The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-08-02
IN BLAZE OF GLORY
THE DRAMATIC EXIT OF OLD CAP
FROM LIES STAGE.

Wild Audience to See Him DO HIS
Final Wild Act.
"The longing for the center OF the
stage exists not only in the centers or
civilization" said a man who had gone
west. made his pile in mining AMI
come back to enjoy himself. You'll
find it UP in the Rockies among the
hardest. toughest citizens that ever
handled a pick or shot a bear. Inc
nelodranatic instinct is mighty strong
in most men. and the glare OF the cal
cium is eagerly sought after by many
who won't admit it. l knew an old
man out in Arizona some years ago
who was one of this kind. He was
about the most don't give a darn cuSs
ever knew. He lived up in the noun
tains, about ten miles back Of Tucson.
all by himself.
"How he managed to live l never
knew, but he seemed c%ontented. His
evil deeds never seemed to worry him
any, and the Lord knows bis record
was black enough. He had been u
great gun fighter in his time. and ever
in the days l speak Of it wouldn't do to
tread on his toes. He loved to tell OF
his wild life, and the f~rankness with
which he related his somewhat Ques-
tiopable escapades made him an excel
lent entertainer il you didn't happen
to feel s%Queamish. Squeamishness isn't
a common fault out that way, and
everybody knew and liked Old Cap
that's what they called him-except
the few who had been in trouble with
him at one time or another.
Now, no one ever thought hat Old
Cap was spectacular. He was the last
man on earth who would be thought
likely to want the center Of the stage
for any Of his stunts. But he did, and
the climax Of his life was more pyro-
technical than any mans l ever got
mixed up with. He certainly did go
out in a blaze Of glory. 1t all happen
ed about seven years ago. l was in
Tucson. 4 lot of US boys were sitting
around in front Of a ginmill n after
noon, just talking about things in gen.
eral. Our horses were tied in the yard
at the back. 1t was a mighty fine day,
just warm enough for solid comfort
out Of doors, and with the sky as clear
as absolute dryness could make it. 1t
was q Of these days, you know,
when you throw your chest out and
congratulate yourself on being alive.
las l was saying. we all sat on easy
~,;ol.o~ o1,o;~c <o1l;o~ ND ,rb;<1;oo I
reckon. when down the street came a
1O-year-old boy riding a broncho. We
recognized him as a youngster who
lived a couple of miles this side Of Old
Caps on the same trail. He rode right
up to where we were sitting and rolled
off his horse, with his eyes a-popping
and his breath a-panting.
Whats the matter, buby' asked q
tall Texan, who was in the party.
"'Old Cap says t come right up t
his place right off al fetch all tn men
yer kin git. TIL Injuns is cominr
The Indians were always liable e
bust loose and do something nobody
suspected, SO we got u horses out in
a jiffy and started up the trail to say.
Old Cap. There We're about a dozen o.
u S sand we had our Winchesters and 81,
shooters with US. When we got nea
to Old Caps we slowed up a bit am
began to look pretty sharp for Indians
but not a sign of a redskin could W
see.
We'll be in time, boys said tn
Texan, who "a leading the band. e
we get to Old Caps cabin we kin stan
off a pretty smart lot
"Old Caps cabin was situated in
clearing off the trail around a ben,
with high rocks hiding it until 70
came out in the open. We reached tn
turn in safety and swept around it :
full gallop. There we saw, first of al
the little cabin looking as snug {
usual, and then we noticed Old Ca
sitting astride q key about ten feet
front OF his door. His big, gray sol
brero vas cooked to one side, and IL
red scarf about his neck gave him Il
look Of a stage hero of the plains. 1
had heard our horses hoofs beatil
the rocky trail before we wheeled in
view, and he vas ready for us. Wa
ing until we had come within IS var,
Of him, he lifted lis hat and moved
above his head with a hoarse, wi
yell. AS l think Of it now it sound,
like the cry of n mailman. Then
reached into his pocket and drew for
a match. This he drew carefully aero
a rock which was within reach Of t
keg upon which lie sat, and saving
from the breeze until it was safe
lighted he opened his legs and dropp
it between them.
There was a yellow puff Of smo
tinged With a fash of red, and then
terrific roar. Old Caps body few sE
ward, and when it came down it did
look like a human beings. He b
been sitting on a key Of powder a
had deliberately blown himself I
Funny thing for a man to do, wasl
it? Old Cap apparently got tired
life and decided to kill himself. !
wanted an audience. So he sent t
kid out to drum one up. He got wh
he wanted, but 1t wasn't a very symL
thetic me-. Men don't 60 much on gu
out there, and the Texan was a lit
sore about the trick we'd had play
on us. He helped to s%tralghten out t
corpse, and then he sat down on