Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-03-28
HE LOVED TO FIGHT.
4 LITTLE ~ANtst WOULD RATHER
SHOOT THAN EAT.

ods:. Dian't Figure With jack Wes-
SON when ise Cenclsded 10 Go 1nse
a Melee. and lsls Nerve 0nee saved
m luaoccnt Man.
ssThe camcst man and the best fight
or that 1 ever knew-and I've known
quite q number in my dny-wns little
Jack Watson of California" remarked
Senator William NJ. Stewart Of Nevada
one day in Washington when he was
in a story telling mood to party OF
Interested listeners.
..Watson had been q member OF Jack
Hayes famous company, and' tnousn
he didn't weigh over 100 pounds ana
in height measured but 8 feet inches.
he would fight Mt the drop Of hat the
biggest man that ever breathed.
don't know what state gave him birtn.
but he was native Of the soutn' ana
all the pioneers of Texas knew him
well.
"The little chap didn't provoke dim
cultics, but I verify believe he enjoyed
fighting for Its own sake, and odds
didn't figure with him once he con-
cluded to 20 into a melee. His long
suit was shooting. and deadlier shot
never fingered q revolver.
II shall never forget the first time
that Jack Watson and met. for the
circumstance was Of the-sOTt tnat
burns itself upon a mans memory. l
was riding into a mining camp In Ne
vnda county and stopped at watering
trough to let my beast drink. About
the same time a stranger Of very
diminutive stature rode up. and while
our animals refreshed themselves We
engaged in some casual conversation.
The stranger was Watson.
"Before we exchanged half q doze;,
sentences our attention was attracted
by n great noise. and. looking around.
we saw at least 200 men coming our
way with n prisoner. The prisoner
was a remarkably flne looking man.
but his captOrs had stripped him to the
waist, and the evident intention was to
fog him.
Before I could hardly realize what
was happening Watson spoke up. Dare
you 60 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 I. being
young and foolish. answered. 4 dare
1--WE rushed after the mob at racing
speed. and when I got close enough to
the leaders l yelled at the top Of my
lungs: Hold on. boys: you've got the
wrong man.
"This was an inspiration. for I reai-
ly knew nothing Of the case. but I
hated to see such n magnificent looking
fellow undergo the humiliation OF q
public beating. But my cry caused
q halt, and with Watson beside me I
repeated that they had the wrong man
and. still using my highest notes, call
ed for the appointment Of q committee.
1T Is curious how easily q mob 10
minutes this one. previously 50 impas-
stoned. had calmed down and was lis
tening quietly to the Investigations OF
the committee. Of which I had been
made chairman.
''It seems that the prisoner was, as
apprehended. q respectable and worthy
man. and he had letters upon him that
vouched for his integrity. He had
been accused Of stealing $500 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 I saw Jack no more till
one day In San Francisco. when I
found him In q most wretched condi-
ton He had gone to q political meet
ing where he was persona non krata.
and there was immediate trouble. Jack
killed two men. but was himself al
most riddled with bullets. An old ne
gro took me to him. and I found him
in an apparently dying condition II
he had one bullet hole in him, he had
20. He had no doctor. no nurse. no
food. no friend but the old darky.
II got him a 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 q ball and.
the town. reused the enmity Of q dozen |
young gallants. The shooting began |
while the function was still in prog. |
ress. but 1t was a bad day for Jack |
Watson's assa;lants. for when the FIR |
Ing ceased there were five Of them |
corpses. while he escaped unhurt.
"Jack finally became q member OF /
The legislature and, strange to say died /
, peaceful death. respected and loved |
BY all his neighbors."-Washington
Post.