New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
THE RESCUE OF JIMMY.
A STORY OF A HARD MAN WITH A SOFT
SPOT
From The San Francisco Argonaut.

From The San Francisco ArgOnaut.
Ma d n %a f bar man Tt9 f SG
jimmy Gregg ana dated from the winter when the
According the point OF view. the Captain
the best man or the worst who ever bossed A rail-
tractors and they would tell you that he Al
man. who could get more work out of his gang
who did the work. and you would learn that he
the meanest and most abusive old hustler who
shovel to light pipe There were ugly stories told
about his practice Of eyegouging in fight and his
q tis,,,i'V Of them all .'N"' "'' "'7 u"
In December the camp contained about forty men
ventory is not complete without Including one old
Poned morse sort OF S SsmPt40Wer wao SUB
owned by Gregg. the boarding master who with
bread and coffee thrice day 10 the forty hungry
Il wonder" said the Captain one day as he
dsCplining this pachyderm for sneakng into the
feed-corral. why God Almighty ever made horse
horse will break down If h. don't have tho best Of
feed or go lame just when you want rush the
hard fare exactly suits them. They'll pull a scraper
all day and be fresh enough at night to kick
times when they quit work. and plenty OF water to
drink they will never out. never
that ever mule die
At this time camp ten miles from water.
upon dry plain carrying no vegetation but sparse
sagebrush and grtasewood Water was hauled in
tank-wagOns. and the old horse, not getting all he
needed In camp had learned 10 follow the teams
one morning. after the gang had breakfasted and
gene 10 work on the grade. and the tank wagons
road to the sprine. Grcggs little three year-old
coral where he often played. The old horse
there. nosine through the managers ana the child
presently climbed upon is BACK as II STOOD ruoDlng
against A wagon. The horse raid no heeu to his
little rider. and soon ambled of up the road after
the water-wagons. The child neld on tlgntly, az
first laughing. then crying until ne had been car,
ried evera miles when ne te on br ana wandered
Jimmy WAS not missed until the men came in
ried and unaydiinG search through the camp. After
dinner Nahom aid off ten teams and sent the
aferr D" they returned and reported failure
Meanwhile Mrs Gregg. who said she was perfectly
through every tent and overhauled every bedroll.
believing that some man for Joke had hidden the
men and Joined in the quest. Under his direction
the camp was crcled twice. at a distance of one
for footprints None were found. and Mahem said
TO- 9s srk ycHv got to look under brush
inside Of this line. and you're bound 10 find him.
for he could not get outside without making
This search also was Of course fruitess. Some
men came to camp at otsrs "g bHar fhe
1t daybrcak the Captain was in the saddle.
mounted on his favorite mule. He still believed the
boy must he inside the circle If that bad been
properly made; to clear up, that doubt he meant
to make the entire round alone and outside OF me
line made by the men To reach me staring POM b
he rode ont NJ the road toward the spring ms
eyes on the the ground. his mind on the problem
OF how Jimmie could get out OF camp ana leaNr
by God. I've got it, said he suddenly ja6bing
both spurs into the mule. when responded WIN
gallant attempt to pitch him into cactus oed
THAT hoy rode out on water-"agcn MS nlotnvr
Is of wrong In thinking he was IN tne LII VIII
the tail Of the last wagon and lay low Tor rear me
driver would him and SEND MN PACK aA Iet a
while he sleepy and fell on ara snaIi ma u ms
tracks somewhere In This roaai Datnha"on' Wy
cG The captain confidently urged his mule along as
fast a. a scraper-mule could be made 10 travel
wa
Nd the boys trail at the point where ne fell from
'n Abandoning now his mule Mahem on foot fol-
lowed the toruous trail AZ rapidly as he could To-
hard ground ii was slow and difficult task Tow
ard noon he entirely lost IT on a rocky MI and
when he at last found the boy cured up beside
OJ jimmie was very much alive. but TOO cold TO
walk or talk Mahem wrapped him in some OF his
own clothing and put few drops OF whiskey in
his mouth Whisky straight was TOO strong a
beverage for the child, and he choked. MIX.
mix" he cried family
Mahem had brought no food with him. and had
nothing to offer but whisky
MIX" said Jimmie again. ,-
An right said Mahem;, drawing Ing clasp s,n n
you shall nave mf ana acaS IN tbe can Of bs
whiskey flask. added a little Bourbon and gave the
starving child a liberal draught. jimmie was mlch
safely home again and transferred from Mahem's
10 his mothers arms.
a bou, his adventure. but the Captain then and al
ways disputed the hoy story that ne went out OF
amp on the back OF old Barney.
"A horse is low-,lown enough TO do trick like
that" said he. but a horse didn't do IL this time
found the spot wherv he fell OF" And that set
What does Jimmie by milk" asked Mrs.
Gregg He says that when you found him you
gave him milk
ne meant whiskey." said Mahem, shortly.