The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14

kSM NSS Townsend. the court
N0 house town Of Jefferson
county, in Washington
territory. Whisky had
flowed as freely as was
usual on such occasions. yet to one who
knew the people there was perceptible
difference between this and the elections
Of previous years.
The center of interest on this occasion
seemed to be dry goods box on the
wooden sidewalk III front or Shaw's store
on Water street. Upon this rude throne
was seated q man, at first glance COM
monplace looking individual enough clad
IN blue shirt and trousers OF Kentucky
jeans, thrust into high boots. His fea-
lures were not remarkable, excepting the
under jaw, which was nrmiy. somewhat
heavily, modelled; pair of singularly
bright brown eyes and a set of white
teeth. which gave his face a winning. al
most childlike. expression when he smiled.
"Wal, I'm glad yuh got thar. Reuben?
cried q noisy admirer, clapping the occu-
pant Of the box heartily on the back.
what we wants a sheriff ex Is sher-
ill.,"
The congratulation was accepted with a
pleasant smile by Reuben. and tall.
gaunt bystander. ComstocK by name,
drawled out: "Yaas, we've got a jedge
now faint afraid to do his duty. n a
sheriff 'et's thar every time. If tn juries
scare
by mex lection"
"Yuh want a good man for TALLER, Craw-
ford" remarked third. addressing the
new sheriff. Ten tub one thar'll be
more'r less trouble when them three fell
lows yuh got now comes up for trial.
some Of tn boys been sayin' they're
tiahred a-waitin' for a Jury 'et II hang
6ilas Blaine. An the two Barstows-
some of tn folk down long tn crick ii
do wtiss N steal bosses. / reckon them
two's about tn flower of tn flock"
"Oh, shucks!" exclaimed the first
speaker, who evidently posed as humor-
list, Med Osgood amt tn fus' man 'et's
he'd his brother shot--but thar's no denyin'
them was good animiles tn Barstow boys
tukr'
The crowd laughed sppreciatively.
Reuben Crawford swung himself down
from his box, gave his suspenders hitch
and prepared for speech, which usually
came hard with him.
II reckon Comstock's ez good a man ex
yuh'd find for jailer," he said, slowly; "'n
ez for me-In do tn best kim
With which declaration he swung him
self around on his heel ana walked off
down the main street toward the Jail,
which was built on the outskirts of the
town. Comstock accompanied him.
Port Townsend had been the scene of
numerous disturbances Of late. A very
bad element was rampant among the
sparse population; gamblers, desperadoes
and outlaws of every stamp, who had
flocked to the territory during the two or
three years following the war, infested
the town and surrounding country. Only
quite recently an atrocious murder had
been perpetrated-a well-known revenue
officer had been shot while attempting to
arrest notorious gang of smugglers,
who had successfully piled their unlawful
vocation for months undisturbed Juries
afraid to convict, judges afraid to admin
lister the law, sheriffs and under officials
afraid to execute 1t, had been the rule.
At last the respectable portion Of the
community had determined to make a
firm stand for law and order, regardless
Of politics. and had elected a set of county
officers of whom great things were ex-
pected.
The name on the ticket which was most
discussed was that of Reuben Crawford.
His years numbered perhaps thirty-five.
The ten Immediately preceding his debut
into public life had been spent on the
frontier. Somewhat ugly rumors of his
doings in that locality had followed him
back to Port Townsend; hints Of rude
scenes in which human lives had been
lost. and In which the doughty sheriff
had participated. However. under the
circumstances, the mans history was no
drawback-rather a recommendation than
otherwise.
Whatever his record. sheriff he was, and
determined as such to do his duty.
Within a few days after the election
Comstock was ensconced with his wife
anu household goods, in the little frame
'lean-to'' attached to the jail. the estab-
lshed residence of the jailer an arrange
ment common enough in those days
Crawford had seen him settled, given him
his instructions (the Jail was under the
sheriffs supervisory, and was now ready
to undertake another function of his po-
sition-the collection of the county taxes
The district court convened in two weeks.
and he wished to accomplish as much as
possible before that date
Accordingly he started out one fine
morning. mounted on a spirited little
horse, to perform this somewhat thank
less task.
Upon his return to town, week later,
the jailer met him with very grave Wis
age He informed Crawford that there
had been rumors of trouble in the air for
several days past, friends of the MUIR
dered revenue officer had threatened to
take the law into their own hands and
lynch Silas Blaine Comstock, used to such
talk, had at first disregarded these rumors,
but had not treated them so lightly Of
late, and the lives of the three prisoners
passed In a state of horrible expectancy.
Thanks to the popularity of the new
sheriff. however an outbreak which might
have caused serious trouble was averted
Reuben Crawford had many stanch
friends in the community, whom he man.
aged 10 enlist in his favor. In fact all
the better element among the populace
sided with him for law and order, and by
skillful diplomacy the rebellious class was
finally won over and all agreed to let JUS
tice take its own course.
Thus, nothing came of the projected
lynching. much to the relief of Abel Com
stock, the worthy jaler of Jefferson
county.
CHAPTER II.