The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-06-15

hear that he is flying high, demand
their money, and he closes the bank,
and eventually pays seven cents on the
dollar, and is looked upon as a great
financier. It has been a pleasure to US
to have this kindly old man visit us,
and by his example of the Golden Rule,
to do to others as you would be done
by, make us contcnted with our lot
We are not the kind of business men
who try to ruin the business of COM
petitors by poisoning their wells, or
freezing them out of business. If any
other train robbers want to do bust
ness in our territory, they have the
same rights that we have, and the
world is big enough for all to ply their
trade. Now I am going to call upon
our friend, Buckskin Bill, my associate
in crime, who was wounded by a mis-
directed load of buckshot in our latest
raid, which bucksnot were so ably re-
moved from his person by our distin-
guished friend who is so soon to leave
u.s." and the leader again passed the
loving cup and gave way to Buckskin
Bill. who said:
"Pals-I do not know If you have
ever suspected that before l joined
this bunch I was stepped in crime, but
must confess to you that was Chi
cago alderman for one term, during
the passage of the gas franchise and
the traction deal, but trust have re-
formed, because I have led different
life all these years. like this free
life of the mountains, where what you
get in a hold-up is yours, and you do
not have to divide with politicians,
and if you refuse to divide they squeal
on you, and you see the guide board
pointing to Joliet. / would not go
back to the wicked life of an alder
man, to make a dishonest living by
holding up bills until the agent came
around and gave me an envelope but
do want to hear from my old pals in
the common council, and l would ask
our corpulent friend, who so ably
picked the buckshot out of my remains.
when he passes through Chicago to 60
to the council chamber and give my
benediction to my colleagues, and ask
them to repent before it is too late, and
come west and go into legitimate rob-
berry, far away from the sleuths who
are constantly on their trails. While
the lamp continues to burn the vilest
alderman may buy ticket to the free
and healthy west, and we will give
him a welcome. Old man, shake" and
Buckskin Bill shook pas hand and sat
down on his knees, because his wounds
were not healed.
The leader of the gang then called
upon pa for few remarks, and pa
said: Gentlemen, you have done me
great honor to make me an honorary
member of your organization, and
shall go away from here with feel
ing that you are the highest type OF
robbers, men that it is pleasure to
know, and that you are not to be
mentioned in the same category of the
wicked men who rob the poor right
and left, in what we consider civiliza-
ton in the east You only take toll
from the great corporations who have
plenty, and your robberies do not
bring sorrow and sadness to the poor
and hungry. No matter what induce
ments may be held out to me in the fu-
ture, to join the life insurance rob-
bers, the political robbers, the great
corporations that wiring the last dol
lar from their victims, l shall always
remember, in declining such overtures
that l am an honorary member oil
this organization of honest, straight.
forward, conscientious hold-up men
who would rob only the rich and di
vide with the poor, and hope some
day, if our country goes to the dogs
so a respectable man cannot hold Of
flee, or do business on the square, to
come back here and become one Of you
in fact, and work the game to the linn
it. If you find you cannot make it pay
out here, come east and l will give
you the three-card monte and the shell
game concession with our show next
summer, where you can make good
living out of the jays that patronize
us, and always have a little money
left when we get through with them
which it is shame for them to be al
lowed to carry home after the evening
performance I thank you, gentle
men,"
Then the loving cup was passed, we
saddled our horses and the robbers
guided us in the dark through the val.
ley, and out towards the railroad, pas
saddlebags filled with the tainted
money. At daylight the next morning
when the guides left us, pa took a big
roll of bills out of his saddlebags and
opened it and, by gosh, if it wasn't
lot of old confederate money that
wasn't worth a cent Pa used some
words that made me sick, and then
cried. So did pa.