The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-04-06
JUST HIS LUCK.

After nearly century's sleep some
four years ago the town of San Filipe,
in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico,
walked up with mining boom The
long abandoned shafts. up whose
rough-hewn steps the poems of the al
caldes toiled labcciously, 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 tailings were reworked, yield
ing a heavy percentage of profit.
There was tremendous influx of pop
ulation. White men and yellow
Cinnamon thronged into the adobe
town and rubbed shoulders with the
listless Mexicans, who had been eat
ing their tortillas so many years in
peace andquiet, save when a surplus
of palque was let loose and the deadly
machetes paved the way for a few
extra funerals.
OF course the gamblers, the hangers
on and the painted women followed
the miners, and the sleepy old town
walked up at night and furnished high
revel for the invaders. Plug hats and
billed shirts were exceptional; over
alls, top boots, with large caliber Colt
as plated ornament. furnished the
costume derigeur. Mexieans carried
knives In their hair, and tried to keep
up with procession by consuming
tiercy 'mescar' whenever their slen-
der pay would allow it, and the female
members of their families skirmished
for the supply of red peppers and
brilliant calicoes necessary for the
purpose of food and fashion.
One evening Tole, the big mining
boss was attracted by a noisy crowd
clustered about the monte table. He
noticed two villainous Mexicans hold
ing ''jawing match" with his inter
prefer, Eduardo, and immediately
cone luded that his favorite was doom
ed to death one way or another.
The talk had evidently reached a
climax, for both greasers whipped out
their long knives. Tole, fired at the
first Mexican. There was a yell and
a wild rush. The crowd at the table
joined the melee, the lights were blown
out and wild fight followed.
The next thing that Tole heard was
that another Mexican had been gather
ed to the halls of Montezuma. He
went home and tried to rest. but 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 murdered man or the
one who escaped. The facts of the
case had been purposely suppressed.
One morning he met the interpreter,
Eduardo, who had left the town the
day after the trouble. ''Buenos Dias.
that was quite racket" said the in,
terpreter, nOnchalantly.
Il did not mean to kill the man.
said Tole, YEARLY, ''but I thought they
were going to end you"
Nonsense" responded Eduardo.
they were quarelling about their
own affairs. You did not kill anv 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 as
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
the jury that he fired in
self defense, which made him a life
saver instead of a murderer in the eve
OF the lenient and slow going Mexi-
can law.
This same Tole had a remarkable ad-
venture in Gold Hill, New, in 1887.
He had charge of a mine and incur
red the enmity of the laborers.
One night three stalwart walking de-
legates" attacked him in bar-room.
Two of them pinned him down, while
A third stood over him with revolver.
The muzzle almost touched his stom-
ach. Once, twice, thrice, a fourth and
fifth time the weapon snapped. Tole
closed his eyes; each moment he ex
pected to be his last. The disguised
rutfian threw away his disappointing
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 dis
earded weapon, went to the door and
ired off every charge, remarking that
t was lust his luck"