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honesty and equal chance with fools and miscreants？ Is it right to show
the present favoritism to one class of men and inflict a disability on
another； in a land whose boast is that all its citizens are free and
equal？ I am a candidate for the legislature。 I desire to tamper with
the jury law。 I wish to so alter it as to put a premium on intelligence
and character； and close the jury box against idiots； blacklegs； and
people who do not read newspapers。 But no doubt I shall be defeated
every effort I make to save the country 〃misses fire。〃
My idea； when I began this chapter； was to say something about
desperadoism in the 〃flush times〃 of Nevada。 To attempt a portrayal of
that era and that land； and leave out the blood and carnage； would be
like portraying Mormondom and leaving out polygamy。 The desperado
stalked the streets with a swagger graded according to the number of his
homicides； and a nod of recognition from him was sufficient to make a
humble admirer happy for the rest of the day。 The deference that was
paid to a desperado of wide reputation； and who 〃kept his private
graveyard；〃 as the phrase went； was marked； and cheerfully accorded。
When he moved along the sidewalk in his excessively long…tailed frock…
coat； shiny stump…toed boots； and with dainty little slouch hat tipped
over left eye； the small…fry roughs made room for his majesty； when he
entered the restaurant； the waiters deserted bankers and merchants to
overwhelm him with obsequious service； when he shouldered his way to a
bar； the shouldered parties wheeled indignantly； recognized him； and
apologized。
They got a look in return that froze their marrow； and by that time a
curled and breast…pinned bar keeper was beaming over the counter； proud
of the established acquaintanceship that permitted such a familiar form
of speech as：
〃How're ye； Billy； old fel？ Glad to see you。 What'll you takethe old
thing？〃
The 〃old thing〃 meant his customary drink； of course。
The best known names in the Territory of Nevada were those belonging to
these long…tailed heroes of the revolver。 Orators； Governors；
capitalists and leaders of the legislature enjoyed a degree of fame； but
it seemed local and meagre when contrasted with the fame of such men as
Sam Brown； Jack Williams； Billy Mulligan； Farmer Pease； Sugarfoot Mike；
Pock Marked Jake； El Dorado Johnny； Jack McNabb； Joe McGee； Jack Harris；
Six…fingered Pete； etc。； etc。 There was a long list of them。 They were
brave； reckless men； and traveled with their lives in their hands。 To
give them their due； they did their killing principally among themselves；
and seldom molested peaceable citizens； for they considered it small
credit to add to their trophies so cheap a bauble as the death of a man
who was 〃not on the shoot；〃 as they phrased it。 They killed each other
on slight provocation； and hoped and expected to be killed themselves
for they held it almost shame to die otherwise than 〃with their boots
on；〃 as they expressed it。
I remember an instance of a desperado's contempt for such small game as a
private citizen's life。 I was taking a late supper in a restaurant one
night； with two reporters and a little printer namedBrown； for
instanceany name will do。 Presently a stranger with a long…tailed coat
on came in； and not noticing Brown's hat； which was lying in a chair； sat
down on it。 Little Brown sprang up and became abusive in a moment。 The
stranger smiled； smoothed out the hat； and offered it to Brown with
profuse apologies couched in caustic sarcasm； and begged Brown not to
destroy him。 Brown threw off his coat and challenged the man to fight
abused him； threatened him； impeached his courage； and urged and even
implored him to fight； and in the meantime the smiling stranger placed
himself under our protection in mock distress。 But presently he assumed
a serious tone； and said：
〃Very well； gentlemen； if we must fight； we must； I suppose。 But don't
rush into danger and then say I gave you no warning。 I am more than a
match for all of you when I get started。 I will give you proofs； and
then if my friend here still insists； I will try to accommodate him。〃
The table we were sitting at was about five feet long； and unusually
cumbersome and heavy。 He asked us to put our hands on the dishes and
hold them in their places a momentone of them was a large oval dish
with a portly roast on it。 Then he sat down； tilted up one end of the
table； set two of the legs on his knees； took the end of the table
between his teeth； took his hands away； and pulled down with his teeth
till the table came up to a level position； dishes and all！ He said he
could lift a keg of nails with his teeth。 He picked up a common glass
tumbler and bit a semi…circle out of it。 Then he opened his bosom and
showed us a net…work of knife and bullet scars； showed us more on his
arms and face； and said he believed he had bullets enough in his body to
make a pig of lead。 He was armed to the teeth。 He closed with the
remark that he was Mr。 of Caribooa celebrated name whereat we shook
in our shoes。 I would publish the name； but for the suspicion that he
might come and carve me。 He finally inquired if Brown still thirsted for
blood。 Brown turned the thing over in his mind a moment； and thenasked
him to supper。
With the permission of the reader； I will group together； in the next
chapter； some samples of life in our small mountain village in the old
days of desperadoism。 I was there at the time。 The reader will observe
peculiarities in our official society； and he will observe also； an
instance of how； in new countries； murders breed murders。
CHAPTER XLIX。
An extract or two from the newspapers of the day will furnish a
photograph that can need no embellishment：
FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY。An affray occurred； last evening； in a
billiard saloon on C street； between Deputy Marshal Jack Williams
and Wm。 Brown； which resulted in the immediate death of the latter。
There had been some difficulty between the parties for several
months。
An inquest was immediately held； and the following testimony
adduced：
Officer GEO。 BIRDSALL； sworn； says：I was told Wm。 Brown was drunk
and was looking for Jack Williams； so soon as I heard that I started
for the parties to prevent a collision； went into the billiard
saloon； saw Billy Brown running around； saying if anybody had
anything against him to show cause； he was talking in a boisterous
manner； and officer Perry took him to the other end of the room to
talk to him； Brown came back to me； remarked to me that he thought
he was as good as anybody； and knew how to take care of himself； he
passed by me and went to the bar； don't know whether he drank or
not； Williams was at the end of the billiard…table； next to the
stairway； Brown； after going to the bar； came back and said he was
as good as any man in the world； he had then walked out to the end
of the first billiard…table from the bar； I moved closer to them；
supposing there would be a fight； as Brown drew his pis