Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-02
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eff ron are going 10 travel alone In
this country you must carry two rsvolv'
ers, bat one Of them may b worthless.
In fsct, u may BE- better % have one OF
them of somewhat old fashioned make,
said Mr.. J. v. Hawkins of Pueblo, Nsx.
ico. "Msxico has improved marvellous.
ly In the past 10 years. bat bandits are
stili too numerous. and can tell you
how 90 protect yourself by relating the
experience of friend Of mine. He name
was Mccoy Shepard. and he was on his
way alone from Acapulco 10 the capital.
Il IL an easily followed trail. He had
been over u once. and he spoke tho Ian.
ruags very well. lie had little thought
Of danger. although holduIs are CON.
mon enough on that route. but he went
prepared for business. He put In the
holster Of his saddle ~ caliber revolver
loaded with cartridges that barely had
enough powder In them 10 blow the bull
lets out IL the mussle. and then In the
small Of his hack he hung the handiesf
- caiiber he could find when In Frisco.
lie ws making trap. and II worked.
1T happen~i that as he was coming
down out ~ the main range three road
agents .tepped from the rocks beside th"
read and hal him cornered before he
could whistle. They were armed with
shotguns ~ well ~ msehetcs. but Tor
some reason did not shoot b-forc they
spoke, a. not infrcquen'ly happens. The,
invited Mac 90 get down. and he did per
force. Then oneof them took the big ~
volver from the holster.
".Good. II 10 big. said he.
"'Ye..' .aid Mac. but it's worthless
thing after all. never want Ia kiliAny
one. I only carry u l.canse ! must
make people think am armed
The bandits laughed at that. IL wa
incredible that such pistol shouid l.
worthless. and they aid ~.
"'But, gentlemen. will put my hat In
the read. and you may shoot a, u with
the pistol. The bullet will not 60 through
the hat
AT that he took od his hat, . gor'
geous Mexican affair that cost 20 In
Acapulco. and IA, II ca arcck no, 10
fc,, away. and stepped back toward. but
about ave fc-t q, one side 10. the bandits
They were Interested at ono.. The idea
wa. novel % them. The man with the
pistol aimed deliberately and FIRED q, the
hat. Then the ,hr-c ran 10 look at the
.fec, % the .ho,. Macs turn Ia shoe,
had come. whipping on, the unno'ioed
revolver. he sho, two % them down L.
Tor, they could turn on him. tn. ihini
dii no more than turn round before he
caught bis doc as well.
leaving everything ~ II lay-bciie.,
guns, hat and all-Mac at down In the
shade 81 q rock and waiici for some one
10 come along. lie did no, even reload
hi. revolver. lie had 10 make out gool
cas-. before th. government officials, aud
he knew Just how % do 10.
After An hour or ~ q native planter
with hi. servant came riding along.
"'iiaye the goodness 10 inform the nj.
ealde tina, an American gentleman has
hal trouble here with bandits, .aid be-
10 IN. native. and the nA,iv. did as "
aues,e,i Of cOur-~. Thrce 90 four hours
later came th. Alcaide 20 the next place
with half . dozen soldiers. Mac told
his story briefly. and the alcalde noted
each point Of IL with the corrobors'ins
e,ii.nc. on Oh. ground.
"'You ha,. don. well. be- aid. 4
know the rascal. well. You have say~i
cartridge. Cor my soldier. by killing
them
Then he stopped. lie could no, un.
der.,and how Oh. big revolver had failed
"a shoot through th. hat. lie tboughi
there was some kind u n-rOmancy
about u. ~ Mac cut = bullet from q
cartridge and showed that the usual
powder spacc was Tor III. most part hll~l
with q cork. The alcalde turnci the cork
over In his hand aud then said:
"'Tho.. wis Yankee. But they DC
by .ub,le,y wha, We would do by valor'
Then Mac gathered MP his hat and
revolver. mounted hi. mule and rule on
with the AlcAide. leaving the soldiers q
look after the dead bandits. Take nay
word for Il. and carry good gun out Of
sight when travelling Ina Mexico. and an
other on. whsr. all can SO it."-Se~
4 Nntk Sun