Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-13

Since the discisidu of the Senate Iuves-
tgating Committee that General Corbin,
Colonel Heistand and other military officers,
well as Federal officials, were not blam-
able for going into side specuiatons in the
Philippines or elsewhere, even when the
Government paid for their cablegrams and
the commander.in chief in the Philippines
went hunting for sites for a proposed
factory, since, as stated this decision
Major Erastus L. Hawkes. the prosecuting
witness in the investigation, has practically
given up promoting aud is now engaged in
more congenial business. The major, who
is a six-fOOt specimen of stawart manhood,
with the carriage of the military officer, has
had many adventures besides the one of
proceeding to the Philippines with Gov
ernment commission from the Assistant
Secretary of War only to be relieved few
days after he landed by the revocation of
the said commission by Secretary Root who
had his own ideas about what company
should have monopoly of the hemp trade
in the islands
In one of these adventures Major Hawkes.
got himself tangled up at Colorado City
Texas, with some Of the desperate bad men
who ran Texas In the eighties The major
had been around the town for a few days
on business and casually made the acquaint-
anee of agentlemanly looking man, respect
ably dressed with whom he had several
drinks. In the course of the short ac-
Quaintance the major did favor for his
casual friend and he pledged him his
friendship in return. The maj or thought
but little of the matter and that evening at
a, che H.,
i'm the city He took box seat TO avoid
contact with the miscellaneous crowd in
attendance. Sometime after the show conf
menced .he naior was eon, ersiug will G
friend in the box and partaking of liquid
refreshments when a bad man entered and
ordered the major to get out The major
sized up the bad man and thought not
WhereupOn the bad man slapped the MAJOR
one on the side of the jaw which ratified his
teeth and made him see stars. The major
grabbed his assailant and in a tussle soon
6oored him, and when he was removed for
repairs he looked as if he would make good
sausage meat, but assuredly not a human
being any more. The major having cleansed
his clothing and changed his bloody linen
returned to the theater, having been re.
leased on his own recognizance by the mar
shal.
On entering his box Ben Jacobs his
whilom friend for whom he had done
slight favor aud who had pledged his
Texas friendship, stood in the doorway
and as the major passed him he called out,
Major, no matter what happens, I will
stand by you"
The major smilingly bowed his acknOw-
edgments and resumed his seat failing to
comprehend the full meaning of Ben Jacobs
words He had not been seated fifteen
minutes when a tall powerful built man
entered the box. He stood over six feet with
not an ounce Of surplus flesh, and weighed
over two hundred pounds. He wore a wide
sOmbrero, his pants were tucked inside his
boots, and in his belt he carried a wicked
looking Colts a. Contemptuously eyeng
the major and the other occupant of the
box, he stepped in front Of the former and
pointing to the door, uttered the word
gitl" The major arose as the bad man,
who was no less a parsonage than Black
Hardiman, who had killed half a dozen
men, reached for his gun. The major
grabbed his wrist and the two struggled
for fall. Evenly matched the big Texan
held the business end of the gun, and re-
peatedly tried to press the muzzle against
the maj or's anatomy. in which he was foiled
men we're half stopped, each putting forth
his best efforts. the one to kill, the other to
save his life, at least, or turn the tables on
his would-be murderer The majors hold
was weakening and the Texan was grad
ually, but surely, wringing his wrist loose
when a shot rang out followed by two
others in lightning like succession, and the
big Texan fell dead while the maj s friend
Ben Jacobs, stood in the doorway with a
smoking revolver in hand.
The major looked at the dead mans
slayer, and wiping the perspiratiou from
his face he extended his hand to Jacobs
and exclaimed
What are we to do now, Ben"
Remain where we are-the marshal will
be here in a short while; this fellow was
one Of his depuues-see there isn't soul
in the house"
Sure enough, the theater was 'empty, the
audience having disappeared as If by magic
when the revolver Of Jacobs cracked its
hrst.shot. In a brief space the marshal ap-
peared and placed Jacobs under arrest
who frankly confessed to having alone
fred the shots
Aathe coroner's inquest it developed that
the deadlmaD had stated in the presence of
Jacobs and others that he intended going
in the box and filling the major full Of
holes. Jacobs was never indicted and the
major was not even asked for his testimony.
Major Hawkes. was the acquaintance
while in Texas Of both Thompson and King
Fisher, who we're killed Ia the San Antonio
theater fight by the proprietor, the latter
being shot and killed himself bv Thompson