The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-01-10
A RACE FOR LIFE.
BY A. TENDER FOOTE.

Late in the autumn of 1888 l, with
three classmates of the School of
Mines, invested in the lease of some
mining property in Colorado. We
were young and inexperienced in busi-
ness matters, so that the financial part
of the venture was rather unskillfully
managed. Almost all the money we
could raise was put into the necessary
plant.
Before the snow stopped operations
we had on the heap many tons of val
liable ore. The depth of the snow,
however, prevented it's shipment. to
Pueblo for smelling, and we were
obliged to lay off the miners, owing
them at the time over months s
wages.
made hurried trip to New York
to see IL additional funds could be
raised by two of the partners living in
that city; but was unsuccessful.
On my return reached the little viii
lage of Mater, some four thousand feet
below the mine, where | was told by
Reynolds, the other partner, that there
were rumblings of an approaching
storm among the idle miners-a bout
thirty in number.
We determined that we would go to
the mine and talk over the state of af-,
fairs with the men. Unfortunately.
it had been rumored that had brought
back with me large sum of money
which | had deposited in the local
bank.
Soon after reaching our snow-cov-
cred cabin and making fire for the
temperature was twenty degrees be-
low zero--the door was thrust open
and three sullen-looking men, who
had evidently been drinking heavily,
stalked in.
They wanted to know-as commit
tee OF the miners-what we proposed to
do about paying the wages due them.
We were armed And we knew that
they were.
replied that had been unsuccess-
fnl in my journey east and had re-
turned to ask them to wait for the
opening of the spring SO that the ore
could be realized on. The spokesman
interrupted angrily: z.
~ 'You lie! We amt no fools. We
know you've got five thousand dollars
In the bank at Mater, and we propose
TO have our money and have it nowr'
! said would willingly sign blank
check and allow them to fill in any
amount they wished and let them see
Il they could get it cashed.
The chairman of the committee
call me to the little window of the
catia and pointing to tree in the fore
ground, said: Chambers, do you see
that ar tree tharT' So
/ nodded.
Well" he answered, ''if at the end
OF three days you don't have the money
here to pay us, we'l swing you from
that lowest limb. And you don't leave
this cabin, nuther. One Of us and his
gun will be outside the sdoor all the
time. Write this telegram: If you
don't .@nd three thousand dollars in
three dass, they'll hang me- Sign it."
protested that l knew no one to
send it to; but concluded that it would
De wise to temporize and do as they
Aonca, dHu 1 WTOCc ana SlgneQ GEe
message, directing it to my brother in
New York.
They then left, placing one of their
number on guard. An hour passed by
and the almost perishing man came in,
saying that he would stay inside and
watch there.
reynolds and /, after long delibera-
ton, concluded to offer our individual
notes to the men. payable at thirty
Gays. We were escorted to the engine
mouse, and, after some further parley-
ing, the men consented to accept and
20 escort us under guard of two to
Tue village below to get the needed
blank.
How well remember our walk down
.ne mountain side, over the snow trail,
N Indian fiie-Reynolds and l ahead
ana the two guards behind. The moon
Fes shining at the full, and from the