Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-18
a~Ms,7..A/
or STEWART

Experience In Courtroom With Ne
vada's Champion Desperado-Ex-
amples Of His Remarkable Absent.
mindedness.
United States Senator William NJ
Stewart, who recently died in Wash
ington. distinguished himself for his
interest in the Indian question, as all
the country knows. Among other
things he induced the government to
establish an Indian school at Carson
If the senator was like ordinary men.
he would have reJoiced in the oblitera-
ton Of the redskins. for 1t is owing
only to his own nerve, mules and the
Interpositiop of heaven that he es-
capped alive some years ago.
In 1860 Stewart was driving his own
wagon, heaped with his law library,
from Downeville to Carson. -Four
mules were rawing him at the rate
of eight miles an hour, and as he sped
through the sagebrush and sunshine
he dreamed Of fees. The future SEN
ator ratified down through the Henness
pass, crossed the Truckee at Hunters,
few miles west Of Reno, and was
rolling along toward Steamboat
Springs when he noticed an Indian
armed with rifle in the road ahead of
him.
News got over the ground slowly in
those days, and Stewart had not heard
of the uprising Of the reds or received
tidings of the Ormsby defeat. in which
nearly hundred whites had fallen.
So when the Piute in his path raised
his hand Stewart pulled up his mules
and readily consented to give the saw
age ride on the seat beside him. The
Indian held his rife upright before him
and talked cheerfully.
The conversation was progressing
amicably when another Indian cnme
into view. He was on top Of big
rock 200 yards ahead, and be also held
rifle. The two red men exchanged
signals. and there was something
their manner Of doing it that awoke
feeling Of suspicion and uneasiness
in Mr.. Stewart. There were more sig
nails, and look at the face Of thu
Piute beside him froze the lawyers
blood, for he saw exultant murder
there. The situation broke upon him
The mules were rapidly bringing hin
near the Indian on she rock, who wa.
evidently getting ready to fire.
Something must be done, and tina
mighty quick too. Stewart did 1t. f
dropped the reins. In q fash had hi
arms around his Piute passenger ant
gave yell that scared the mules int
a mad gallop. Then he held his wris
Cling prisoner between himself and tn
enemy on the rock, maintaining tina
advantage until the mules had ru
three miles. Again in safety, tn
problem Of what to do with his Indial
pressed for solution. A common mai
would have killed him. But Stewar
was an uncommon man and an ur
naturally forgiving one. This Is wha
he did: He wrested the rife ava
from the savage, smashed Its lock o
the wheel and tossed 1t into the sage
brush. Then the big, six foot lawye
took good. square look at the perfid
GUS Piute. hauled off and hit him bt
tween the eyes. AS Stewart gathere
up the reins and checked the mule
that Indian lay fat on his back in tn
road insensible, with his nose smashe
fat.
II have never yet seen a desperad
or man killer who. II he thought an al
tagonist were ready for him wit
weapons equal to bis own. would nc
back out OF fight," remarked Sci
ator Stewart some years ago.
There was Sam Brown, the chan
pion bad man Of Nevada In the oil
days. He was giant. six feet fot
inches high and weighed $50 pound
and as ferocious looking man as eve
mortal eye beheld. Killing was b
trade, and one winter In Virginia Cit
he slew sixteen men.
II had been retained by cliel
whose interests were opposed to Il
J Desperate. and thought It best 9
the day Of the trial to put a coup
Of old fashioned Derringers in my owe
, coat pockets. When I saw him entl
the idea came into my mind that
. had come to make me his latest vi
, tim. Hh favorite weapon was a b
!, bowie knife. and the knowledge TIL
!, !, the villain meant to stab me to deaf
made me feel exceedingly uncomfor
able. But knew It would never do
e show 1the creature that he hac n
. scared. and. looking. him esquarely