Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1900-05-05
TO THE MAN WHO THINKS.

somebody TO teach me manners per
haps. Mebbe the idea was for you to
sit on the veranda and give me daily
lessons. Well you've come to- the
wrong shop. Look, now, Pm going to
keep an eye on you. You think your
self head and shoulders above the
crowd, but III take the conceit out OF
you. Just give me the slightest excuse,
and I'll break you in to beat the band!'
The men were set to work clearing
land At the prison Black jim had
been detailed as a ''trusty" and had
not come in contact with hard. work.
He took his place with the gang just
the same and was one Of the most in
dustrious workers among them. He
knew that Stebbins was watching him
and hoping for an opening, and he was
determined to disappoint him. 1t was
two weeks before anything happened
Then Black Jim had the misfortune to
break the handle Of the Ak with which
he was working. Stebbins at once
seized upon the incident as pretext
for punishment. We should not have
known anything about it at the police
station, six miles away, but for 4
black boy, who reported that Stebbins
had one of his men hung up by the
thumbs. l was sent over to invests-
gate Black Jim had been hanging
by the thumbs for two hours when
reached the place and had BEEN u1H~
conscious for at least half Of that time
1 soon had him down and being cared
for, and l had it hot and heavy with
Stebbins for half an hour. He con-
tended that the man had beer III
subordinate and even threatened his
life, and some Of the convicts backed
him up in hopes Of making thingT
easier for themselves, but l knew that
it was a false charge. 1t wouldn't do
to say too much to Stebbins, however
Low and contemplate as he was, he
had a pull with the government and
did not hesitate to threaten revenge
on me for interfering with his disci-
pline. Neither one of us sent in a re-
port, but we were open enemies after
that.
Not one convict in a thousand would
have stood the insults and degradation
put upon Black Jim during the next
year. l know he tried his best, But
there was no pleasing Stebbins. He
was always Boosting that he had a gen.
tleman convict and that he was bound
to 'break'' him, and he spent q good
share of his time worrying the man. It
was an almost daily thing for Black
Jim to be logged, and four-fifths OF his
days were spent under lock and key
and on diet of bread and water MY
interest in him saved him somewhat,
but as the weeks went by knew what
the end would be- He would either
rise up in his desperation and kill Steb-
bins or he would bolt for the bush and
join gang Of rangers. There were
times when l felt veXed with him that
he didn't do one or the other and show
a proper spirit, although it would nave
been my duty to hunt him down i'm
either case. One day, as was return
ing with the troop after hunting down
a false alarm of bushrangers, my horse
SHE'D and threw me almost in front of
Stebbins' house, and as l struck on al
stone and had several ribs broken
was carried in He was not glad to.
see me, but under the circumstances.
was obliged to give me bed Having
got settled, the police surgeon would
not allow me to be removed. The
brute Stebbins wanted to show his in
dependence of the police and persecute.
Black Jim at the same time, and the,
insults he heaped on that convict for
three or four days made me itch to-,
shoot him. On the fourth night of my
accident four men and three, women
arrived for an evening visit. They
we're about the only friends Stebbins
lad in social way and he made them
1ery welcome. My being in the house
vas not permitted to interfere with the
festivities. When dinner had been fin
shed and the drink had gone around
Stebbins sent for Black Jim and or
Tered him to dance for the amusement
f the company. The convict respect
ully' but firmly refused, and his master
ried out in indignation: