The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-27
JUMPED HIS LAST CLAIM.
Justice overtakes the Terror of a
Western Mining Town.
From the Colorado Sun.

Justice Overtakes the Terror of
Western Mining Town.
From the Colorado sun.
It was New Years eve in camp and the
Gold Fugget saloon was doing heavy
business all along the line. Drinks were
being dispensed over the counter, and in
the rear faro, roulette and draw poker
were fourishing.
Pete was in high humor He had
''bucked the tiger" successfully tonight,
and had quit enough ahead to work his
claim in Corkserew gulch.
True he had not done his assessment
work this year, and by law anybody could
Jump the Lone Star that very day at
midnight. But Pete was not the man to
be fooled with, as he already had two
graves to his credit in Doc Turner'S ranch
(the name applied to the cemetery in
honor OF local DOCTOR, which contained
the bodies of two "tenderfeet" who had
differed" with him and were accident
ally shot. So the inhabitants of Galens-
vile concluded he was a safe man to let
alone, and he laughed at the idea that
anybody would be so foolish as to Com
nit suicide as he termed it, by attempt
ing to jump his claim.
The old year had but few minutes to
live when Hank Smith tied up his horse
| among the tall, snow-laden pine trees
| near the Lone Star" and loosening the
| thongs which fastened a pick to his
| horses saddle, and transferring a couple
| of sticks of dynamite and some candles
| from his saddle-bag to his pockets, Shout
| dered his pick and slowly mounted the
! tortuous trail.
| He had long waited this moment. Four
| years ago he had owned the Lone Star
| himself, but sickness came and he could
| not work his assessment, and when he
I returned TO the prospect and found Pete,
| armed to the teeth in possession, he
| had accepted his hard luck with good
grace, but had laid" for Pete ever since.
| But now, at last his opportunity had
come, and he determined to regain his
| property and defend it at the risk of his
life, ii necessary.
The tunnel was soon reached, and
| moonlight streaming aslant its black
mouth easily disclosed to his eyes Pete's
| location stake
He looked at his watch. 1t marked ex-
| actly midnight.
Reaching down he fiercely wrenched
the stake from the ground and flung it
far from him down the mountain.
He then lit candle, and, finding
| board, quickly sharpened one end of it and
| snOOthed off the broad end, wrote his To-
cation notice on notwithstanding the
claim firmly in the "Hopes"-and planted
the stake the Bright Ground"
! Thinking he would 60 into the tunnel
and see how she looked" he picked up
his candle and pick and started in
Just as he did so he thought he heard
whistle. He paused and listened. Some
one was coming up the trail below, whist
| ling softly. Quickly dousing the light, he
! crouched behind big boulder just at the
| mouth OF the tunnel and drew his revolver
A few minutes later Pete stepped in
view, with q weeks supplies in sack
slung over his shoulder.
Before he could put down his burden,
Hank suddenly rose up before him with
the muzzle of the pistol almost touching
| the others face.
Hands up!' he cried. I've got the
| drop on her now!n
Pete, seeing the other man had a full
| hand. promptly threw up his, while Hank
deftly relieved him of his firearms.
'"Tain't worth fighting about, any
how" said Pete, carelessly. There amt
pound OF oren the hull claim"
"Oh, come Off" said Hank. How
about all that ore you shipped last sum-
mer?"
THAT was out of pocket 1 struck
which petered out very quick, but if you
| don't believe me I'll go in the hole and
show you,r and taking a candle, Pete
started In the tunnel, Hank following,
but keeping his hand within easy reach of
his gun
The breast of the tunnel was soon
reached, and Pete holding his candle up
before it, said: There, now, what did
tell yerl It's nothn' but dead rock"
Hank took candle and carefully ex-
amined the breast roof and sides, 'but not
trace of mineral could be seen.
you're welcome to her" said Pete;
I've blown in all the money l want to;
hatr ? ho-
want to-"
Hank did not reply, but appeared to be
lost in thought. Finally he said: Hold
my candle a minute, Pete and, taking
up his pick in both hands he struck the
breast a heavy blow, and the rock and
mud with which Pete had plastered it to
fool curious and unwelcome visitors fell
away, exposing vein of glittering white
metal
Almost at the same instant there was
deafening report, and Hank fell to the
ground with bullet through his heart
| Pete, with a smoking revolver in his
| hand, which he had snatched from Hank
! belt as he struck the blow, stood over
I him with a grim smile as he muttered
! Another accident"
But retribution was close at hand The
| reverberations of the shot had hardly
| died away among the neighboring peaks
| when rock, which had long been loose,
started by the sudden shock. fell from
the roof, bringing tons OF earth with it,
and Pete and his third victim were
| crushed into a shapeless mass.