Evening star., 1896-02-29
A CASE OF sELF-DEFENsE.

Drummer Fond of Fishing Has an
Experience I'm Another Line.
The drummer for New York house was
talking to Star reporter about a homicide
he had just read of in the paper which was
lying In his lap.
Ibid you ever kill MANI" he asked, in
quite an unexpected fashion.
''Of course. didn't" replied the reporter,
jumping as if he had been accused of such
a crime.
Well" laughed the drummer. don't get
scared about it. didn't say you had, did I?''
NO" hesitated the writer, but the mere
asking of question implies doubt. AS an
offset, may inquire If you ever did?''
That's another story he said, getting
himself ready for it.
Tell it,"
Here goes. Five or six years ago I was in
mountain town in southern state, name
toner / had there. l was through with him
in about fifteen minutes. and. knowing of a
fine stream eight or nine miles out in the
country where fishing was excellent. l hired
horse and started out to have days en-
joyment of the sport like best of all. My
train didn't leave until O'Clock in the
evening, and had done with my customer
by half-past in the morning. so there was
plenty of time.
when near the fishing place l secured the
services of two three natives, and pro-
yiding myself with their rods and lines, I
sent them on ahead and followed on horse
back. When got to the pool where l was to
fish 1 found seven men waiting for me.
Everything went along very smoothly, and
l had caught dozen or more fine ones,
while my aids put in most of their time
playing cards and drinking my brandy.
This didn't worry me at all. for had gone
en- up the stream leaving them at the pool
where we first stopped and where l mad
fitched my horse.
A osol T hoo
found the whole crowd drunk. 1 was ready
to go to town, but when l started for my
horse one of the men asked me to pay for
the fishing tackle. I insisted that the
brandy had paid for that, but to avoid
trouble / was about to pay the amount de-
manded, when the man became angry at
something / said and in minute had out
his pistol. 1 confess was frightened but
/ had to make the most of 1t, and begged
him not to shoot.
"Then the others said I'd have to fight
him, for I had insulted him. l agreed to
this if he would fight with his fists, and as
/ was unarmed, this was agreed to. A ring
was marked off where the fight was to take
place, and fortunately for me. as 1t after
ward turned out. it was near the bank Of
the stream, and sheer fifteen feet above
the stream, which was deep there. and
fifty or sixty feet wide. 1 was handy with
my fists. though didn't look It, being light
and slender. and as soon IS l stood up be-
fore my man knew / had him.
''At the same time, knew if knocked
him out, the crowd would likely Jump me
ard pound me to pulp, If they didn't shoot
me full of holes. However. 1T was fight or
nothing, and / fought l let him hit me
once or twice, and then, when he became
confident, I landed him one square under
the ear, and he took a step or two back
ward, and over the bank he went. That
was entirely unexpected by all of us, and
we rushed to the bank. the crowd ahead of
me and huddled together. Then came my
Inspiration. and with widespread Of my
arms and knocking them against each 9TH
er all 1 could. I gave a mighty shove and
pushed the entire gang over the bank after
their friend and companion. Such a yell
went up as you never heard, and l never
want to again, and turned and ran for
my horse. The next minute l was on his
back and making him go faster than he
ever went before in his life. An hour later
/ was in town, and when my train came
along, I was the first passenger to get
aboard"
Were any of them drowned?" inquired
the writer.
Really smiled the drummer, II never
went back to inquire. did hear. though.
that two or three men had been accidental
ly drowned in that neighborhood about that
time. l presume those who got out felt so
ashamed that one man had thrown seven
over bank into deep water that they never
gave 1t away. and by the same TOKEN I'm
pretty sure in my mind If had not done
what l did, they never would have told
what became of me"