Smyrna times., 1899-07-19
IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
THE DRAMATIC EXIT OF OLD CAP
FROM LIFE'S STAGE.

"The longing for the center of the
stage exists not only in the centers of
civilization" said 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 bear The |
melodramatic 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. | knew an old !
man out in Arizona some years ago |
who was one of this kind. He was
about the most don't give darn cuSS
ever knew. He lived up in the noun
tains, about ten miles back of Tucson.
all by himself
"How he maA Alged to live never
knew. but he seemed contented. HIS
evil deeds never seemed to worry him
any. and the Lord knows his record
was black enough. He had been II
great gun fighter in his time. and even
in the days | speak of it wouldn't do TO
tread on his toes. He loved to tell of
his wild life, and the fIankneSs with
which he related his somewhat ques-
tiOnable escapades made him an excel
lent entertainer if you didn't happen
to feel squeamish. 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 that 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 | ever got
mixed up with. He certainly did go
out in a blaze of glory. 1t all happel
ed about seven years ago. l was in
| Tucson. A lot of us boys were sitting
around in front of a ginmill one after
noon, just talking about things in ger
| 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 one 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
reckon, when down the street came a
10-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, bub? asked a
tall Texan. who was in the party.
"'Old Cap says t. come right up t
his place right off an fetch all tn me1
yer kin git. Tn Injuns is comnr
''The Indians were always liable tC
bust loose and do something nobody
suspected, so we got our horses out in
a jiffy and started up the trail to save
Old Cap. There were about a dozen o1
us, and we had our Winchesters and sly
shooters with us. When we got neal
to Old Caps we slowed up a bit anC
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 was leading the band. e
we get to Old Caps cabin we kin stan,
off a pretty smart lot
clearing off the trail around a bend
, with high rocks hiding it until yo,
. came out in the open. We reached tn
turn in safety and swept around it q
full gallOp. There we saw, first of al
the little cabin looking as snug 9
usual, and then we noticed Old Ca
sitting astride keg about ten feet i
front of his door. His big, gray SON
brero was cooked to one side, and th
red scarf about his neck gave him tn
look of stage hero of the plains. Fl
I had heard our horses hoofs beatin
: the rocky trail before we wheeled int
view, and he was ready for us. Wal
! ing until we had come within 75 ward
o of him, he lifted his hat and moved
u above his head with a hOarse, will
d yell. AS ! think of it now it sounde
e like the cry of a madman. Then b
d reached into his pocket and drew fort
t a match. This he drew carefully aero:
r a rock which was within reach of IL
= keg upon which lie sat, and saving
$ from the breeze until it was safe
lighted he opened his legs and droppe
it between them.
There was yellow puff of smol
Is tinged with flash of red, and then
n terrific roar. Old Caps body flew SIX
i ward, and when it came down it did1
lie look like g human beings. He hs
Is been sitting on keg Of powder al
he had deliberately blown himself u
N Funny thing for a man to do, wasr
to it? Old Cap apparently got tired
Ii life and decided to kill himself. f
at wanted an audience. So he sent Il
a kid out to drum one up. He got VIII
In he wanted, but it wasn't very symp
a. thetic one. Men don't go much on gu
o. out there, and the Texan was a lit
ne cOra ohOuf fha frfoly xryoJd bo5 ,~Io -