Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-11-14
aE WAS a GAME rlenrxn
senator Stewart Thought Jack Waa
SON the Gamess on Record.

senator Stewart Thought Jack Waa
SON the Gamess on Record.
"The gamest man and the best
lighter that / ever knew-and I've
known quite a number in my day
was little Jack Watson of Cali sornia,s
remarked Senator William M Stew.
| art of Nevada one day in Washington
when he was in story telling mood
to a party of interested listeners.
watson had been a member OF
Jack Hayes famous company, and,
though he did not weigh over 100
| pounds and in heigl measured but 8
feet six inches, and he would fight at
the drop of the hat the biggest man
that ever breathed. 1 do not know
what state gave him birth, but he was
native of the south, and all the pi-
oneers of Texas knew him well.
"The little chap didn't provoke dif>
fculties, but verify l believe he en-.
joyed fighting for its own sake. and
| odds didn't figure with him once he
concluded to go into a melee. His
long suit was shooting, and q dead.
lier shot never fingered a revolver.
IL shall never forget the first time
that Jack Watson and l met, for the
circumstance was of the sort that
burns itself upon a mans memory. /
was riding into mining camp in Ne
vada county and stopped at a water.
ing trough to let my beast drink.
About the same time a stranger Of
very diminutive stature rode up, and
while our animals refreshed them
selves we engaged in casual converse
ton. The stranger was Watson.
"Before we had exchanged dozen
sentences our attention was attract
ed by a great noise. and, looking
around, we saw at least 200 men com.
ing our way with prisoner. The
prisoner was a remarkably fine look
ing man, but his captors had stripped
him to the waist, and the evident In.
tention was to fog him.
"Before 1 could hardly realize what
was happening Watson spoke up, Dare
you go in with me and stop these
men?' 1t seemed bravado, but there
was a ring in the small ones voice
that sounded like business, and 1, be.
ing young and foolish, answered, Il
dare
"We rushed after the mob at rae
ing speed, and when l got close
enough to the leaders. yelled at the
top of my voice: Hold on, boys;
you've got the wrong mani
"This was an inspiration, for I re-
ally knew nothing of the case. but !
hated to see such a magnificent look
| ing fellow undergo the humiliation Of
public beating. But my cry caused
halt. and with Watson beside me I
| repeated that they had the wrong
. man and, still using my highest
/ notes, calling for the appointment Of
| q committee.
SIT is curious how easily q mob ID
| sometimes swayed. In less than ten
minutes. his one. previously impas-
stoned, had calmed down and was Liz.
| tening quietly to the Investigations
| of the committee, of which had been
made chairman.
"It seems that the prisoner was, -
I apprehended, a respectable and wors
| thy man and he had letters upon him
that vouched for his integrity. He
had been accused of stealing $500 in
gold by miner, but we not only es-
tablished his innocence, butt started
an investigation that led to the dis
covery of the real thief.
"After this saw Jack no more till
one day in San Francisco. when I
found him in a most wretched condi.
ton. He had gone to a political meet.
ing where he was persona non grata,
and there was immediate trouble.
Jack killed two men, but was himself
almost riddled with bullets. An old
negro took me to him. and I found
him in an apparently dying condi.
ton. If he had one bullet hole In
him he had 20. He had no doctor, no
nurse, no food, no friend but the old
darky.
81 got him room in a good hotel
and the best physician money could
hire. The doctor thought he had q
bare chance to live, but was very du.
bious of hispulling through. His nerve
saved him. and in few weeks he
was going around as game as ever.
"The next news of Jack came from
Pasadena. He had gone to ball and.
aspiring to the favor of the belle Of
the town, reused the enmity of do.
zen young gallants. The shooting be.
gan while the function was still I'm
progress, but it was a bad day for
Jack Watson's ae-ailants, for when
the firing ceased there were five Of
them corpses, while he escaped un.
hurt
Jack finally became o member OF
the legislature, and, strange to say.
died peaceful death. respected and
loved by all his neighbors. Wash.
ington Fost.