The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-14

time-one OF the many who spent winters
IN New Orleans, then the great city of the
South, and summers at towns and cities
further north, especially the fashionable
watering places. 1t may be said of Colonel
Jack as IL used to be said of the old Pacific
Coast theatrical manager. Tom Mcguire,
now spending the water of his life in New
York, that ''he had brains superior to
education" In worldly knowledge, in
quick observation and correct estimate of
men and things, many who posed as thor
oughly educated were fools compared to
Colonel Jack.
Those who knew the colonel in his
young man hood describe him as an Apollo
IN grace and Hercules in strength.
They say that In his prime
Ere the pruning-hook OF time
Cut him down,
Not better man was found
By the crier on his round
Through the town.
Even with the weight of years On him
his shoulders were still square and his
head erect. People looked at the old man
as he walked. and wondered that his foot
took such firm hold of the earth, aud
that he still looked fate in the face with
eyes so calmly bold.
California first knew the colonel In De-
cember, 1S49. His previous life had been
passed in the South and Southwest and, it
is said, he was with the United States
army In Mexico, where he fought brayely.
When wounded comrades
Round him walled
Their dying shout at Monterey.
The colonel handled the ribbons as a
stage-drlver when young man in Ten
nessee and Florida. There were rival
lines on one of the stage routes in the
State last named and Jack" Gambill, be
was not dubbed colonel. 1t is presumed,
till alter the Mexican war, was sent for
by proprietors OF one of them.
a
500 if you drive us one trip. and beat the
time of the other line"
Done" was the reply, "I'll beat the
time, and do up the driver too"
Jack distanced his rival in handsome
style and tied the 500 bill he had received
to one of his own leaders ears with a pink
silk ribbon. Then he hunted up the op-
position driver, who had made threats
against him, and licked him so thoroughly
that he went into the hands of doctor
and nurse for repairs. By this vigorous
action young Jack broke up the stage op-
position In one days work. He was hot
blooded then; he became more discreet in
after life.
Colonel Jacks first occupation after his
arrival In California was packing. He
drove mule-train out of Marysville up to
the mines. Subsequently he was a prOpri-
etor, at one time, of the Polka saloon
that ran from Comm ercial street to Clay,
~ ehio CiIys anu uduo UleDly Oh money.
Wben IN talking mood he would tell
stories enough about his life In the mines
to fill volume. There were peril0us
phases In his career, however, about which
he preserved discreet silence. excepting
when among those who understood and
appreciated the situation. But on general
subjects and in miscellaneous company he
talked freely enough. and had everybody
about him roaring with laughter while he
himself never cracked a smile.
''Pll bet any one in the party" he said
to group of acquaintance one day,
that l did something when a growing
boy out In old Tennessee that has never
been done by any one before or since"
what was that, cOlonel?"
Il wore out my first pair of shoes with
out both feet being snod at the same time"
Explain"
You see it was this way. Shoes war
novelty to me. The shoemaker was slow
and l was i'm pa tent, as all boys are, for
new thing. He finished one of the shoes
on Saturday and told me / would have
to wait another week for Its fellow. /
couldn't stand that. so took the one shoe
and wore it to such an extent that when l
went for the other bad to leave the first
one for repairs. 1t went on this way week
after week and somehow l never could
bring that pair of shoes together on
my feet. The family was too poor to
think of buying me an additional pair.
Odd thing, wasn't IL, to have one foot in
leather and padding the hoof with the
other? Boys'll do quar- things some
times"
When Colonel Jack, backed by Bill
formerly Thorpe's. on the San Mateo