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within about ten or fifteen feet of Reeder； and called out to those
with him to 〃look out！ get out of the way！〃 and they had only time
to heed the warning； when he fired。 Reeder was at the time
attempting to screen himself behind a large cask； which stood
against the awning post of Klopstock & Harris's store； but some of
the balls took effect in the lower part of his breast； and he reeled
around forward and fell in front of the cask。 Gumbert then raised
his gun and fired the second barrel； which missed Reeder and entered
the ground。 At the time that this occurred； there were a great many
persons on the street in the vicinity； and a number of them called
out to Gumbert； when they saw him raise his gun； to 〃hold on；〃 and
〃don't shoot！〃 The cutting took place about ten o'clock and the
shooting about twelve。 After the shooting the street was instantly
crowded with the inhabitants of that part of the town； some
appearing much excited and laughingdeclaring that it looked like
the 〃good old times of '60。〃 Marshal Perry and officer Birdsall
were near when the shooting occurred； and Gumbert was immediately
arrested and his gun taken from him； when he was marched off to
jail。 Many persons who were attracted to the spot where this bloody
work had just taken place； looked bewildered and seemed to be asking
themselves what was to happen next； appearing in doubt as to whether
the killing mania had reached its climax； or whether we were to turn
in and have a grand killing spell； shooting whoever might have given
us offence。 It was whispered around that it was not all over yet
five or six more were to be killed before night。 Reeder was taken
to the Virginia City Hotel； and doctors called in to examine his
wounds。 They found that two or three balls had entered his right
side； one of them appeared to have passed through the substance of
the lungs； while another passed into the liver。 Two balls were also
found to have struck one of his legs。 As some of the balls struck
the cask； the wounds in Reeder's leg were probably from these；
glancing downwards； though they might have been caused by the second
shot fired。 After being shot； Reeder said when he got on his feet
smiling as he spoke〃It will take better shooting than that to kill
me。〃 The doctors consider it almost impossible for him to recover；
but as he has an excellent constitution he may survive；
notwithstanding the number and dangerous character of the wounds he
has received。 The town appears to be perfectly quiet at present； as
though the late stormy times had cleared our moral atmosphere； but
who can tell in what quarter clouds are lowering or plots ripening？
Reederor at least what was left of himsurvived his wounds two days！
Nothing was ever done with Gumbert。
Trial by jury is the palladium of our liberties。 I do not know what a
palladium is； having never seen a palladium； but it is a good thing no
doubt at any rate。 Not less than a hundred men have been murdered in
Nevadaperhaps I would be within bounds if I said three hundredand as
far as I can learn； only two persons have suffered the death penalty
there。 However； four or five who had no money and no political influence
have been punished by imprisonmentone languished in prison as much as
eight months； I think。 However； I do not desire to be extravagantit
may have been less。
However； one prophecy was verified； at any rate。 It was asserted by the
desperadoes that one of their brethren （Joe McGee； a special policeman）
was known to be the conspirator chosen by lot to assassinate Williams；
and they also asserted that doom had been pronounced against McGee； and
that he would be assassinated in exactly the same manner that had been
adopted for the destruction of Williamsa prophecy which came true a
year later。 After twelve months of distress （for McGee saw a fancied
assassin in every man that approached him）； he made the last of many
efforts to get out of the country unwatched。 He went to Carson and sat
down in a saloon to wait for the stageit would leave at four in the
morning。 But as the night waned and the crowd thinned； he grew uneasy；
and told the bar…keeper that assassins were on his track。 The bar…keeper
told him to stay in the middle of the room； then； and not go near the
door； or the window by the stove。 But a fatal fascination seduced him to
the neighborhood of the stove every now and then； and repeatedly the bar…
keeper brought him back to the middle of the room and warned him to
remain there。 But he could not。 At three in the morning he again
returned to the stove and sat down by a stranger。 Before the bar…keeper
could get to him with another warning whisper； some one outside fired
through the window and riddled McGee's breast with slugs； killing him
almost instantly。 By the same discharge the stranger at McGee's side
also received attentions which proved fatal in the course of two or three
days。
CHAPTER L。
These murder and jury statistics remind me of a certain very
extraordinary trial and execution of twenty years ago； it is a scrap of
history familiar to all old Californians； and worthy to be known by other
peoples of the earth that love simple； straightforward justice
unencumbered with nonsense。 I would apologize for this digression but
for the fact that the information I am about to offer is apology enough
in itself。 And since I digress constantly anyhow； perhaps it is as well
to eschew apologies altogether and thus prevent their growing irksome。
Capt。 Ned Blakelythat name will answer as well as any other fictitious
one （for he was still with the living at last accounts； and may not
desire to be famous）sailed ships out of the harbor of San Francisco for
many years。 He was a stalwart； warm…hearted； eagle…eyed veteran； who had
been a sailor nearly fifty yearsa sailor from early boyhood。 He was a
rough； honest creature； full of pluck； and just as full of hard…headed
simplicity； too。 He hated trifling conventionalities〃business〃 was the
word； with him。 He had all a sailor's vindictiveness against the quips
and quirks of the law； and steadfastly believed that the first and last
aim and object of the law and lawyers was to defeat justice。
He sailed for the Chincha Islands in command of a guano ship。 He had a
fine crew； but his negro mate was his peton him he had for years
lavished his admiration and esteem。 It was Capt。 Ned's first voyage to
the Chinchas； but his fame had gone before himthe fame of being a man
who would fight at the dropping of a handkerchief； when imposed upon； and
would stand no nonsense。 It was a fame well earned。 Arrived in the
islands； he found that the staple of conversation was the exploits of one
Bill Noakes； a bully； the mate of a trading ship。 This man had created a
small reign of terror there。 At nine o'clock at night； Capt。 Ned； all
alone； was pacing his deck in the starlight。 A form ascended the side；
and approached him。 Capt。 Ned said：
〃Who goes there？〃
〃I'm Bill Noakes； the best man in the islands。〃
〃What do you want aboard this ship？〃
〃I've heard of Capt。 Ned Blakely； and one of us is a better man than
'totherI'll know which； before I go ashore。〃
〃You've come to the right shopI'm your man。 I'll learn you to come
aboard this ship without an invite。〃
He seized Noakes； backed him against the mainmast； pounded his face to a
pulp； and then threw him overboard。
Noakes was not convinced。 He returned the next night； got the pulp
renewed； and went overboard head first； as before。
He was satisfied。
A week after this； while Noakes was carousing with a sailor crowd on
shore； at noonday； Capt。 Ned's colored mate came along； and Noakes tried
to pick a quarrel with him。 The negro evaded the trap； and tried to get
away。 Noakes followed him up； the negro began to run； Noakes fired on
him with a revolver and killed him。 Half a dozen sea…captains witnessed
the whole affair。 Noakes retreated to the small after…cabin of his ship；
with two other bullies； and gave out that death would be the portion of
any man that intruded there。 There was no attempt made to follow the
villains； there was no disposition to do it； and indeed very little
thought of such an enterprise。 There were no courts and no officers；
there was no government； the islands belonged to Peru； and Peru was far
away； she had no official representative on the ground； and neither had
any other nation。
However； Capt。 Ned was not perplexing his head about such things。 They
concerned him not。 He was boiling with rage and furious for justice。
At nine o'clock at night he loaded a double…barreled gun with slugs；
fished out a pair of handcuffs； got a ship's lantern； summoned his
quartermaster； and went ashore。 He said：
〃Do you see that ship there at the dock？〃
〃Ay…ay； sir。〃
〃It's the Venus。〃
〃Ay…ay； sir。〃
〃Youyou know me。〃
〃Ay…ay； sir。〃
〃Very well； then。 Take the lantern。 Carry it just under your