The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-06-17


have kept the scribesmen of
tie Western states busy, but
the hardest man that ever saw was
grub-stake fellow met up with about
n dozen times while I was assigned TO
the Navaioe and Moqul tribes" said
an inspector of Indian agencies. "He
lived in Tucson when lie wasn't up in
the Santa Anita Mountains looking for
pay dust. and for several years he was
the chief contributor of inert subjects
to that little white cemetery that lies
to the west of the town, more or less
covered with yellow sand. His name
was Jim Crandall. Jim was six feet
six inches in stature. and he weighed
250 pounds. Every pound that he had
on him was bear moat-that is TO say,
his life In the mountains, after quartz,
kept him down to the minute.
"But Jim never used his strength ex-
ccpt to show of. l suppose there was
not man I'm the Southwest that could
have coped with him in n straight out
match of strength. but he always
leaned 10 the bowie and the gun in
tins ever had chance to feel the clasp
OF his gorilla arms.
"Soher, Jim was :s mild a man rs
ever slit IN oesophagus. hut when lie
got about four rounds of Juniper juice
In him lie was worse terror than n
desert mirage TO sand lndlnns. Before
met him he had slaughtered seven
Gt-a ,f ty, twIN
fights and two in knife plays, and he
had always contrivcd 10 duck the law
and make n getaway on the ground of
self.defense, which is certainly main
ground down In the Southwest terri
tories.
ITS thing don't like to mention,
but / happened to he with Crandall on
the night he mab his lose-out. He
had Just got hack from old Mexico.
where he had been doing a dodge-out
for a year after killing Buck Evans. the
marshal of Tucson, and at the supper
hour that l met him he was in several
fashions dangerous. But he had ac-
Qulred habit in previous meetings of
leaning upon mc-a reed to lean upon
and so l didn't care how he acted so
long rs lie Kept within the bounds of
reason.
1--WE went to Chinli feed outfit and
ordered stack of birds nests-which
used TO mean In tie Southwest steak
smothercd In onions and French fried
potatoes-and addressed myself TO the
task Of trying TO clip some Of the feath-
ers off of Jim's paradise-bird stories of
the Santa Anita Mountains.
II was Just telling Crandall that he
was rough and uncouth and that he
wore too many guns on his person to
suit my cityied civilized game, when
Jim-the mesquite juice that he had
taken dragging along inside Of him
looked up.
Jimmy he said to me. I've get
big kill on, and l hate Chlnks,' and
Just then the two assistants OF the Chi
nesc proprietor of the restaurant
walked in, slldingly, with their soft
sandals.
"'Let 'em co. I said to Crandall
when l saw him going for his guns.
They're only parasites, and what do
you care?
"'This much said Jim, just as the
two soft-footed Cinnamon We're passing
into the kitchen.
"He pulled both of his guns out. and
bawled Stand still" TO the two China
men. They both came to q halt right
abaft the kitchen.
"'You lilkee die?' said Crandall then
to the two Chinese, and, without fur
ther word he plugged both Of them
through the heart.
"The Tucson vigilance outfit got Jim
about ten minutes later, and he made
the most horrible fight for his life that
! ever witnessed. But San Fran
cisco doctor has got Jim's bones now
doctor with whom l am on terms
and every time that l go out to the
| Gate he gives peek at Crandall's
dried skull and says, Aren't YOU glad
you are goodT"-Washington Star.