The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-11

fellow with pistol. He had a half
interest in a roulette gambling device,
and he went about town with two or
three revolvers in his belt. He always
went in the middle Of the street, so
that he could better see any one who
lay in wait for him, and that he mign-
have an unimpeded view in case he was
attacked. Fortunately for the general
community he was seldom intoxicated,
for then he was very cross and ugly,
and would shoot on the least provoca-
ton. His favorite amusement with a
tenderfoot whom he did not like was to
fire bullets yard or two from the ter
rif1ed persons head. Just to give him
some music" SO Hank said
Hank was not slow in telling Pom
chita that he loved her and that she
must love him, that he was boss of
Tombstone at that time, and that it
would not only be an honor to her to
have his attentions at the Golden
Eagle dance hall, but safer for other
admirers to keep their distance when
he was about. But Ponchita had eyes
for young man of good family named
Henderson, just out from Michigan.
For some time Hank never suspected
he had a secret rival in Ponchita's
affections One night when Hank had
gone over to neighboring camp, Hen
Cerson could not resist the onrortunity
to drink and dance with the Mexican
girl at the dance hail. About midnight
Hank suddenly STROBE into the place.
He was mad in moment and several
dancers who saw him draw his gun got
out of the way. Quicker than it takes
to tell it he had shot Henderson
through the shoulder. The dancing
stopped, and upon Ponchitas assur-
ance of her affection for Hank he put
up his weapon. Henderson went out
with some friends, apparently to hunt
up a physician, while Hank Allen called
the house up to the bar to drink with
him, never giving a second thought to
how his shooting might result. Once
out of the dance hall Henderson's an
ger became violent. He went and Dor
rowed sawed-off shotgun from
gambler down the street, and while
dripping with blood from his wound he
loaded it with buckshot. Then, with
two companions, he was on his way
around a rear window to the lance
hall, where he could draw aim on Hank
Allen.
Some one must have fastened to the
later and warned him of the impending
assassination, for just as Henderson
and his companions were creeping past
the dance hall Allen FASTENED out. He
drew one of his pistols just as Hender-
son raised to shoot him. The gun and
pistol went off exactly at the same mo-
ment.
Henderson staggered and fell, and
Allen staggered into the arms of a by
stander.
| Although Hank Aliens chest vas
| pierced by seven buckshot, he raised
| himself sufficiently to shoot eight times
at the fallen Henderson. Both men
were dead in minute more.
In June, 1880, the Elephant saloon
and dance house was opened by Bill
| Watson and Jake Jacobs, two old-time
sports, who had made money in Deni-
son, Texas. They decided to run a
heightened place, where the rich mine
| owners and the moneyed men from Cal
| ifornia could have a good time at gam
bling and drinking and flirting with the
! blondes that danced there. 1t was
| thought that this was to fill long-feli
want, and in measure would separate
the sheep from the goats among the
masculine population of Tombstone.
Around the walls of the hall were
showbill pictures. At one side were
smaller rooms where faro, poker, stud
poker and roulette were played.
Everything went well at Watson &
Jacobs Elephant for a few days. The
place did land Office business. -Four
bartenders were kept on the jump hall
the time, and the f1ddlers sank from
exhaustion in their chairs Suddenly