Arizona republican., 1895-03-01
HE ALWAYS RODE.
A Nevada Bad Man Who Had
 Cinch on Stage Drivers.
When He Intimated That He Wanted . Ride the Jehus Would Very Obse- quiously Accommodate Him
 on She Instant.

My first meeting with Sam Brown, who figured so tragically in NeVadas early days" said A. E. Bastrop, the mining man, to writer for the New York Sun, s'was as 1 came into Vir- ginia City one evening on the inland stage. was riding on top with Shorty Tredwin, one of the best known of the old-time drivers, and he was chock full of the arrogance which characterized the men who followed his eminent call ing. There were some eastern passen- gers aboard wkom Shorty had snubbed and overawed until they scarcely dared tospeak to him. He had just returned an. answer of cutting irony to pas senger who had ventured to inquire how much further it was to Virginia City, and as he handled the reins was surveying the scene with sniff Of con tempt at creation in general. We were climbing the long hill six miles from Virginia City when, through the dusk, man loomed up ahead walking in the same direction. He stopped as the stage came along and asked for lift into town His request was refused by the driver, who hallooed to the horses to-get along and not fall asleep in the traces.
 "'You won't, eh?' said the wayfarer, in whose gruf voice there was trace of surprise. Do you know who amp
 "'No, I Idon'tknow, answered Shorty, cracking his whip at the leaders; and what's more, I don't care cuss.'
 'sT am Sam BrownP thundered the stranger, and l reckon my names good for a ride or Ben Holidays or any other stage line in Nevada. Do you want
 e'At the words Sam Brown Shorty brought his fOur horses all back on their haunches with one jerk.
 sFfWhoa! Whoar he shouted, as he tugged at the lines. You headstrong beasts, will you ever stop pulling! Ex- cuse me, MT. Brown, for keeping you waiting. It's these plagued horses won't stop. I didn't recognize you in the dark, Mir Brown. Will you step inside or ride on the box with me? Glad to see you, MT. Brown, and al ways honored to have you ride on my coach!'
 ''Mr. Brown climbed grimly to the box, took his seat unthankfully as by right of possession, and was the guest of honor into Virginia City. Shorty was extremely polite, and his, tones to his horses ever were apologetic all the rest of the trip. Sam Brown was a man of immense physique and for midable aspect. His long hair was, ae- cording to his custom, pinned up under his hat-,he used bowie knives for that purpose by popular report; it was whea angry that he shook it loose and flung 1t like a mane about his shoulders. His revolvers were plalnIy ndlcaUed be- meath his long black frock coat, and there could be no doubt that lurking in concealment somewhere about his person was the historic knife that had let out so many human lives. He might be described rather as an inter- esting than agreeable companion, and Shorty was relieved of pain ful suspense by finding as the minutes passed that he showed no dis position to revert to the first words of their colloquy. Indeed, MT. Brown, whose usual manner had the types of suitability that grizzly bear mani fests in his different moods, softened into something like tolerance of his company under the influence of a whisky bottle passed up by mining man from within the coach, and he even made some grimly humorous remarks, at which the driver and myself duly laughed with an atfectation of great en- ioyment. At the entrance of the Prima- ventura saloon, on the principal street of the city, MT Brown alighted in style the exposure of attraction for all who witnessed his coming. Shorty rallied amazingly after his departure, and he swelled with pride at the bar rooms that night as he told at every second drink of having brought Sam Brown in on his coach.
 fOur renowned fellow passenger was probably, taken all around, the most hardened and dangerous ruffian that ever figured in the red history of the Pa cifc slope. Up to the time that the vigil ance committees got into operation his reign of terror was supreme in Nevada. The number of men he had killed was variously computed, but the list was a long one, and some of his deeds of blood were of uncommon atrocity. It was his pleasant custom to walk into a store or saloon and demand fifty dollars of the proprietor, which was usually handed him without protest. One un- fortunate clerk who refused the tribute he shot dead across the counter.