Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-29
How He Saved Himself From a
Utah bad Mans" Revolver
WASHINGTON STARS STORY
silver Kings Magnate Represented as
One OF the Rest All Round Fight
ers In the Senate.

Senator Kearns Of Utah is one Of
the best all-round fighters in the sem
ate" said one Of his constituents at the
New Willard to a representative Of the
Washington Star. "Out west in many
localities all that is necessary 10 estab-
fish case of self-defense in shooting
Is TO prove that word was left at two
or three places that there would be
shooting on sight, This Is fair notice
all around, and no court ever goes into
the original trouble, Tom Kearns
never went armed, never Intentionally
gave any proyocation, but he would
rot take any nonsense. Once when he
was unarmed he pounded a man UP a
little, after pulling him off his horse,
just because the man tried to pull a
sun ON him and got it caught in his
boot leg.
Probably his most exciting expert
ence occurred at HIS own home, Park
city, Utah. He dropped into the Red
Wing bar one morning to get some
seltzer-the kind they drink there-and
was told that bad man with three
killings to his credit had left word that
he would kill him on sight. The bar
keep asked him If he had a gun. and
receiving negative reply, suggested
that he had better get one. Tom was
m m
the side Of his face rejecting on the
uncertainty Of life when the door
opened and the bad man entered,
revolver in each hand
" Did you get my MESSAGE? he thun-
dered.
=" did, was the reply
Are you ready for businessY came
from the bad man, not 20 feet away.
1T was a critical moment. There
was not u weapon In sight and II looked
like sure death. Tom began an argu-
ment with the man:
Il have never willingly injured you.
| do not want to kill you, and why do
you want 10 take chances on one or the
other of us getting killed.? he asked.
As he talked he warmed up TO the sub
iect and gradually approached the bad
man until he was within seven feet OF
him. The man suddenly recognized
this, and ordered him TO take not one
step further little more parey In
which the bad man became interested
gave him a chance TO gain two feet
more, Taking his chances on surpris-
ing him before he could shoot through
HIS pocket he made a spring, struck the
man a terrific blow on the side of the
feoe, sending him TO the floor, and be-
fore he could recover from his surprise
had him unarmed He then calmly
kicked him out of the back door and
down fight Of 10 steps.
You have killed him." exclaimed
the barkeep
oh, no. l haven't he is all right,
replied Tom. Give me one Of those re-
yolvers.' Taking the gun, he went to
the man and said, Get up here and come
In and take a drink; II will do you
good, The man refused Get up here
and take something with me or | will
kill YOU was the threat needed to
bring the bad man to time He said
nothing, but limpingly entered and
stood up at the bar. Now, shake hands
first and say you are my friend. said
Tom, and the man did so. That man
Is Tom Kearns best friend in Utah."
concluded the enthusiastic constituent
"and that is the kind of experience our
strong men had TO go through a few
years ago In some OF that wild coun-
try"