Arizona republican., 1904-03-12
MORE SCARED THAN HURT
Tenderfoot Is Initiated in an Exciting
 Manner.


 I'm shot"
 i Other shots a run from Eastlake park to town, the immediate departure of the police for the scene of the sup posed crime, and thus was enacted the principals parts of one of those exciting practical jokes for which Phoenix is becoming famous. When Jack O'Brien arrived in the city 8 few days ago from Minnesota he had heard just enough of the wild and woolly west to believe that hold-ups and Indian fights were every day oc- l eurrenccs in this great and glorious country.
 He probably expected to hear of stage hold ups and faro bank robbecies every day. When he arrived in Phoe- nix he did not know what to expect, hut he was willing to be shown. Last night ne was initiated just as several negroes were initiated about a year ago.
 O'Brien secured employment in a barber shop. His Co-workmen in the shop were congenial fellows and will ing to tell him all about the west, and to show him all worth seeing. T-e Minnesotian listened eagerly to tke deeds of valor that were dinned into his ears and he was induced to be- iieve that the peace which hCvers over Phoenix was but a temporary luIl before the breaking of a storm. Indians were liable to swoCp down upon the city at any time. Many peo- pie had been killed by the redskins, and it was scarcely safe to. be outside the city limits without a guard. Bur glars lived and thrived here, the Min nesotian was informed. but their deeds were seldom made rIb'ic beiausc the authorities did not desire to frigh+ en inc tourists To all the stories O'Brien listened and it is possible he believed at least some of them. Last evening he was initiated and given a true exhibition of western wildness. He stood the ordeal aSl is still alive. but it is not probable that he could he bribed to repeat the per fo1mance.
 William Gentry and F.. C. Summers. harhers who work in the same shop with O'Brien. invited the latter to ac- comuany them tO a Mexican celebra- tinn." There is always a Mexican celebration" when such practical jokes are to be played, and if the average tanderfoot would remember this he would be saved lots of trouble.
 Well at 7:9O last evening. O'Brien. Gentry and Summers took the car for FastlaIze park. They talked hoid-up all the way out and had O'Brien thor ou-f.Iy nervous before they left the car. Arriving at the park they led their victim down to an unusually dark spot Of a sudden a tall, slender man. fourishing a. huge revolver, srrarc out in front of them and shouted:
 "Halt, Hole up your yours.'
 Summers and Gentry turned and started to run. It had been arranged that they should do SO. O'Brien took :he cue and he also turned and ran.
 Rang roared the supposed footpad's revolver.
 "T'm shot" easped Gentry, and he nank down on the ground.
 Pang' again roared the pistol
 They've got me-, mumbled Sum- ners, and he found a soft spot on the ground and lay down.
 The situation was too intense for O'Rrien He believed both his com Danions were either dead or mortally wounded. and as he was the only one left alive he felt it his duty to notify tho police.
 Street cars Were tco slow for OBrien. supposed highwayman keeping time to his steps by shooting over his head. OBrien expected to be killed any mo-