Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-08
IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
THE DRAMATIC EXIT OF OLD GAP
FROM LlFE'S STAGE.

Final Wild Act.
1.-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 and
come back to enjoy himself. you'll
find 1t 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 1t. I 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 managed 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 a
great gun fighter in his time, and even
in the days l speak Of 1t wouldn't do to
| tread on his toes He loved to tell Of
his wild life, and the frankness with
which he related his somewhat Ques-
tiopable escapades made him an excel
lent entertainer II you didn't happen
to feel squeamish. Squeamishness isn't
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.
Nov, 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 90
out In blaze Of glory. 1t all happen
ed about seven years ago. I was in
Tucson. A lot of US boys were sitting
around in front of ginmill one after
noon, just talking about things In gen
eral. Our horses were tied in the yard
at the back. 1t was mighty fine day,
| just warm enough for solid comfort
out of doors, and with the sky as clear
as absolute dryness could make 1t. II
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 q
1O-year-old boy riding a broncho. We
recognized him as a youngster who
lived 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.
What's the matter, bub? asked O
tall Texan, who was in the party.
"'Old Cap says t come right up t
his place right off an fetch all tn mer
yer kin git Th Injuns is cominr
1.-The Indians were always liable tc
bust loose and do something nobody
suspected, so we got our horses out IL
jiffy and started up the trail to save
Old Cap. There were about dozen OF
us, and we had our Winchesters and six
shooters with us. When we got neaI
to Old Caps we slowed up bit and
began to look pretty sharp for Indians
but not a sign of a redskin could We
see.
"'We'll be in time, boys said the
Texan, who was leading the band. Ell
we get to Old Caps cabin we kin stand
off a pretty smart lot
"Old Caps cabin was situated in s
clearing off the trail around a bend
with high rocks hiding 1t until yol
came out in the open. We reached the
turn In safety and swept around 1t n
full gallop. There we saw, first Of all
the little cabin looking as snug a.
usual and then we noticed Old Cal
sitting astride keg about ten feet II
front Of his door. His big, gray som
brero was cooked to one side, and tn,
red scarf about his neck gave him th'
look Of stage hero Of the plains. III
had heard our horses hoofs beatini
the rocky trail before we wheeled int
view and he was ready for us. Wait
Ing until we had come within rs yard
Of him, he lifted his hat and moved 1
above his head with q hoarse, wilt
YELL AS think Of 1t now 1t sounded
like the cry Of a madman. Then b.
reached into his pocket and drew fort)
T match. This he drew carefully across
rock which was within reach Of tn
keg upon which he sat, and saving !
from the breeze until it was safel.
lighted he opened his legs and droppe,
r 1t between them.
"There was yellow puff Of smok
tinged with flash Of red, and then [
terrific roar. Old Caps body few sky
, ward, and when it came down 1t didn'
r look like human beings. He ha'
+ been sitting on a keg Of powder an
had deliberately blown himself up
Funny thing for a man to do, WASH
t It? Old Cap apparently got tired o
: life and decided to kill himself. II
i. wanted an audience. So he sent tn
kid out to drum one up. He got wha
: thetic one. Men don't go.much on gus
n out there, and the Texan was a lttl
sore about the trick we'd had playe
on us. He helped to straighten out tn
y corpse, and then he sat down on
s bowlder and gazed at IL.
e "'Well,' he said finally, he certainl
). did give himself good send off! An
the rest of the gang guffawed lou
= enough to start the echoes down tn
: valley.
:. "But it was all pretty human whe