The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-12-24
re had come down off the
W. mountains near Fremout's
v v peak -the six of US, who had


peak the six Of US, vino had
been prospecting for three
months-and we had scarcely struck tht
trail when we ran upon a mountain outht
There were three white men, two half
breeds, a Mexican and negro, and the
party had six pack mules with them
They had just gone into camp for the
night, and after hearty greetings all around
we pitched our tents alongside and cooked
our suppe,s at the same camp tire.
The strangers were bound up to Little
Squaw mountain on hunt for gold. Tue
leader was jim Williams
There would have been no trouble
between the two outfits but for the cards
which were introduced after snpper. Aud,
as it was, only portion OF the men dared
to play, as the d:y had betn tuesnn''
one to all. Oar chief Frank johnson, OF
Nevada, sat down with Williams, ami
both were in great good nature as | wrap
ped myself in my hlanket and fell asleep.
l had slept for two hours when aroused ny
the sound of a quarrel. | YVES the last
man of the l3 to roll ont, and | found
every one OF the IL with gun IN his hand.
1t seemed that the two leaders had bean
playing for m0nty and luck being with
our nan, he had son heavily. Then there
came dispute a. to some point, the lie
was passed and the men OF both ou'L its
were ready 10 open Ere on each other. II
was the other crowd which backed down.
Williams realized shat he could not depend
upon the Mexican and the negro and was,
therefore, overmatohed. After moment,
he flung down his gun and said to Johnson
''The crowd has nothing to do with tins
row, and reckon we are men enough It
settle ii between ourselves"
"In any way you choose" replied John.
son.
"Weli, then, IN tell you my plan in TIE
morning. One Of Us has to 90 under for
what has passed. Let's call it eff fol
tonight.
The two leaders shook hands, and | fol
one believed that it would be the end o
the Quarrel. said as much to one Of on,
men as we lay down again, hut he whis
peringly replied:
"You don't know the men. There il
an old grudge between them. They vii
fight tomorrow, sue, and they will tigh
until one of them is dead.
"a duel with rifles, pistols or knives p
| asked.
81 can't say. Both are square men
and ia will be square fight. jim vii
liams is one of the gamest men in all tht
west, and as he has found his match there L
be fight worth talking about for the mex
90 years"
The men OF both camps slept peacefully
during the remainder OF the night and as
we prepared and ate breakfast nobody
had word to say about the trouble OF the
night before. The two leaders gave each
other 'good morning" and ohatted about
the weather, and ! would have wagered
nv all that the bard words had been for
given. was looking for the order to pack
up and move on as so"D as breakfast was
over, when Williams TOOK seat beside
Johnson and quietly observed:
"You are in no hurry, | take it, and a
day or two will make no difference to our
men,"
eve can stop here week as well as
not" was the reply.
"Just ahead OF us, to the north, is Jack.
sons basin"
some OF us is to leave here at nine
O'Clock. 1t will take him an hour to reach
the far side. At ten O'Clock the other will
leave. We will hunt for each other in the
basin. The one who lives to get out will
return here and notify the camps. Do you
understand 2"
''Periectly. We are to hunt for each
other in the basin and to shoot on sight
One of us will be left there. The one who
goes first turns on his tail and returns
We can stick to the trail or take to the
woods We may be hunting each other fol
half day or half a week"
'That's the idea, and now We'll toss ~
to see who goes first Is it heads or tails .
"Heads, said our leader.
The coin which Williams tossed into the
air fell tails up, and he rose up and said:
''It's for me to 60 first. Boys, you all
understand this matter. Only one Of us is
to come back, and there's to be no hard
feelings about it. If I'm left behind you'll
push on with Bill here for your leader
What I've got in my packs you are wei
come to divide between you. I've got Il
minutes to get ready in"
heard every word of the above, as had
every other man in camp, but it was hard
for me to realize that the men were in sober