege of almost three months upon the sill
yer bill.
"Oh. this is nothing more than the hard
ships have been bearing nearly ali of my
life, which has now run over sixty-four
years, satr the notwithstanding Nevada
Senator. as he Strengthened his six-foot
three figure of immense proportions and
brushed his great snowy beard outwardly
from an inward stroke. 1.-The only differ
ence between the fatigue of this contest
and the ones 1 was used to i'm my mining
experiences in 1880 is that no danger has
been experienced here. / used to work al
most day and night in 1919 around the min
Ing camps of the Pacific SLOPE and carried
L Il
We had ten silver Senators here who were
willing TO fight as you and L are, Senator
Allen, we would make this fight continue
day and night until the first of january.
at least
You would hardly remind a man of
hardship or danger" observed Senator AL
len.
There was a pause for some seconds, dur
ing which Senator Stewart turned his large,
ruddy face toward the floor, and while his
great steel-blue eyes peered thought
fully at his feet he stroked his flowing whis-
kers with both hands, Finally he said:
Well, remember a period in the mining
camps Of California and Nevada which
covered number of years when l really
didn't expect to live the day out each morn
ing that went to my work, with a pick
In one hand and a revolver in the other.
1 recall an experience 1 had in Nevada
when IL was the proper thing to challenge
a man to fight a duel if the least offense
was offered-and it was very easy in those
days to offend a man. Men were high
strung; every one had his nerves upon the
highest tension by the excitement incident
TO great metal finds, all kinds of depreda-
tions by white men and Indians, and a
general epoch of conflict. 1 think L was the
best pistol shot in all that country during
those days. i was a powerfully built and
vigorous young man. My eyes were quick
and my nerves steady. Why / used to
sometimes shoot birds on the wing with a
pistol. took very active part in poll
tics. and. having little more money than
some of the men, and being inclined to
spend 1t freely at times. invited all of the
jealousies incident to a mixed mining COM
munity. Frequently 1 momentarily ex-
chnn Hrx xxrifI
out announcement, or challenge me to fight
a duel.
A CHALLENGER "BLUFFED."
"a remember the first time 1 had direct
intimation that 1 was to be challenged.
A man came TO my office and asked me
what / would do if L were challenged to
fight duel l had not beforehand made
up my mind what course to pursue, but the
presence of danger made me quick witted.
"' would kill the man that brought me
the challenge, was my ready reply.
"'You don't mean to say that you would
shoot man for simply acting for friend,
do you?' said the man who had come TO
me, his eyes flashing excitement and his
body quivering in fear.
That is exactly what / would do; the
first man that comes to me with chal-
lenge will drop dead I'm his shoes; L will
shoot him on the spot and / emphasized
my statement by placing my hand upon 81
heavy revolver at my belt.s Looking my
caller straight i'm the eyes 1 said slowly:
Yes. sir. you can state TO anyone who Is
subsequent man, who carries a challenge
for e duel TO me will die by my own
a challenge 70 me he must come prepared
to shoot. and TO begin shooting as soon as
he delivers his challenge
Would you have carried out your
threat ?'' asked.
There is not the least doubt of it," re-
piled Senator Stewart. 1T was the only
a mar under CrCum-
stances L made up my mind in an in
slant TO follow out that plan, and as sure
i sit here would have shot the man who
brought me the challenge as quickly as L
could have drawn. Why not! email
lenge TO fight duel is q, deadly message;
1t means that either the challenger or the
man challenged must die and L don't see
any difference between shooting the, man
who brings the deadly message and the
man who challenges YOU"
The conversation drifted into stories
about duels and pistol shooting. Then 1T
turned into featS Of bravery. when the
erizzed old miner Senator from Nevada
looked up sharply and said:
Il saw my mining partner. do the most
daring feat of bravery i ever heard of
expect TO hear. My partner in the early
sixties was rugged and as powerfully
built man myself. The only trouble
with him was that he would occasionally
go off on a spree. and had fondness for
gambling. When he drank deeply he got
into disputes and fights. Nearly every
time he was in a drinking mood. and he
left me, i expected 10 hear OF his sudden
death. On one occasion, after he had been
away from me few hours, 1 learned that
he was down town I'm a barroom, little
intoxicated and playing cards Somehow L
had a premonition that my partners life
was In danger, and | struck out from the
mine to the little town. short distance
away. When I entered the barroom L saw
my partner sitting at table. He had been
drinking heavily. but was not drunk. OPP
posite him sat a notorious rufiian who had
killed many man. The first thing | saw
when my eyes fell upon the two
the ruffian draw his gun, cock IL and shove
IL into the face OF my partner. Instantly
i expected TO the flash. hear the report
and To witness the Draining OF my best
friend. IL took ME but a second 10 spring
forward and jerk the stool from under the
ruff1an- As he fell 10 the floor he pulled
the trigger Of his big gun. The revolver
gave terrific report. and the bullet passed
closely over the head OF my partner
as 10 almost touch he scalp. Ia a jiify |
had grasped the pistol hand OF my part
ner's adversary and disaFmed him. Then /
rushed my partner out of the place and
away.
MOMENTS or PERIL.
"Chagrined. Inundated and Infatuated.
that ruftiaR went about the camp for sew
eral days declaring that he would shoot
my partner sight; and he meant To do
II. Some days afterward my partner and I