Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-17
He LOVED TO FIGHT.
4 LITTLE MAN WHO WOULD RATHER
SHOOT THAN EAT.
Odds Diau-t Figure with Jack Wat
son hra Ise concluded to Go Into
"a Melee. and Gsis Nerve Once Saved
tn innocent Man.

"a .eies. Ead His Nerve Once Saved
TN innocent Man.
The ganest man and the best fight
er that ! ever kaew-and I've known
quite d number ia my day-was little
lack Watson Of California;" remarked
Senator William VI. Stewart Of Nevada
one day IL Washington when he was
In a story telling mood TO a party Of
interested listeners
Watson had been a member OF Jack
Hayes famous company. and. though
he didn't weigh over 100 pounds and
In height measured but > feet q inches,
he would fight at the drop of a hat the
biggest man thai ever breathed- l
don't know what state gave him birth,
but 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 lie enjoyed
fighting for its own sake, and odds
didn't figure with him once he con-
Guided to 90 into a melee. His long
suit was shooting. and a deadlier hot
never fingered a revolver.
Il shall never forget the first time
thai Jack Watson and / met, for the
circumstance was of the sort that
burns itself upon a mans memory. l
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 ran 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 a dozen
sentences our attention was attracted
hy a great noise. and. looking around,
we 50 " ut least 300 men coming our
way with a prisoner, The prisoner
was a remarkably fine looking q
but his captors had stripped him TO the
waist. and the evident intention was to
fog him.
Before | could hardly realize what
was happening Watson spoke up. Dare
you go in with me n stop these men?
1t seemed bravado, but there was a
ring In the small ones voice that
sounded like business. and L. being
young and foolish. answered, L dare
1--WE rushed after the mob at racing
speed, and when | got close enough TO
the leaders | yelled at the top of my
lungs: Hold on. boys; you've got the
wrong man.
This was an inspiration. for l real
ly knew nothing of the case. but |
hated to see sue a magnificent looking
fellow undergo the humiliation of a
public beating. But my cry caused
a halt. and with Watson beside me !
repeated that they had the wrong man
and, still using my highest notes, call
ed for the appointment of a committee.
at Is curious how easily a mob is
sometimes swayed. In less than ten
minute 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.
''It seems hat the prisoner was. as !
apprehended. a respectable and worthy
man. n he had letters upon him that
vouched for his integrity. He had
Dsen accuseo OF -s->lne $500 An gold
by a miner. but we not only established
his innocence, but started an examina-
ton that led to the discovery of the
real thief.
AFTER this I saw Jack no more till
one day in San Francisco. when |
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 al
most riddled with bullets. An old ne
gro took me to him. and / found him
in an apparently dying condition. If
be had one bullet hole in him., he had
20. Ee had nc doctor. no nurse. no
food. no friend but the old darby.
II got him a oom 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 ball and.
aspiring to the favor of the belle of
the town. reused the enmity of a dozen
young g%allants. The shooting began
while the function was still in prog
ress. but 1t was a bad day for Jack
Watson's assailants, for when the fir
ing ceased there were five of them
corpses, while he escaped unhurt-
"Jack finally became a member of
the legislature and. strange to say. dice
a peaceful death. respected and loved
by all his Observation-Disclosures
Post.