The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-27
BLACK HILLS TALE.
vow TWO TENDERFEET AMUSED
THE CRITICS OF DEADWOOD.
r,,,e spent in Practical JOkes-One
woke to Find Himself Rated as
D,oniac-He FOrGave Easily.

..,,+ivelv throughout the evening to the
,,sr,I number of stories, jokes and adj
.-.,,,,res which had been related by The
o,o,,o in the lobby of the hotel, and finally
,efs- the capitalist had spun yarn, he re-
marked:
That story of yours reminds me of the
Gamers of two young eastern capitalists
nbom l knew during the Black Hills boom
sor,a years ago. Although 1t was COM
mon occurrence for capitalists to come 10
alittle mining town., such marvellous sto-
r;es concerning these two had preceded
them that the whole assemblage of corner
,oafers decided to break up their accus-
toned camp near the Rocket saloon in
order to go down to the station for the
nnrnose of subjecting the newcomers to a
critical examination. When the train final
" pulled in, two hours behind time, as us
nal the crowd gazed with awe and ill-con-
cealed admiration upon the Immediately
dressed young men. They're easy said
Long Kid" the barkeeper. "Wen, l should
saw" echoed the others. The two young
men from the east, who had come to
Deadwood in search of fortune and adven-
lure found a plenty of the latter, but the
fact that they were separated from more
money than they could ever earn in a life
time seemed to make no impression upon
them. They were known as bill and Tom,
the pardners." Few knew anything about
their lineage or wealthy relatives, and
none cared to know. They posed is part
ners. but it could never be learned just
why such a term had been bestowed upon
them, as they made no pretensions toward
anything like business. 1t was true that
they had bought a sailed mine the day
after their arrival in the town, but as this
venture resulted so disastrously they had
abandoned the idea of embarking in bust
ness, preferring to remain in Deadwood
and enjoy life in their own sweet way.
Every one liked them; some because they
spent money lavishly others because they
were genial and conciliatory. Their sole oc-
cupation seemed to be playing practical
jokes on each other. Some months later
a horrible murder was committed in
minors cabin in Bear Gulch. Soon after
this second murder, more atrocious than
the first, was committed in the same vi
entity, and it was developed that the MUIR
derer was a maniac of the most ferocious
type Stories of his wild deeds were told
with bated breath in every section of the
Black Hills. Finally he was committed to
Jail in one of the upper mining towns to
await his Incarceration in the asylum then
located at Pierre, the capital of the state.
The legislature was In session that win
ter, and as the partners were growing
tired of the mono tonous life in Deadwood
they decided to make a visit 10 Pierre.
After a few preliminary jokes, they took
the old rickety stage across the cattle
country rather than attempt the long, cir
cutous trip by rail. When The stage was
in the vicinity of Bad river Partner Tom
decided to appease his appetite at a way
side ranch house. While he was within
sudden inspiration seized Partner Bin. He
passed a dollar to the stage driver, who did
as instructed, and began 70 lash his horses
madly with his whip. OF course, Partner
Tom had to run through the snow for
mile before he overlook the stage. Reach
ing the vehicle at last he calmly took his
seat and made some joking remark about
the weather. This aroused Partner Bilrs
suspicious, as he surmised that something
was in the wind, for he knew by past eX-
periences that this assumed good nature
on the part of his friend foreboded evil
When the stage finally pulled up before the
hotel at Pierre, and the benumbed passen-
gers alighted in about six feet of snow
the usual hotel loafers greeted them,
Notwithstanding the fact that it was long
at once, vowing that they would never at
tempt the journey across the cattle coun-
try again.
Partner Tom was up early the following
morning, and strolled down into the hotel
Office. He was amazed to find the room
crowded with loud-talking. excited men,
who turned and gazed at him. Naturally
becoming somewhat disturbed at their
comments, he attempted to unravel the
mystery. Before an opportunity was given,
however, a TALL Misunderstanding individ-
ual in high-heeled boots, approached him
and asked:
"How's yur prisoner this mornin'?"
Somewhat taken a-back at this question,
Tom asked CURLY:
What prisoner"
BY this time the entire assemblage had
crowded around him, and were asking all
kinds of questions concerning manlacs'
prisoners, convicts and other subjects SO
foreign to Tom that he almost lost his
temper. Before he had time to make
further inquiries, a man rushed up to him
and said. dehantly:
Now, look here you think that we
don't know who you are, but we do. You're
the sheriff from Deadwood, and you has
got crazy man, takin' him to the asylum.
We know all about you. You amt 50
smart as you think you are. You can't
fool us. No, stree"
BY this time Partner Tom understood
the entire situation since the man had
let the cat out OF the bag. He remem-
bered that the sheriff was expected the
night before with the celebrated maniac
from Bear Gulch So. seized with an
inspiration, he began to explain with unc-
ton that he had no desire to deceive the
public, but for prudential reasons did not
think 1t wise 20 disclose his identity on
account of the wild character of the ma
MAC in his charge. He continued further
that, as he had been discovered, it was
perhaps as wei for him to explain all.
You must remember, gentlemen" he said
TO the crowd, in a mysterious tone, Il
nave one of the widest maniacs in the
world in my charge. and if you will not
become alarmed, permit me to state that
ne is now unclaimed in his room. Iscane
down stairs to ask for volunteers to as
slst in the work of placing the man in
irons, and also to compel him to partake
Of the food. He is subject TO Whims and
caprices of the most extraordinary charac-
Ter Coming he he tried