Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-09-01

stage exists not only In the ccnters OF
civilization" said man who had gon,
west. made his pile In mining AMI
come back la enjoy himself. You'll
fn.i II w In the Rockies among the
hardest toughest citizens that ever
handled pick or shot bear The
mniedramntic instinct Is mighty strong
IN most stiss. and the glare OF the cal,
eium ia eagerly sought after by many
who won't admit IT, knew nm old
:san on. Ia Ari1cns some years aga
who was one OF this kind. lilo WAS
about the most don't give darn cnss
ever knew. He lived up In the noun
tninn, about ten miles baca Of Tucson.
all by himself
"Iiow lbs managed TO live ! never
knew. but he seemed coutepte.i, His
evil deeds never seemed 10 worry him
any. and thc Lord knows his record
was black enough. tfc had been
great gun fighter In his time, and even
IN the days | speak Of il wouldn't do to
tread on his toes lie loved TO tell Of
which lie related his somewhat lues.
tioBablc cscapaaes made him an excel
lent entertainer II you didn't happen
20 feel sqlleamish Suucainishness isn't
common fault out that way. and
everybody knew and liked Old Cap
that's what they called him-exccpt
tho rev who had bceu in trouble witt,
bin at one time or another.
Nov: no one ever thought that Old
Gap was spectacular. lie was tho last
man ON earth who would he thought
likely ~ want tho c-nt-f Of the stage
Tor any OF hls stunts. Tut he did, and
the climax OF his life was more pyro-
technical than any mana ever got
tiisci mp with. lie certainly did go
out In blaze OF glory IL all happen
ell about seven years ago ] was III
Tucson. A lot OF us boys were sitting
around In front of gumiii one after,
nnou. just talking about things Ia gen-
cral Oar horaea were tied IN the yard
nj the back. IL was mighty fine day.
s;:-. -s-::, enc..... ~. soi.d comfort
out or doors, and will, the sky aA clear
~ afsoiut. iryn.ss eou'a make H. II
was QUE Of these days. you know,
when you throw your chest out and
congratulate yourself on being alive.
"As | was saying. We all sat on easy
wicker chairs. talking and whiting
reckom when down the street came n
loycar-old boy riding "A broncho, We
rccosnixcd him AN u yoangster who
lived a couple OF miles this side or Old
Caps on the same trail. He rode RICH,
Op 10 whore W. were sitting and rolled
on his horse. with his eyes n.popplpl
and his breath a painting.
WHATS tho matter. bubY asked q
tall Texan. who was In the party.
"'old Cap says { come right up I
his place right on an fetch all IN meI
yer kin cit. Til lnJuns Ii coinlnr
THE indians were always liable I,
bust loose aud do something uobod,
suspected. so we got our horses out IL
Iiffy and started up the trail tn say,
old Cap There were about n dozen oil
M. and We had our Winchcsters and 81,
shooters with as. When we got neal
10 Old Caps w slowed up bit an.
began Ia look pretty sharp FOR Indians
but not q align OF a redskln could ",
sec.
"'W.ll be In tlne. boys said th,
Texan. who WAS leading the band Il
we gsi To OH Caps cabin we kin stan,
of PRETTY smart lot
"uid Caps cabin WAS situated Ia
Sisarlus on the trail around bend
With high rocks hiding II until 70,
came out 10 the open We reached tn
tnru Ia safety aud swept around II u
Hstt rail-
sA~ litts- cabin looking as snug d
usual. aud then We noticed Old Cal
sitting as,ride u Neg about ten feet Ii
front of his door Ills big. gray son,
trrto was cooked " one side. and tn
RID scarf about hls neck gave hun tn
look Ut y stage hero OF the plains. IL
hal heard our horses haofs bcatin
the rocky trail before We wheeled Int
view. and he WAS rvady for US Wal,
Ing until we had come within IS yard
OF him. he lifted his hat aud moved
ADORE his head with haarse. will
ych. A. | think OF Il now Il sound.'
like the cry Of nadnian. Thcn b
reached Into bis pocket and drew fort
. match. This he drew carefully acres
. rock which was within reach OF In
~ uk~e9 ut sat- anu &ANltk
trom the hr~exs until II was safei
ughsrd he opened hls iexs and dyoppe
u between tben,.
ssIhsrv was a yellow pun Ut snok
Hinged with nash Of rid. aud then
serrtne roar. Old Caps bedy few sk,
wAsd. aud when u eame down /, didu
lceh like . human bclng's lie ha
bern sitting on a keg os powder an
esd deliberately blown himself u,
Iunny thing for man " do. WASH
~ Old Gap apparently got tired y
life aud decided 10 Nh himself II
wanted an audience. 10 he rsut III
Md out To drusa cite up lie got whs
h~ oaasrsi but " wasntt very sym,s
thrssr ou~ Ncn dan.t 10 much on qua
cut there. aud the Texan was a It'll
sofv about tbs sfiek wv'd had piays
90 ~ lie helpsJ 10 stralghssa out n
ceftsss. and then hs AT down on
hoNsdsr aud kas~i AZ u.