The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-03-15
HE THOUGHT OF HAMMER AND
KILLED A ROBBER.

one DAY the Danh, as we called 1t.
reached Grizzly Slide 1t was a San
Francisco broker, escorted by four
men. He had bags of gold coin with
him, and he took up our nuggets and
gold dust, and paid us in yellow boys.
[ suppose he made a pretty good
accommodation to US we had no com
plant to make Only two or three
days previously one of our men.
known to Us as Peaceful Sam, had
made find of a humping big nugget,
and this, added to his wash, gave him
over $4,000 in handsome coin. He
was a man of 40. humble and peace
loving. and he had a wife back in
Illinois. He had never said anything
about going home, although he was
waiting, like the rest of Us, for luck.
but no sooner was the coin passed
over to him than his bones ached to
take road for home He must 90 over
to JOhnsOn'S camp, a distance of SIX
teen miles alone, and from there go
down the valley by stage line The
chances were that he would be held
up at the trail, and we argued and
coaxed for him to stay. Next morn
ing. however, he was off, having $500
in his pocket and the rest Of his
money IN his blanket on his back
He never carried weapon of any
sort and he started on this trip with
out one We never expected to see
him again. but he was back at night
and had a story to tell. He had got
about three miles from camp when a
stranger Joined him, coming in on the
Deep River trail Peaceful Sam was
no chicken. and he wasn't long sizing
the stranger up as bad.
Bound for JohusOn's?" asked the
man as they walked along.
For JOhnson's and home"
"Made your pile and going back to
the old woman, Ell"
Made three hundred. and have
concluded to light out while it lasts.
Hammer has been writing for me to
come, and if | can even lay a hundred
in her lap it will be more'n she ever
saw before Lands. but when | think
of home and Hammer | can't walk fast
'nuffw
The stranger didn't show his hand
until afternoon. Then, when they
reached particularly lonesome place.
he suddenly halted, pulled gun, and
said:
Give me them $500 or I'll fill you
with leadw
What! Gwine to rob mew replied
Peaceful, looking as innocent as an
old cat.
Come down.
But think o Hammer She's been
waitin' and waitin', and now if you
take my money [ may never see her"
''D-n Hammer! Shell out or I'll
pop you"
''Hain't you no soul?"
Mary soul"
And I've got to shell out?'
you have"
Peaceful Sam passed him out the
$500 and then sat down on a stone
and pretended to cry. The stranger
counted the coins, dropped them into
his pocket and started off saying:
You sOt right there for an hour, |
y
If you follow me I'll pop you"
He was no sooner around the bend |
than Peaceful began scrambling up |
the mountain side. BY making a |
short cut he struck the trail again,
and was just in time to heave rock
which struck the strangers head and
killed him stone dead on the trail,
I ho,, Daaoof,l Joeoon1o1 fool, sc=En Il.
the body. and started back for our
camp. Next morning half a dozen of
us went to the spot with him, and
there lay the body When we asked
Peaceful why he had owned up to
having $500 with him he replied:
Law, me. but if l hadn't he'd have
[ had heap more and shot
me without warning. That's what |
on when [ put that sum
IN my pocket"
But what possessed you to follow
On and kill him? You never even
struck a man in all your life
4 dunno, gentlemen-I dunno"
ne pleaded, his lips quivering and his
,hin trembling with emotion. Il
ust remember that l thought of Han
Ter, and how them $500 would put
Jew shingles Oh the old barn and buy
'ag carpets for all over the house. and
ust thing | knew he was lying
lead. Lemme git alone and wrassle
With the Lord and see if he won't
Under excuse it off on Hammers ac-
count