The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11
A MINERS STORY.
Ny ALFRED Is. CALHOUN.

camp lire one evening at the head Of
Granite creek. Arizona territory.
PRESCOTT, the capital of the territory, was
at that time in its infanoy. an annex rs
II were to Fort Whippie just below IL. on
the creek.
Cochise's Apacbes were making things
hot In that portion of the territory at the
time bat even II there bad beeD no hos
tile Indians in our vicinity 10 Is safe to
say that all my companions would have
gone armed TO the tseth from sheer force
of hapit.
The conversation ran ON lynohers and
road agents. and more than one story
was tod that combiued all the elements
o~lragedy, given with broadly humo-
rous manner that was absolutely
grotesque
ibid any of you fellers ever hear Of
Jako MoCape. as uster hang out round
Tucson few years agoy" The man who
asked the question knocked the ashes
from his pipe and looked round one the
flame-lit faces before filling 10 again. He
was tall, bron2ed man OF 30, with
slight drawl in his tones and manner
that was tantaiizingly deliberate.
The men about the ire shook their
heads, Except be Owens himself none
Of them were in Tucson at the tlme
stated. Yet 10 was allowed that they
might have known Jake McCabe under
another name, particularly II he didn't
travel ION the square"
the yernaoular of mining men Is enriched
by the terms Of their calling. which they
apply In u fiRurative sense that makes
them unintelligiDle to the uninitiatod
Pan out" is one Of these words. Men
"pan out" the gravel in the river beds
for golden particles. and they 'pan out"
meE that they are studying, or horso
'doesn't pan out as well as the feler that
sold him said" And so the terM is used
in IA hundred curious ways that are seem
ingly foreign to its literal and original
signiiication.
Abe Owens wasn't much on chipninR"
tho latter word u Chinese term for
talking-but in response tU the general
demand he told all he knew about Jake
McCabo, which ran as follows.
We shall not attempt to reproduce tho
quaint phraseology Of A be Owens.
There had been great many mail car
fiers, prospectors ond ranchmen killed he
6ween Tucson and the Rio Gila and Tor
some time IL was supt o ed that tho In
iians were the per pc ltors OF these crim,s $.
But even those who were most ready 10
believe that an Indian is capable of any
and every barbarity were forced 10 the
conviction that the murderers wore white
men, and that plunder was the object.
At first there was an attempt made TO
scalp he victim, but an old scout de-
clared that IL was not "lnjun work, 'and
finally the bodies were left where they
were shot down without any mutlation.
AS there was no law at that time that
could be enforced in that section. sense
of self-preservation led to the formation
OF vigilance committee, every member
OF which was enjoined to consider him
self a special detective.
But these precautions did not lessen the
danger. One week after the vigilance
committee had published its purpose. n
mail carrier was found dead on the Fort
Beryie trail. His o'se was gone and
the mail bags rified
Suspicion directed her finger Mt two
men, who were unacquainted and us
different in appearances and:mode Of life rs
IL is posi- BILE tn conceive.
James Nesbitt was n man of 80 with n
pale, serious face. and an abstracted
manner He associated with no one. and
he had no business that the miners could
see that woulc enable him To keep two
good horses and black servant. He fire.
quently made trips into the mountains,
would be gone for days and always re-
turned in safety.
The other wasa Mexican herb doctor,
who, IL was reported, had once been
member of the gang of plupderers com
manded by the noted outlaw Joaquin
Muriata.
But DIR. Pintara had some practice
among his countrymen and the half
breeds, and this served 10 shield him hom
tho charge OF having no visible means of
support
Jake MoCabe was the most prominent
nDd the most indignant OF the vigilantcs.
According TO Abe Owens. Jake Nc
Cabe fairly ached TO GIT his grip on the
red d-handed robbers, but they eluded
him.
Jake McCahe lived in a half framed,
half-abode structure about quarter of IA
mile from the built-up portion OF the
little town. His ranch was presided over
1--WE quote Abs agsin) fby black eyed.
taIlish woman, as Jake said was his sis
ter, but no one didn't try TO make love
TO her on that account. Jake had q saloon
and ran game in town and thar wasn't
no one more poplar with the boys. And
then he was "a good-looking feller and
always dressed as neat as o pin and ID *
ed as smooth and slick as quicksiiver.
1t was Jake McCabe who confirmed the
suspicion against James Nesoitt, or "the
professor. rs they called that gentleman.
1t happened in this way:
One morning Jake McCnbe, who had n
good horse and was fonn of riding out at
oil hours, came gallopiDg into town and
said no had discovered the body of Tom
Horsoman, n well-known pres ,ector,
about six miles from town. and that as
ho came upon the body he saw two men
riding off-one OF them was the professor
and the other his colored man, Ike
The vigilants were in no huInor for
investigation. This was tho strongest
and clearest evidence they vet had, ana.
James Nesbitt's house and ordered him
out.
He obeyed and appeared to ps very cool
for so areat criminal, till Jake Nc
Cabe, as spokesman of tho party.
pointedlv told the mission Of himself ana
companions
Then Prof Nesbitt became indignant,
and while he didn't sw I" said A be
Owen, 'he acted TO mo as If he was in
nocsnt NJ the babe unborn. But then
some men kin do that when they're
guilty, and them that's inherent l,ois
jest as il they wasn't"
The professor said that he was a hotsn-
ist in tho =: vice of the Smithsonian in
stitute, and oifere l TO show his col ections
and his papers, but Jake McCabs
wouldn't hear To IL.
" He was tolG that him md the black
man must die. Dnd when tney heard that
they botr was game. The professor asked
for time to write To his mother and to
the young lady he was engaged To, and
the boys didn't hurry him. Whon he'd
writ tho letters hs rose and said: Cen
tIoIuen / nm iDnOppuf YOu nra annut