The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-04-18
"FiShting
Jim's' Claim

tOriginal
In the days when the forty winners In
California were hunting for the big
mines that afterward became bonan-
Zas man appeared In Billion gulch
ami located a claim. He was II power
full fellow and bully. and it WAS NOT
long before his neighbors were afraid
of him He didn't trouble them to re
member his name, and they gradually
got used to calling him Fighting Jim"
one day Jim told his neiglibors that
he was going to Frisco. He intended
leaving his cabin unlocked ana his
claim unprotected Just for the fun"
he said. 'of seem some galoot jumper,
when get back. bunkin' in the one or
workin' the other" Then hc added,
"Yc'll see somepin happen" With this
he departed
There was none of the people of Bill
lion gulch so rash MS To interfere with
either of Jim's properties Several
strangers came along. took look ut
the claim. were duly warned and de-
parted Jim's belongings We're consid
cred as safe as If he had left II dozen
men for its protection.
One day young fellow came to the
gulch, asked great many questions
about the prospects Of gold, claims to
be had and claims not 10 be had. Incl
dentaly Jim's claim was mentioned
with the usual warning. That night u
ola t.1 Ia, MI
the next morning the stranger WAS ut
work in inns claim \ self constituted
committee of the most prominent citi-
ZenS proceeded to tie hole that had
been dug and kindly Informed the
youngstcr that he was not ouly wasting
his time, but that Jim, when he re-
turned, would nccesSltate their burying
the jumper at the public expense. The
fellow PAT his hand in his pocket and.
taking oGt n bag of gold dust, re-
marked:
I'm no sponge TO bring unnecessary
expense on my neighbors Take that
for security With that he resumed
his pick aud the committee departed
to spread the news through the gulch
that there was II unatiC working
.Iim's claim and HE gulch was sure on
Jim's return to b. disgraced by its first
murder.
In couple of weeks Jim returned.
He gathered all he met into the prin-
cipal saloon of the town To drink 10 his
return. and several citizens took al
vantage Of the fact to break the ncrs
OF the jumping of his cabin and his
claim and to strive To induce Jim To
bring no dlsgrac. on the hitherto peace
ful community. Their efforts were
vain jim had scarcely heard OF the
outrage when, hltching his revolver
forward. he left the saloon in hot haste
10 wreak vengeance on the stranger.
The crowd followed with bated breath.
on nearing the mine the peaceful
sound Of the pick was heard Jim. dis.
daining TO take advantage of an I'm.
warned enemy, strobe mp empty hand
went on picking the earth, and Jim
growlcd;
"iIello. you. there
The youngster turned his oval face.
delicate except the mouth. which was
firm aS ndamant, and replied.
'IIcllo, Jim
Jim stood puralyZed. and the jumper
continued;
"I've understood from these people
that y're goin' To make hash o me.
II v do. y'rc good deal changed from
what " were last time | saw y.
reckon this western air must ha' put
a lot o starch into y"
Still Jim stood mute. and those who
Ind come to see him "chaw mp" the
stranger wondered.
II want y TO understand" the jump
er continued. that this claim belongs
to me While we been foolln' yer
time away at Frisco I've been a-work-
in It. Now. Kit down here and go IN
work. Gentlemen addressing the
crowd the shows over. There isn't
goin' to be any funeral today nor TO
morrow nor none at all So Y might
as well go about yer business"
The party walked slowly away, leav-
Ing Jim aud the jumper together
From that day Jim was changed
man lie talked no more of fighting
kept away from the saloon. devOting
his time 10 the working of the claim,
which had apparently passed into the
control OF the stranger Then sudden
ly the jumper disappeared. As soon
rs he had gone Jim stopped work His
old associates expected that he would
reveal the mystery, but he maintained
absolute silence Weeks passed. then
months Occasionally Jim would wan
der into the saloon, apparently to Kill
time. but was careful OF his poAtiuuS
and his words.
one day a letter came 10 jim bearing
New York postmnrk From the mo
mcut ~ its reception Jim was again
changed This time it was different
change; he was hilarious He gather.
cd the people of the gulch into the 81
loon and treated all round Then he
went 10 hi. cabin aud to bed The next
morning the cabin was empty. Jim
had disappeared
1T. as plain as the nose ON yer
face" said the chief citizen "lim was
wanted for murder 1t wouldn't do
no good for him 10 kill the Jumper
sence he'd been located; 81 he brihed
him 10 20 back and clear the coast for
him TO take To other cover That letter