The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-04-18
HE LOVED TO FIGHT.
AuTTlE MAN WHO WOULD RATHER
SHOOT THAN EAT.


odd. DIdn-s Figure With Jack Wat
son when He Concluded TO Go Into
Melee and His Nerve Once Saved
an Tnnoeens Man.
s.The gamest man and the best hght-
er that / ever knew-and I've known
quite number in my day-was little
Jack Watson Of California" remarked
Senator William NJ. Stewart OF Nevada
one day in Washington when be was
In a story telling mood = party Of
interested listeners
watson had been a member Of Jack
Hayes famous company. and. though
he didn't weigh over 10 pounds and
in height measured but ; feet inches,
he would fight at the drop OF a hat the
biggest man that ever breathed.
don't know what state gave him birth,
bat he was a native Of the south. and
all the pioneers Of Texas knew him
well
"The little chap didn't provoke Diff
culties. but verify believe he enjoyed
fighting for Its own sake. ar.l odds
didn't figure with him once be con-
eluded to 90 into melee. His long
suit was shooting. and a deadlIer shot
never fingered a revolver
Il shall never forget the first time
that Jack Watson and | met. for the
circumstance was OF the sort that
burns itself upon a mans memory. !
was riding into a mining camp IN Ne
vada county and stopped at a watering
trough TO let my beast drink. About
the same time a stranger Of very
dlmInutive stature rode up. aud while
our animals refreshed themselves we
engaged In some casual conversation.
The stranger was Watson.
"Rcfore we exchanged half a dozen
sentences our attention was attracted
by n great noise. and. looking around.
we saw at least 200 men coming our
way with a prisoner The prisoner
was 4 remarkably fine looking man.
but his capiors had stripped him to the
waist. and the evident intention was to
fog him.
Before could hardly realize what
you 20 in with me and stop these meny
II seemed bravado. but there was a
ring In the small ones voice that
sounded Ike business. and |. being
young and foolish. answered. 4 dare
"We rushed after the mob at racing
speed. and when got close enough 10
the leaders | yelled al the top Of my
lungs: Hold on. boys: you've got the
wrong manp
This was an Inspiration. for ! real
Iy knew nothing OF the case. but !
hated 10 see such magnificent looking
fellow undergo the humiliation OF a
public heating. But my cry caused
a bait. and with Watson beside me !
repeated that they had the wrong man
and. still using my highest notes, cali
ed for tie appointment of a committee.
"It Is curious how easily a mob Is
sometimes swayed. In less than ten
minutes this one. previously so impas-
stoned. had calmed down and was lis
tening quietly to the Investigations Of
the committee. Of which had been
made chairman.
at seems that the prisoner was. as |
apprehended. a respectable and worthy
man. and be had letters upon him that
voucbed for his integrity. He had
been accused OF stealing SaoO In gold
by a miner but we not only established
his innocence. but started an examina-
tiOn that led to the discovery Of the
real thief.
After this saw Jack no more till
one day in San Francisco. when !
found him In a most wretched cOndi-
tion. He had gone 10 a political meet
Ing where he was persona non grata.
and there was immediate trouble. Jack
killed two men. but was himself al
most riddled with bullets. An old ne
gro took me 20 him. and | found him
10 an apparently dying condition. If
he had one bullet hole In him. be had
20. He had no doctor. no nurse. no
food. no friend but the old darky.
Il got him n room in a good hotel
and the best physician money could
hire. The doctor thought he had a
bare chance TO live. but was very du-
biOus Of his pulling through. His nerve
saved him. and IN a few weeks he
was going around as game as ever.
THE next news Of Jack came from
Pasadena. He had gone TO a bah and.
aspiring TO the favor OF the belle of
the town. reused the enmity of n dozen
young Gallants. The shooting began
while the function was still in prog
ress. but i was a bad day for Jack
Watson's asSailants. for when the fir
ing ceased there were Eve of them
corpscs. while he escaped unhurt
"Jack finally became a member of
the legislature and. strange TO say. died
a peaceful death. respected and loved
by all his neighbors. Washington
Post.