The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-06
The Home Going of Silent Sam

The Home Gong OF Silent Sam.
1t was strange eongiomeration of
humanity that occupied the mining camp
in Rocky Guich Prospectors and adyen-
turers from all parts of the globe We're
there assembled. There was Rid Nike;
| there was Badly Slick. who had made
and lost fortunes st the card tables;
| there was Coyote Pete. who had pros
pected in every gold field upon the face
of the globe; there was Silent sam, 50
called because of his Discrimination TO
join in conversation, and laxative Bob,
who received his appeiation for a dis
similar reason; there was St Louis Joe,
who dispensed liquor to the miners, and
Tipsy Tim, whose sole ambition was TO
pan enough dust to keep himself in a
chronic state OF intoxiea ton There
were others but among them all no rep
resentatives Of the gentier sex until Joe
Hardy-Honest Joe, they dubbed him
drifted into the camp, accompanied by
his brave young wife.
Some way the camp seemed different
after Mrs. Joe" came. There may have
been no less drinking, but there was less
gambling. but there was less shooting
and when Joe's baby came wave Of
reformation actually swept the camp.
II became the custom to gather around
Joe's cabin every Sunday, and the baby
was gazed at with mingled awe and adj
miration. As months went by Babe as
every one called her, developed cute and
affectionate ways, and she was almost
worshipped by those rough miners.
There came a sad day for Rocky Gulch
however. Babe was upon her little bed.
tossing her tiny arms and moaning
plaintively. The miners knocked of
o,,1 r. -
little distance from the cottage. St
Louis Joe closed his saloon tight, and de-
clared not one drop would the boys get
till Babe got well.
''Ain't a-goin' ter hev some galoot git
full and git a-shootin' off his gun an
disturbing Babe" he said
Hal ia dozen of the men remained up
all night near the cottage, ''to be on
hand" they said. "ef Joe wanted any
thing
The second night Silent Sam offered
to sit by Babe to spell" Joe and his
wife. His services were accepted.
though Joe and his wife took turns sit
ting I'D with him.
You are as handy as a mother" re-
marked Mrs. Joe, after Sam had been
ministering to the little sufferer
Sam swallowed a big lump IN his
throat two or three times before he re-
piled:
II had little feller about Babes age
when I left home two year agone."
81 should think you would want to go
home to your family. SAM" said Mrs.
Joe; ''they must miss you sadly
Me an the old woman had some
words: that's why I left" said Sam.
Guess I was mostly to blame, though
he added AN purity hasty."
<'I'd on bs ply said Mrs Inc SoftIv
Babe didn't improve, and the anxiety
of the community deepened day by day.
At last one night, shortly after mid
night, Joe came TO the half dozen men
who still kent their nightly vigil near
his cabin. They gathered around him
ANY change, Joe?" they eagerly in
quired.
Joe struggled some minutes TO reply,
and then with a great s6b said:
"Babe's gone" and rushed past the
group into darkness.
Every inbabitant Of Rocky Guleh
knew Of Babes death before morning,
and the most of them were gathered at
a respectful distance from the cabin
when Joe stepped to the door after sun
rise.
Come in, boys. an see her" ne said.
and one by one they filed past the peace
full figure which lay with a smile on the
sweet, upturned face
Its a cryin' shame" said Coyote
Pete tibet the Babe can't 1ev a genuine
first-class funeral. but there amt no
show fer spread in this hole
''Ef there was time I'd go ter Frisco
an tote caslset in on my back sail
Red Mike, but there amt, SOS no use
talkin'''
Now. don't we fret" said Badly Slick
Babes goin' ter hev funeral, the ike
of which amt been seen in Moo York
itslf.' and he unfolded his plan to the
boys.
Two of Badly Sticks tables were torn
apart and a rude casket was construct
ed of the boards. The inside was lined
with a beautiful dry moss. gathered
from the mountains side. the outside
coated with fresh pitch. upon which was
sprinkled gold dust, contributed by the
willing miners.
A grave was followed out in pleas
ant place near Joe's cabin. and that.
too. was lined with moss, upon which
was sprinkled some of the dust
When the casket was taken to the
house Joe and his wife broke down COM
plete1y.
20. it is so sweet" said Mrs. Joe.
'and it is so kind Of you. We were
troubled to think that Babe could not
have a nice burial, and now this-this
:" and she could say no more
The services at the grave were simple
Mrs. ice had a Bible and Silent Sam
was asked to read chapter He di4
SO. and tho nthe little form was lowered
into the messy bedf prepared for It. One
by one the men passed the open grave,
tossing in their last offering 70 Babe
fresh blooming flowers gathered from the
mountain side, and as they turned from
the grave they each took Joe and MS
wife by the hand in Silent sympathy
Silent Sam was the last 70 CLASP their
hands. and as he did so said: .
''Good-by. Joe; good-bv. Mrs Joe.
I'm going home to nv little Teller an
the woman. buffalo News
The Beast.
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