THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : MONDAY , NOVEMBER 10 , 1800.
SNAKES OF CILA BOTTOM.
/
Big Yarns About the Reptiles of the
Western Country. .
RATTLESNAKES AND THEIR VENOMOUS BITE
How Ophhltiltin Protect ThomsctvcH
I'Yoin Tliclr Common Knr.iny , the
Deer Antidotes for Snnkc ; Hllcs
K.xcliiMvo of Whisky.
From the Sun Francisco Kxaminor :
Captain .1. A. Molllnof the steanioi1 Olla
wlio has boon running on the Colorado
river for twent.v-fivo yours , hulls from a
region piirlmus mom Infested with
snakes tlinii tiny ether In the United
Stntcs. a
Lie told some rcmnrlmblo personal ex
periences yesterday at the Lick.
y "At Heaver Island , In tlio Colorado
t river , 200 miles above Yunm , " said ho ,
' 1 saw n rattlofiimko that WIIH bigger
thnn nny I ever wiw in a inonairorio. It
wasn't HO very long only a little over
llvo feet but It wan IIH thick as my thigh
and had n head IIH big ns my list. You
will know from tills that it was pretty
bl ( , ' .
A N'AUUOW KXI'HKIK.VCK.
' ! tried to kill this snake with u long
hut rather wuitk stick , and standing so
fnr olT us I had to to keep out of danger ,
I could not do effective work.
"At length the big rattler got so mad
that ho bit himself , a tiling they always
do when enraged and cannot reach tlioir
enemy , and ho bui'Ied Ills fangs Into his
tall about oiirht Inches from the end-
Tbcro ho WIIH , completely bowed up , and
eolld an though welded fast.
" 1 got him on my polo and whirled
him round and round llko a lioopas hard
IIH I could until ho whl//cd llko a wheel ,
but ho wouldn't lot go. When I Itnully
flapped him down nnd killed him 1 found
his torrlblo fangs were each two and
one-half Inches long.
"Ills poison Hack nt the roots was as
big IIH a tobacco pouch and full of blue
mutter. lie must have weighed thirty
pounds. I never saw any wlioro a rtittlo-
Biniko to compare with him. Ho was
very vicious , but I mannged to down
him.
"DOCTOU DON'T . "
, LKT MR 0112.
"In my journeys along the Colorado
mnny strange anil pathetic experiences
liavo como under my observation. In
Gilla City a short time ngo the little son
of the section boss on the railroad wont
out to the chicken house. Jt was not
in the evening , hut Into in tlio afternoon.
"It WIIH a little dark when ho entered ,
anil ho did not sco a rnttlcstinko tlioro
and stopped on it. It whirled and bit
him on tlio nnklo. Ills mother killed It ,
and the boy WIIH put aboard the train
and taken to Yunm , eighteen miles
away.
"Thoro Dr. Sibloy waited on him , but
ho died before the next morning. The
poor little fellow did not have eonvul-
Hions. Ho wns conscious all the time.
IIo would say to the doctor , 'Don't lot
mo die , doctor ! ' It was pitiful to BOO
him. Uis legs were swollen up bigger
than his boily , mid ho was swollen nil
over.
TWO CUHIOUS REMKUIKS.
"There is a wood on the desert that is
an antidote for the poison , but they
didn't scorn to bo able to got any at the
timo. It is called the snakoweedthough
in fact it Is a Httlo trailing vino. It has
the tiniest little leaf , and when it is
broken exudes a milky Huld. This milk
the Indians use to make tea of and take
internally.
The Indians also have another curious
remedy. Whoa nny ono is bltton they
take switches and switch ono of the nu
merous ant-hills aown there. This
makes the ants very mad and they spew
out in their anger a venom or saliva.
' .This the Indinns gather up with the
„ dead ants and dirt by hnndfuls , and nut
two or thrco of them in a rag and bind
on the bitten part , and the poultice
works a perfect euro.
"Rattlesnakes will always blto thorn-
Helves whoa lashed Into u fury and un-
"able tov reach their enemy , and they
will then rush off and oat this wood I
told you about. That's why It is called
Biiakowced , and it Is how people found
out it wns a cure. It never fails either
with people or snakes that are bitten.
A I-ONHI.Y HinKU'S'TIIUH.UNH KSOAIM5.
"Nojphieo in the world him so many
rattlesnakes as the (5illii bottom. NOW
I'll tell you this , which came under my
own observation.
"Sergeant McCrackon , of Colonel
Lovoll's staff , at Fort Yuma , was the
mail rider from Yunm to Lti I'anlong
the Gila vtilloy. Ho was returning homo
ono evening on a big government muio
and when a milo from Rhodes' ' ranch ho
heard an awful rattling on both sides of
the rottd.
'Thoro wns such a rattling that it t
sounded like a lot of beans In a gourd.
The mule took fright and Mr. Mo
Crackon couldn't hold him. All ho could 1
do the mule would go and ho wont like
a pralrlo lire.IT
IT WAS A SNAK1C.
"Something slowed around and struck
the mall rider , and lie thought It was Ms
rlata which had beconio loose. He made
a grab for It and grasped in his hand n
big rattlesnake. *
He was horrified and lot go , very
luckily for him , too , and the snake ,
_ which had boeomo loose from the inulo's
breast when ho struck him , dropped
down.
"Tho mule went the milo on n dead
run. Nothing could check him. IIo
ran into Rhodes' corral and dropped
down.
"In lltcon minutes ho was dend anil
swelled up as big as llvo mules. Rhodes
told mo ho never oolloved Bitch a tre
mendous bulk could bo got into one
mulo's hide.
"Yes , I bollovo it Is trim that a rattle-
Bimko won't blto anything unless it IE
attacked flrst. I bollovo that mule
stopped on him. probably on his tall. "
"Hut you said this was a big mule > , ,
and how could the smiko reach un and
strike him in the breast ? " asked the ro
porter.
A FOUMIDA1ILK KNKMY.
" \Vo have a Hiiako along the Coloradc
rlvor that wo call , the king anako. It Is
the enemy of the rattlesnake , and kllh
it by crushing It like the boa constrictor
The king snake when grown Is as inuol
as six or seven foot long , with bcautifu
red and whlto and black spots.
, "One would think It impossible that
ono kind of snake would kill another bj
wrapping itself around Its victim. Tin
wonder Is , what is the rattlesnake doiiif
nil this time , and is it not as-quick ai
iho other ? It does not appear so. Quid-
as the rattler is , the king snake can go
tiway with him.
"Ho walls till the rnttlosimko pro
trades his head a , Httlo from the col !
nnd then springs In loop form arouiu
him nnd squeezes the life out of him ii
u lllTy.
'Tho king snake Is not poisonous nnt
never attacks mini. In the Colorndt
nnd Gila valleys there used to bo an in
numerable number of them , but thori
are not BO many now ,
UNWKI.COJIK VJSITOUS.
"Wo used to llnd rattlesnakes ninoiij
the goods on the dock at Yuma. One
when the men were moving tierces o
bacon there , preparatory to loading the
Gila , they moved a tierce nnd n largo
rattlcsniiKo was found. They killed him
before ho could got away.
"Then they moved unothor tiorcc. It
was the ono 1 had been sitting on , and ,
bahold , there was a big ratllosnako
under that.
"I bcllovo rattlesnakes , rat ? , rabbits ,
mice nnd similar animals sometimes llvo
tpgelhor. [ know this 1ms boon a mooted
nation , but when thuro Is a common
gcr they do this.
"In Juno of each yrar the Colorado
river usually overflown , and at such
times 1 have found In cords of wood ,
living apparently In the greatest har
mony , rabbits , rattlesnakes , rats and
mice.
"They wore all In the snmo cord , and
there were no dead or partially cnton
animals there to Indicate that one had
made a meal on the other.
"I have Hoen them together In hollow
logs at such time.- ' , too , and I would llnd
food carried there , sucli IIB mosquito
beans. It is probably only ut times of
common danger , though , that they do
this. "
SPl'lINGS BXAGTIA * ITS J.KXOTlt.
" .lumped up. A rattlesnake ran jump
his length exactly. Take a Himko celled
up , and ho looks just like nn Inverted
top , his head the apex over the cenlor.
When ho strikes ho can leap his entire
length , from the tip of his tall to his
head. Tills was a big rattler , and he
hud no dilllcully in striking the big
.mulo in the breast , and ho was so enraged -
raged that ho held on and was mistaken
for the loose Inrinl.
l'I have shot a snake that was celled
up with a Henry rillo nnd cut him in
three places. They are done 'ip like a
cell of rope , very compact , and there Is
an immense amount of concealed
strength In the coil. No animal knows
bolter how to use it than a rattlesnake.
If n cowboy can become so dextrous by
practice with a rope , what can bo ex
pected from u snake , with which it is
natural ?
"It should not bo forgotten either , that
if n rattler is shot or cut to pieces he
can strike with his head and Inlllet a
deadly wound.
SOJIK 15HMJ.NISCKNCKS.
"Though I never 'knew a rattlesnake
to attack anything first. Ihavo known
them to spring when they saw an attack
was coming. One time when I was In a
small boat on the Colorado river I saw a
gooo sized rattlesnake on ono of the
banks. I got up and tried to strike it
with my oar. It was quicker than light
ning and struck backwards at mo.
"When a door down there sees a rat
tlesnake , no matter if it is celled and
ready to spring , ho will edge around
until ho gets as close as possible and
then gathering himself in a heap , he
will como down with all four feet on the
snake.
"It's n close match between a deer and
a snake , but the deer is usually the
quicker. lie won't got close till ho gets
all ready nnd then ho drops on the rep
tile like a Hash.
Kyrup of FiRS ,
Produced from tlio laxative and nutritious
Julco of California Jigs , combined with the
medicinal virtues of plants known to bo most
benellcinl to the human svstoin , acts ( ? cutly
on the kidneys , liver and bowels , effectually
cleansing the system , dispelling colds and
headaches , nnd curing habitual constipation ,
Pleasant Incident of n
But few of the descriptions of the re
cent marrlago of Archduchess Valerie
of Austria have mtulo mention of mi in
cident which occurred on the eve of the
wedding , srvys the Now York Tribune.
The emperor and empress hud prepared
a charming surprise for the bride , al
ways their fnvorito daughter , und still
moro dear to them since the suicldo of
their son Rudolph at Mcyerling. Baron
Bezeeny , director of the court theaters ,
had received orders to summon with
great secrecy to Ischl the members of
the famous quartette of the Vienna
opera. From the railroad station the
singers wore driven to the house of the
master of ceremonies anil and conducted
to a room , where they received four
copies of a song , which they wore re
quested to learn. A splendid dinner
was served to them In the sumo room , in
which they were to remain until sum
moned. At nightfall they were led
thsough the woods to the Imperial villa
and placed under the cover of a heavy
clump of trees opposite the terrace of
the residence , with instructions to wait
a given signal before beginning their
song. At last the empress appeared ,
holding her daughter by the waist ; bo-
nlnd thorn was the emperor with the
bridegroom , the Archduke Salvador.
As they were all silently standing on the
torrnco Prlnco Ilohoidobo gave the sig
nal , nnd from under the deep shndo of
the trees there floated up tlio sounds of
an exquisite song , the words ami music
of which had been composed by tlio
'
young bride herself some timo' pre .
viously. The archduchess rose toward |
her parents , her eyes Illled with tears of
emotion and happiness. Then the emperor
poror wont down in the garden and pre
sented each singer with n diamond 1
scarfpin.
Ask for Van Iloutcn's Cocoa. Take no
other.
Whitman on I'ootH ,
Grand as today's accumulative fund of
poetry Is , there certainly something
tinhorn , not , yet come forth , dilToront
from anything now formulated in any
verso , % or contributed by the past in any
land something waited for , craved ,
hitherto non-expressed , writes "Walt
Whitman In the North American Re
view. What it will bo , and how , no ono
knows. Tt will probably have to prove
Itself by Itself and its renders. Onn
thing , it must run through entire
humanity ( this now word nnd moaning
Solidarity has arisen to us moderns ) ,
twining nil lands llko u divine thread ,
stringing all beads , pebbles or gold ,
from God and the soul , and llko God's
dynamics nnd sunshine illustrating all
and having reference to nil.
From anything like a cosmical point ol
view , the entirety of Imaginative litera
ture's themes and results ns wo got them
today seems painfully n irrow. All that
has been nut in statement , tremendous
ns it is , what Is it compared with tlio
, i vast fields and values nnd varieties left
' unreuped ? Of our own country , the
splendid races north or south , ft ml espe
cially of the western and Putiiflu regions ,
it sometimes seems to mo their myriad
noblest Homeric and Bibllc elements arc
all untouched , loft as if ashamed of , und
only certain very minor occasional deli
rium tremens glints studiously sought
and put in print , in short tales , "pootry1
or books.
Onu HfTcot nl'tlin Silver Bill.
A surprislnc result of the silver bill
passed by congress awhile ago Is that II
enriches the miners at the expense o
the missionaries. The advance in tin
price of silver 1ms caused exchange tc
fall off In Asia , and $10,000. which recently
cently sold for 28,000 rupees in India
now bringing only 2-3,000 , These mis
slonarios got their money by bills of exchange
change on London , says a Washington
dispatch to the Glolio-Domocrtit. Thos <
are sold in India for rupees , and tin
higher exchange goes the fewer rupees
como from the same amount in dollars 01
pounds. The Baptist Missionary Mag
nzlno estimates that it will cost the Mis
slonnry union of Boston about $53,00
more this your to support its missions ii
India than it did lust your , and all o ;
account of the silver bllL
A WESTERN ( .AMBLER.
G. F. Parsons In Now York Ledger :
As in tlio construction of the Union and
Central Pacific railroads their junction
drew near , two strange spectacles might
have been been upon dllTerent points of
these plains of Utah Which then prd-
sentcd so melancholy , drear and desert-
llko nn appearance. The advance of the
western line was iKstng made by a great
hotly of Chinese. There were some ten
thousand of them , and they wore so well
drilled that their work of laying the
rails upon tlio previously graded road
bed went forward with the precision and
automatic promptness of a machine.
They had worked on the Central Pacific
from the extreme slope of the Slorrns ,
nnd after the tremendous engineering
and construction dinicullIcB of the moun
tain section , railroad building on the
level bottom of the Salt Luke valley
scorned more child's play to them.
Toward the last , when both companies
wore straining every nerve to see which
should reach Promontory Point llrst , the
Central Pnolllo force actually laid ten
miles of rails in one day it feat un
precedented then , und , HO far us my In
formation servos , still unsurpassed.
Tlioro was a considerable number of
wliltomon on this side also , but they
wore skilled workmen , foremen , bridge-
builders , etc.
Strict discipline was maintained in
the Central Puclflo construction camts ) ,
nnd the more easily , since permission to
open poi'lpatotic drinking booths was
steadily refused to nil applicants. A
dllTerent condition of things existed on
the Union Piicillc. As that road advanced
beyond the settlements on its way \\\st-
wurd its construction camps attracted
some of the most lawless and desperate
men of Ihoso who liabltuuHy hang upon
the solvtigesof ciilixation. . Tlioro were
gamblers , rumsollers , thieves , bullies ,
murderers and ru'llana ' of every kind ;
nnd they were absolutely unrestrained.
Tlio chief attraction to this mercenary
crowd was the wages of the railroad
hands , and every pay-day was the occa
sion of orgies which invariably ouded in
lighting , moro or loss promiscuous , and
usually several murders. Justice , however -
over , made no attempt to control or ad-
mlnlslor the laws tijwn these evil birds
of passage ; and as they generally killed
ono another during their mad outbreaks ,
perhaps it was thought judicious to lot
thorn save the territory expense in this
way.
In passing through the settled regions
the men employed on the construction
of the Union Pacific had given a good
deal of trouble , being a pretty tough lot ,
independent of the influences exerted by
the following of criminals and outlaws
just spoken of. It was the practice of
these birds of prey to put up little towns
of tents at convenient points , and then
open saloons and gambling-hells. These
ambulatory villages never remained
long in ono plnco , but followed the con
struction parties as closely ns possible.
As tlio Utah valley was traversed ,
the Inllux of desperadoes swelled ,
nnd , a short time before the union of
tlio two lines at Promontory , Iho nt-
mosphoro of tlio last of the gambling
and drinking camps becamo'so pretcr-
naturally sultry that oven the veterans
began to fool nervous. The plnco had
received the suggestive nnd significant
name of ' Kill-Mo-Quick , " and the title
was justified. It was a rare event for
uny dawn to break in that haunt of ini
quity without bringing into view three
or four stilt forms stretched on the
scrubby sago brush about the touts. No
inquiry was over mndo ns to how they
mot their death , nor was it thought
worth while to give them decent burial.
The most that was done was to hire
some particularly out-of-olbows hanger-
on to drag the bodies out into the open ,
and there they wore left to the disposal
of the coyotes. No man's life at "Kill-
" worth two min
Mo-Qulck" was ever
utes' purchase , for not only wore pistols
drawn at all hours of the day and night ,
but the thinness of the tents in which
every one lived invited stray bullets ,
which frequently found unintended bil
lots. There were u few women in the
place , and these were of the most desperate -
porato and abandoned kind ; oven quick
er than the men with the pistol and
knife , and reckless in all ways bovoud
conception.
Things were in this state at the
"front" of the Union Pacific , when , in
the spring of1809 , the writer of this
sketch wont from San Francisco to tlio
place of junction in Utah , to witness tlio
laying of tlio last rail. Arriving some
days before thocoremon.vho was obliged
to mnko many odd shifts to got to the
foremost construction c.unp ; and one
day lie found himself thrown into
btrange company , tlio only other passen
ger on the car being a rough and < lo-
lormined looking man , who had with
him two singularly heavy valises. The
I stranger was sociably inclined , and con-
I descended to enter into conversation
11 with the young man , who , on his part ,
welcomed the opportunity to study
a now species. In a few minutes.
the man oJ the two valises had stated
that his name was Bill Dresser ; that ho
was a gambler "by profession , " and that
ho was on his way to "rig up" some
thing , ever the thought of which ho
chuckled several times. imv it must bo
said that Mr. William Dresser was not
at all llko the western gambler de
scribed , by Bret Ilarto. lie was not
smooth and polished and cold , with the
manners of an oxqulsito and the eye of
n raCtlesnako. IIo did not wear broad
cloth and flue linen. IIo exhibited no
diamonds , his hands were not smooth
and white , and nobody could by any pos
sibility have mistaken him for a gentle
man. IIo was red-faced , rough-skinned ,
with a scrubby board , were a coarse and
shabby suit of clothes , and a rusty soft
hat ; displayed ,110 iowolry whatever , but
wns evidently well "heeled , " that is to
say , ho carried two big navy revolvers
at his bolt and a knlfo in one Ills boots.
For a man who. according to his own ac
count , had killed several of his fellow-
creatures without tho.loast compunction
or remorse , he did not appear formid
able. Thousands of honest farmers
wear no more innocent expression and
tire no moro frank and alTiiblu in man
ner. Perhaps it was the fact that there
was nobody for him to talk to but mo
that loosened his tongue. Perhaps it
was his habit to distribute his confi
dences freely. My acquaintance with
him was too brief to Interest mo upon
this point , but I was perfectly content to
hoar nil ho was willing to say.
Presently ho happened to kick ono of
his valises , and a curious metallic , jing
ling sound -which followed encouraged
mo to inquire what ho had thoro. Here
upon ho laughed , and said : _ 3
"I guess vou'd bo a loner time flndln'
thatl It's guns ! " and then ho opened
ono of the valises and showed that it was
Illled with apparently second-hand re
volvers. I must have looked the per
plexity I felt at this sight , and Bill
Dresser was not the man to leave a com
- panion in uncertainty. Ho proceeded to
enlighten mo us to the meaning of the
phenomenon.
"Yer nco , " ho began , rather thought
fully , but with n candor to Inspire conll-
donco , "of Into thosp yor fellers wet
bucks the tiger hov got to bo uncommon
rambunctious , 'specially the railroad
hands. Yer can't win the lousiest pile
off'a 'em without their millln' their guns
on yor , and tho' In the porfesslon we
hov to take chances , of course , this ovor-
Instill' shootin 's kind o' wcarln' on the
narvcs. "
To this I assented , it boomed so ob
vious , but rftlll I wn iis.tfar ns over from
lereolvlng the meaning of thotwovnllses
lull of "jjims. " ' >
Mr. William Drcfse'r-'nrocecded ' :
"Now , matt1 , " ' by tMibiidoarlng term
110 was kind onougjl , f { > designate the
writer)1 ) ' 'I've got a jnrjno"r , which his
name is Jim Farley. Jim's culo and up
to more tricks than I uin , and 'twas ho
that worked out this plant. It's jest this
way : Wen wo mark down u railroad
camp I goonuhoiid u'n ( } strike tlio boys
jest before a pay-day , to s to innko sure
that they'll boout of cash Well , lopon
up the game , nnd some on 'em dropsin
and hangs 'round , gloomy like. Pres
ently they lets me know tiior' ain't any
money in the camp. I sez , cheerfully ,
that this don't ' make '
no dllTor. I'm
willing to meet the boys moro'n half
ay. Them as hasn't any rocks can
plank down their guns at nn agreed val
uation , and there wo are nothln' ' to
hinder the game. The bovs don't need
a second tiskln'and I corrals all theguns
la the camp see ? lly'n by pay-day
comes around , and then my pardnor
lakes ui ) the ruiinln' , Rills Into UioScnnip
and collars the shlnplastors. Just hero s
where tlio line work comes in. Ef the
mya hud tlioir guns , ton to ono they'd
111 my pardncr full of lead , but f'vo
drawn their- tooth , yor see , and so Jim
has tlmu lo clear out with his winnln's
before the crowd can get cool enough to
organize ulynohln' party. It's an all-
fired combination , and works like n
charm. "
So saying-Bill Dresser beamed upon
mo as though ho had been relating the
most praiseworthy and philanthropic of
Actions , and his eye so clearly expressed
conlldenco in my admiration thatl really
fplt cmbarassed at being unable to on-
ilorso the "combination' ' heartily and
without prejudice. But ho was not de
pendent upon the cold charity of the
world for approbation , The moro sight
of the two valises tickled him , and lie
could not touch ono with hlsfoot without
breaking into a galTuw. Suddenly a
thought strunk and for a moment
sobered him. Ho put his hand upon my
knee , and dropping his voice ti little , ob
served feelingly-
"Mate , my pardnor nnd mo'd rake in
a big pile oft weren't for ono thing. I
cnu't stand oil old rye ! That's my weak
point , and Its broken up no end o' prom-
Ihin' ' plant ? . Some day" hero his
gloom deepened "I expect It'll lead to
my pas-siir in my checks pronmloorly. "
Hero ho paused and foil into a reflec
tive mood , which I did not interrupt.
Tlio most striking point in this man
was the placid unconsciousness of abnor
mality which marked his easy relation.
It was evident that ho did not regard
himself aH in any respect singular , nor
did ho think his occupation ono to bo
ashamed of. Living wholly with those
who did Iho same or woi > o , tills was
natural enough , but law-abiding
people commonly make the mis
take of supposing that lawless people
fully rccognico their lawlessness. Hence
the false conceptions of black-browed ,
saturnine desperadoes to bo found in lie-
tion creatures who are filled with remorse -
morse , rage and despair. Such charac
ters do not exist. Your real outlaw may
no doubt bo sullen nnd evil-tempered ,
but ho is quite as likely to bo dobonnuir ,
genial and cheery , nnd to go through
the world with n lighl heart , caring only
for Iho phiudils of men who hold the
same views with himself , find neither
comprehending nor troubling himself
about the condemnation of that respec
table element of society which ho ig
nores or mildly despises. Bill Dresser
was a typical outlaw , and thoroughly
acclimuted to his environments , lie sin
cerely took pride in Jim Farloy'sx"com-
bination , " and ho.say no .reason . why an
ordinary , intelligent stranger should
not shave his opinion. IIo was a decid
edly interesting study , and when , in an
swer to my questions , ho avowed an in
timate knowledge of the game called
"three-card monte , " and proceeded to
instruct mo in the mysteries of the
"joker , " the instruction became still
moro novel and amusing. I do not
think I was a very apt scholar , for really
the only impression I carried away was
a conviction that whoever played "Ihreo-
curdinouto"in the hope and expectation
of winning money deserved to no put in
a lunatic asylum. Yet at the time , and
indeed long afterward , monte players so
infested Iho Central und the Union Pa-
cllic railroads , and victimized so many
passengers , that the companies found It
necessary to place warning placards in
every car , bewdes doing thoit ; ulmost to
keep the .gamblers off the linen. Bill
Drcss-or was quite proud of his sloight-
of-hand skill , but ho did not try to in
duce mo to hot , nnd I have sometimes-
thought that ho may hiivo had a vague
feeling of disinclination to ilocco ono tc
whom ho had revealed himself so fully.
As ho intimated a purpose to introduce
the "combination"tit the Central Pacific
front , I thought it my duty to inform the
superintendent of the plot , nnd"whon
Mr. Dresser approached the camp ho
was politely but firmly invited lo go
somowhcro else. I did not moot him
again. What follows was gathered from
other sources and by scraps and frag
ments. It scorns that when ho went
back toKillMo Quick" ho found his
partner impatiently awaiting his return ,
Farley's immediate presence at tlio east
being"required in the interest of some
other "plant. " no doubt criminal but
of what nature I never learned. Before
leaving Bill's "pardnor" had to de
termine whether to lot the joint capital
remain in Dresser's hands nnd bo em
ployed by him ns usual In keeping the
gaming liouso in operation , or whether
the game should bo closed during his
absence. Prudence suggested tlio second
course ; avarice supported tlio llrst. Fur-
ley hud no fear that his partner would
run away with the funds , and this fact
tpoko rather strongly for Bill , since
there are not many of his kidney who
uro above temptation nnd superior to
opportunity. What Farley did fear was
Bill's addiction to "old-rye , " for ho was
always liable to got ort what ho called
a "jamboree" andif , ho did , 'tho '
funds would certainly > bo lost. Dresser ,
however swore so Hulumnly to shun the
flowing bowl , and represented so strongly
the folly of losing a golden opportunity
for "raking in the , 'shekels. * ' that his
partner at length forewent his hotter
judgment , and deeide.il that- the game
should bo kept opop. This settled , ho
took the train for the cast , tlio under
standing being that lid would return in
two weeks ut the furhe"st. (
Frail human nature is so constituted
that it always hankpVa after forbidden
fruit ; and no sooner hail Jim Farley dis
appeared , thnn his partner began to ro-
licet upon tlio extent of the privation to
which he had pledged himself for no less
n port od than fourteen dnys. For the
llrst twenty-lour hours his good resolu
tions were br.icing enough to kcop him
in the path of ( comparative ) virtue ; but
precisely because he had sworn not to
touch liquor4 , iho craving for it grow
upon him , until his condition was truly
pitliiblc , Ho held out , notwithstanding
the cumulative weight of his tempta
tions , to the end of the first week. Tlion
ho fell llko Lucifer "never to rlso
agnln. " This was no ordinary snroe.
Tlio law of proportions necesslliited its
adaptation to the causes which had pro
duced 11. There had been every reason
for abstaining from drink , therefore
there was every reason for drinking
more heavily than over when ho did
begin. Bill Dresser was not quarrel
some In his cups , or ho would certainly
have been killed during thisspreo , for ho
wi\s perfectly reckless. His neighbor
birds "of prey , of course , took prompt ad-
vantngo.of his condition. lie had closed
his giuno , but ho saved nothing by that ,
for ho Immediately proceeded lo hot
upon nil tlio other giimos in the camp.
As not one of tlicso games was "square. "
it followed that Bill lost Ills and his
partner's capital rapidly ; but this
did not check him. IIu was , in
truth , in the state called "fey" by the
Scotch that pecular slnlo in which
death being decreed , the predestined
victim is supposed to bo mysteriously
impelled to carry his own doom Into
effect. llo drank deeply , nnd gambled
wildly , until the day before Farley was
expected back. Then ho stopped play
ing , because ho no longer possessed a
dollar , nnd lie stopped drinking , because
the barkeeper refused to give him
credit. So the week's furious excite
ment ended , and loft a shaking , half-
delirious , remorseful , shame-burdened
wretch In the pluco of the jaunty and
solf-conlldont Bill Dresser. Having now
nothing else to do , ho thought , and
though his thoughts could not , In the
state of his system , bo healthy or' nor
mal ones , they none the loss led him tea
a fixed resolve , which ho proceeded to
carry out as soon as his partner arrived.
IIo found It necessary to bog a stiff
drink of whisky before facing his injured
friend , for ho was very tremulous and
unnerved. Of course , tlioro was a stormy
scene ; In fact , Farley was beside himself
with rage and disgust at his own folly in
running such a risk , But the thing was
done , the bank was broken , and the
veteran gambler had soon too many ups
and downs not to havonchiovod a certain
measure of philosophy. In short , ho
could have calmed down by degrees if
let alone ; but Bill Dresser's destiny
meant otherwise. While Farley wtis
still In the stage of white heat , his
partner stood up before him , and spoke
thus :
"Sco hero , Jim , yor can't feel any
worse nor I do , an' yor can't despise mo
worse nor I despises myself. BQt that's
Httlo use to talk about. YoV robbed ,
an' in the meanest way , un' I'm Iho
dirty thief. Now , of you woke
and found a galoot goiri' through
yor clothes , wouldn't you shoot lilmV
Well , this 'ore's a par'lol case and yoV
entitled to yer rovengc. Wet I say is
for you to jest take me out lo th' edge of
the sage-brush , and put a ball through
head. I ain't an'
my no good , no ways ,
mobbo of you don't do it , I shall light
out that Way myself. "
Jim Farley looked hard at- his part
ner , and after a moment replied :
"By thunder , Bill , you u o deserve to
bo wijied out ! "
"Well , " returned Dresser , perhaps a
little peevishly , "why don't yor wipe
mo out , then ? "
This irritated the other , and , some
how seemed to put him on his moltle ,
and merely saying : "Como enl I willl"
ho stopped from the tent where the ex
planation had boon made , and strode
toward the dreary waste of sage-brush-
covered plain that stretched in dismal
flatness all around the camp. Dresser
followed calmer and cooler than before.
They hailed a hundred yards from the
outermost tent. Farley drew his re
volver , examined it carefully , and then
asked his Into pattnor If ho had "any
thing to say last words or sochV"
Bill Dresser merely shook his liead.
IIo was alone in the world. IIo had
nothing to bequeath , and nobody to bo-
qnoiilh it to. A look passed between
tlio two men ; a look of farewell , for
giveness , and rancor and shame till
mingled together. Farley raised his
pistol. A sharp report followed , and u
man holding a smoking revolver in his
hand stood alone , looking down at some
thing that lay still enough at his feqt.
Bill Dresser nnd expiated his olTonso as
fur us ho could.
Nothing was done against Jim Farley ,
who in duo time died "with his boots
on. " If any reader thinks tills story in
credible I shall notbo surprised. Truth
is often incredible , and this relation iu
true.
in lOvcry Ucrtli.
To the Chicago , Milwaukee A ; St. Paul
railway belongs tlio credit of being the
first In the count ry to reduce the mutter
of olectrlo lighting of trains to scientific
perfection. Ono of the nqvol features
introduced in the sleeping cars is a
patent electric reading-lamp in each sec
tion. With this luxurious provision ,
reading at night before and after retir
ing becomes as comfortable as by day ,
and when retiring the toilet mav bo
mndo in comfort and seclusion. The
berth reading lamp in tlio Pullman
sleeping cars run on the Chicago , Mil-
waulcoo & St. Paul railway , between
Omaha and Chicago , is patented and
cannot bo used by any ether railway
company. It Is tlio greatest improve
ment of the ugo. Try it and bo con
vinced.
Sleeping cars leave the Union Fuel lie
depot , Omaha , at 0:10 : p. in. daily , arriv
ing nt Chicago at S'fO ) : a. in. Seouro
tlckois and sleeping car berths at Union
Ticket ollleo , 1501 Farmun street ( Barker
block ) , Omaha.
J. E. PHBSTOX , F. A. NASH ,
Pass. Agent. Gon'l Agent
Through coaclies Pullman palace
fileopors , dlningcars. free reclining chair
cars to Chicago nnd intervening points
via the great Rock Island route. Ticket
ollleo ICOiJ , Sixteenth ana Furnam.
Don't believe that ho is thinking of you
every hour of his life. Ho is not ; ho satisfied
if ho is woruliiK away , with every now and
then Riving a thought to the girl for \vtiom lie
is maljtiiK a homo over which ho expects her
to prwiUo as a loving , thoughtful wlfo ,
rncmvna
Have you
OMAHA
DIRECTORY.
BILLIARDS. BOXES.
The Brunswlck-Balko JolmL. Wilkis , .
Oollender Oo.
inillinl Mierch.uiillv , Omaha pM : or linv ( ft'Mory ,
inlT-1.119 IXniiitiK.
407 , WJ . lUtli strcjt ,
Onmlm , Orders prompt ) ; Illicit.
BOOK BINDERS & STATIONERS.
Omaha Republican Printing 0 : , ,
Lair brief ) , bank supplier , niul orvrrtlilni ; In tlio
prlntliu llm > .
IQtU ami .
Doiul.n Mrrotv
_ _
Ackcrmnnn Bros. & Hcintze ,
rrlnter. ' , binders , rleotrotypor ! > , blnnk hook mnnii-
fiu'Uirorn ,
nt Mreot , Omiilm.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
i Ooo & Oi , , Kirkciulall , Joiios &Uo ,
Wliolc'nlo Mtinuf.icliir' * .
Manufacturer nml
* job
ber. ' . Axpnt for llixlnn Unl > -
IKT Mine Cn. , HIT. ' , llllt ,
Ilftl llownril > t-j t. unit IIUQIInrnev St.
Williams , Van Acr- " \v" , V. Morsolc Oo , ,
r nam & Hartc , Mniiiifuctiircri.t J
1212 llnrncy Mroct , 1101-110. ' . DouRliii it.
Onmlia , Ni'l' . Onmlm , Ni'b.
BUTCHERS' SUPPLIES.
Louis Ilellor ,
rliorV ml l'nckpr '
Tool * A Siipplli" . Hoof ,
IKUT& xlii > i > p cu h\K .
1llil-lllSJnck < oii tit.
CARRIAGES , BUGGIES , ETC.
Oalnmbiu Bujgy Oo. ,
CurrliiKUii , rn-ti Biilkloi ,
etc.
Q. It. KtlvnnH. Mutineer.
3IMI5 South 10th.
CARPETS. | CLOTHING.
Omaha Oarpet Oo. , Oilmoro & Euhl ,
Carpets , oil cloths , mat- Mnniifncturi'rs A Vi'liolo-
tliH ! , ciirtHlnKooil < , ctc. "iilo Clatlilera ,
1JI1 Ioii ) lin stroot.
CIGARS.
West A ; Fritsoher , Doan , Armstrong' &
Mnmirncturcrs flnoclii.'irg Oo. ,
Jobbers at lent tobuccos , H N. liith S'.rjct.
1011 l-'iirnamrtrcot.
COAL , COKE , ETC.
CORNICE.
Eagle Cornice Works ,
MnniifucturcrsofGnlvan-
Ized Iron Conilco.
Vt Inrtowniiii.mctnllcuky-
IlKbts etc , mo nnd 1113
DoiluoSt.
DRY GOODS.
M , E. Smith & Kilpatrick-Koch Dry
Dry poods , furnishing Goods Oo. ,
Kuudi , notions. 1)17 Ki > < > 'K ' notions , Cents'
.
Cor. lltli and Hownrd Kts. Corner lllli and llnrnnjr
DRUGS.
Blake. Brace & 0o , ,
UOO-003 Loavonivortli at.
O.imha , Neb ,
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.
Wolf Electrical Oo.
Illustrated Catalogue
free.
1CU Cnpltul Avenue.
FARM MACHINERY , E TO.
Purlin , OrentlorfF & T , G. Northwall ,
Martin Oo , , Ucnernl western ngcnt
Corner Joiu-s nnd Otli eta. SknlMlii 1'low Co ,
Onmlni , Nub. 1343-13J1 Hliornmn arc.
FLOUR.
Broken Bow Eollor E , T. Davis Mill Co. ,
Milling Oo. , Ml ntBt. Joseph.
Ollleo nml warehouse. Onmlm House ,
lUCJN , IGtli street. Cor. 8th nnd Jackson at * .
S. P. Gilman , Clemens Oskarap ,
M'f'K of roaily to ralao
! OH N. Kith f troct. Kbip Jnck Meal , llnust
onkus In the world.
C. 1' . lllutk , - Mnnngor. 1SU7-IS158. ! 0th ntrccl.
FURNITURE AND CARPETS.
Dewey & Stouo Fur Olins. Sbiveriok & Oo.
niture Oo. '
.
, ' .
I-'imiltnro nnd Carpets.
Kurnlturo nnd carpet * ,
lll.'i-lU'J Knrmuu street , ISOil-lSir I'nrnnm St.
GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS.
GLASS , PAINT , OIL , ETC.
Kennard Glass and J , A. Fuller & 0o. ,
Paint 03 ,
, II03 Douglas Street ,
1I03-IU2 llninejrBlroet.
. Omni.a Nub. Onmlm.
GROCERIES.
Paxton & Gallagher , Meyer & Eaapke ,
70MH S. lOth street , II03-1405 Hnnicy ttreot ,
Onmlm , Neb. Onmlm , Nub.
D. M. Steele & Oo , , Sloan , Johnson & Oo ,
I201IMS' Jones street , Oth and Ixiavcnworth
strvuts ,
Onmlm , Xcb. Onmha , Neb.
Alien Bros , , McOord , Brady & Oo. ,
llll Hnrner street , ISthand I.cavenworth ,
Oinnlm , Xcb. Ouanlia , Kcbrnika.
GUN POWDER.
Hugh G. Olark.
Audit
Duponl'n liunpnwder ,
lUuslInx on pi , fuio , etc.
llilb llurnur ttreot.
HARDWARE.
Hector &WilhehuyOo LeeOlarkAudreesen
Cor , 10th und Jackion t . Hardware Oo. ,
Omatia. I 1103-111(1 ( llarnejr Rtrovt ,
HIDES , WOOL , | TALLOW , FUH
Qco. Oberno & . Oo , , J , S. Smith & Oo. ,
MJS.Uth street , 1103-HU I.cMfnwc > tth U
Omaha. Omalm.
IRON WORKS.
Pnxton & Vlorlinr Omaha Safe & Iron
Iron Work ? , Works
\\roniilii and rnst Iron ,
lmUdlnt ! ork , riiRlnes. 3lnmi'r flrnnndhiiriilAr
liri \ioik , tfpiiorn I pnmf snfes , Tniilts , J | )
foundry , ninclitnc mid work , Iron lmtli'rs nml
libcksinllli work , U , I' . tlru p cnpp < . ( i An-
II ; . and Kth st. drcon.lltliA Jackiontt *
JOSEPH GILLOTT'S '
STEEL PENS.
GOLD MEDAL , PARIS EXPOSITION , 1805.
THE MOST PERFECT OF PENS. .