Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-27

months ago, the number was ten. We hoped to stop at ono, but circumstances compelled us to go forward to five. seven, ten. When the tenth man was laid to rest. we had the half acre of ground put into grass, set out shrubbery and constructed gravel walks, and the fence inclosing 1t alone cost $500. In each and every case we have paid all funeral expenses and made no kick about bills. In each and ev- cry case n coroner's jury has acquitted us of all blame, and our fellow rownsmen have passed resolutions of thanks.
 Had we been ambitious to make grave yard record we could have had 20 tomb
 stones to point to. We have acted only in self defense. and on a dozen occasions
 have crawflshed 10 avoid popping over some eritter who ought 10 have been put out of the way years before We werc full
 of hope that No. 10 would be the last, and
 had just made a contract to have the picket
 fence repainted when an individual call
 ing himself Gila Sam reached town along
 with freighter's outfit. That he came
 here to kill us he himself announced, but
 gave no reasons. Monday afternoon he
 came riding into town and dismounted at
 the city ha.l expecting to find us in the
 mayors office. We were not thUre, and he
 walked over 10 TIE KICKER office and had
 a chat with our horse editor and learned that We were on the street. The stranger
 talked pleasantly and appeared good na- tured, but at the same time assured our
 horse editor that he had come to pop over
 the old man" and would bet 10 to that
 he got the first fire. Our h. e, who is a
 thorough sport. took the bet and put up
 $5 against $50. Then he wagered $20
 against the strangers horse and SI0 more
 against his two guns and started him out
 on our trail Warning might have heen
 sent Us by the office boy, but our horse editor Is n square man and would take no
 advantage of the stranger.
 We were standing in front of the Bald Eagle saloon, discussing local politics with
 Colonel Johnson, when Gila Sam walked up to us We saw the man while he was yet a block of and had a presentiment that he meditated mischief He walked
 with his hands hanging down and a little behind him, and he looked at Colonel Fay Tor as if intending 10 address him. We quietly got ready for what might occur. and when the strangers hands were sud denly and swiftly lifted to his holsters and
 he wheeled on us and uttered yell VIC
 were two seconds ahead of him He got
 tho right hand gun out. and it exploded
 and the bullet entered the earth as he fell. 1 As soon us he had been disarrued he was
 carried into the saloon and Dr. Carter sent
 for While he was pronounced past hope
 he lived for two hours. and for q part of l the time was conscious and able 10 con verse. He refused to talk to Us or make any explanations. nor did he appear par
 tieularly pleased or grateful when we told him that he should be planted in good style and In the handsomest cemetery in Arizona. He sent for our horse editor, however, and said ir was a squRre deal and | he had lost.
 While fully and completely exoneEated by the cOroner's jury in this case. and while scores of our best citizens have called l to shake hands and compliment us, VIC have no feeling uf exultation. On the con- trary, we are sud and broken up. While we must shOnt in self defense, we want to | be left alone to pursue our peaceful way. | If Giln Sam had come to us iG the risht 1 spirit, he could have borrowed SEQ, secured l an apology or extracted most any sort of 6 1 promise, but he wouldn't have it that l way. Tombstone No II" has now taken
 its place in our p. E., and when we reflect
 that we may have to keep right on pop
 ping over bad men for the next three or l four years we grow discouraged and faint
 hearted and hro willing to trade THR KICKER for 0 cooper shop in some quiet
 eastern hamlet. NJ. QUAD.