The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
DALTON OF D4LTON'S TRAIL.
Exhibitions or Pride. Nerve and Generosity by
IA Citizen or Alaska.

Exhlbltionn OF Ertue. nerve ana generosity oy
IA Citizen or Alaska.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. GA man from Har-
ney county. Oregon. who is spending a few days
in San Francisco, is an old friend Of Jack Dalton
Of Dalton's Trail fame. and knows how the Alas
kan trail builder came to DO called Dalton. For
that was not his name in the States.
Jack Dalton lived for several years In Har-
ney county" said the Oregon man, " but there
he was known as Jack Miller, which is his real
name. He brought with him to Harvey county
q span of fine horses, and after a while some.
body who did not like him-and he was such an
independent fellow that he had a good many
enemies-spread the report that the horses had
been stolen. and sent word to q man in Umatilla
who claimed that he had lost Just such a span.
The upshot of 1t was that a warrant was issued
for his arrest. All OF Miller's frlends-and l was
himself and provo his ownership OF the team II he
would submit to arrest and let the case come to
trial. But he was TOO proud t. DO anything OF
believe him a thief was welcome to think so. and
would still believe 1t IL he went through n hun.
didn't propose to DO arrested until he had done
something to be arrested for.
Miller had killed his man. and SO the officers
set cautiously about the business of arresting
him. In fact, they showed SO much caution
shippe aii fer A a%fasesa IN TSer so' se IN as sa,ssa the the
namo Of Dalton, thinking it was less likely to
draw trouble after him than his own name. and
as Dalton he has been known ever since. But
nobody need ever toll me that Jack Miller didn't
rightfully own those horses. even II he didn't
want to be arrested. He sent for his wife, and
they made their homo at juneau until she died.
Miller killed q man named Egan II year be-
fore the trouble about tho horses. He md Egtn
had a quarrel which they settled In n friendly
way. They shook hands over it and took IA
drink together and Miller supposed that was
the end OF It. But an hour or so a~fterward, as
Miller was mounting his horse. Egan stepped
up and yelled. Won settle 1t now! Miller
leaped from his horse. drew his gun. and
stopped TO let Egan's bullet pass over him. At
the same instant he shot ERan through, the
head. Hc was exonerated by the CorOner's in
quest and was never oven brought TO trial.
" But fivc years attcrwRrd n friend OF the dead
mnn named Thorpe took n party OF gold seekers
over DalLon's Trail. lie had long before sworn
to avcnge the murder of his friend. and pro-
cecded 10 do IL by destroying bridges and spoil
ing the trail. upon which Dalton had spent
$50. 600 and no emu of thought ana labor. Dali
ton heard what he was doing and went to meet
Ihorpo an his party. He told Thorpe that
from that point the trail was dangerous. and
some one was likely to be hurt II thcy followed
IL. Thorpe and his followers took the hint
and struck out over another route, In which they
soon got into such difficulties. as Dalton knew
they would, that they could neither 20 on nor
retreat. Dalton then sent n party TO help them
out and pilot them back TO his own trail, which
he told Thorpe they would then find perfectly
safe. The seeker after revenge went ON his way
and let tho trail alone after that. Ono of his
party had had both legs crushed by IA fall. and
Dalton took this man TO his own house and
,uroad hin, for aiN fnnutha