第13章
YOURPROPHECYFULFILLING。
Inlargepartatleastyourprophecieshavebeenfulfilled，for(a)
assaying，whichwaswellattendedtointheGoldHillAssayOffice(ofwhichIamsuperintendent)，inconsequenceofmypublications，hasbeentakenelsewhere，sothePresidentofoneofthecompaniesassuresme。
Withnoreasonassigned，otherworkhasbeentakenaway。Withbutoneortwoimportantexceptions，ourassaybusinessnowconsistssimplyofthegleaningsofthevicinity。(b)ThoughmyownpersonaldonationstothePeople"sTribuneAssociationhavealreadyexceeded$1，500，outsideofourownnumberswehavereceived(inmoney)lessthan$300ascontributionsandsubscriptionsforthejournal。(c)OnThursdaylast，onthemainstreetinGoldHill，nearnoon，withneitherwarningnorcauseassigned，byapowerfulblowIwasfelledtotheground，andwhiledownIwaskickedbyamanwhoitwouldseemhadbeenledtobelievethatIhadspokenderogatorilyofhim。BywhomhewassoinducedtobelieveIamasyetunabletosay。OnSaturdaylastIwasagainassailedandbeatenbyamanwhofirstinformedmewhyhedidso，andwhopersistedinmakinghisassaultevenaftertheerroneousimpressionunderwhichhealsowasatfirstlaboringhadbeenclearlyandrepeatedlypointedout。Thissameman，afterfailingthroughintimidationtoelicitfrommethenamesofoureditorialcontributors，againstgivingwhichheknewmetobepledged，beathimselfwearyuponmewitharawhide，Inotresisting，andthenpantinglythreatenedmewithpermanentdisfiguringmayhem，ifeveragainIshouldintroducehisnameintoprint，andwhobutafewminutesbeforehisattackuponmeassuredmethattheonlyreasonIwas“permitted“toreachhomealiveonWednesdayeveninglast(atwhichtimethePEOPLE"STRIBUNEwasissued)was，thathedeemsmeonlyhalf-witted，andbeitrememberedtheverynextmorningIwasknockeddownandkickedbyamanwhoseemedtobepreparedforflight。
[Heseesdoomimpending:]
WHENWILLTHECIRCLEJOIN?
HowlongbeforethewholeofyourprophecywillbefulfilledIcannotsay，butundertheshadowofsomuchfulfillmentinsoshortatime，andwithsuchthreatsfromamanwhoisoneofthemostprominentexponentsoftheSanFranciscomining-ringstaringmeandthiswholecommunitydefiantlyinthefaceandpointingtoacompletionofyouraugury，doyoublamemeforfeelingthatthiscommunicationisthelastIshalleverwriteforthePress，especiallywhenasensealikeofpersonalself-
respect，ofdutytothismoney-oppressedandfear-riddencommunity，andofAmericanfealtytothespiritoftrueLibertyallcommandme，andeachmoreloudlythanloveoflifeitself，todeclarethenameofthatprominentmantobeJOHNB。WINTERS，PresidentoftheYellowJacketCompany，apoliticalaspirantandamilitaryGeneral?Thenameofhispartiallydupedaccompliceandabettorinthislastmarvelousassault，isnootherthanPHILIPLYNCH，EditorandProprietoroftheGoldHillNews。
DespitetheinsultandwrongheapeduponmebyJohnB。Winters，onSaturdayafternoon，onlyaglimpseofwhichIshallbeabletoaffordyourreaders，somuchdoIdeploreclinching(bypublicity)aseriousmistakeofanyone，manorwoman，committedundernaturalandnotself-
wroughtpassion，inviewofhisgreatapparentexcitementatthetimeandinviewofthealmostperfectprivacyoftheassault，IamfarfromsurethatIshouldnothavegivenhimspaceforrepentancebeforeexposinghim，wereitnotthathehimselfhassofarexposedthematterastomakeitthecommontalkofthetownthathehashorsewhippedme。Thatfacthavingbeenmadepublic，allthefactsinconnectionneedtobealso，orsilenceonmypartwouldseemmorethansingular，andwithmanywouldbeproofeitherthatIwasconsciousofsomeunworthyaiminpublishingthearticle，orelsethatmy“non-combatant“principlesarebutaconvenientcloakalikeofphysicalandmoralcowardice。Ithereforeshalltrytopresentagraphicbuttruthfulpictureofthiswholeaffair，butshallforbearallcomments，presumingthattheeditorsofourownjournal，ifothersdonot，willspeakfreelyandfittinglyuponthissubjectinournextnumber，whetherIshallthenbedeadorliving，formydeathwillnotstop，thoughitmaysuspend，thepublicationofthePEOPLE"STRIBUNE。
[The“non-combatant“stickstoprinciple，buttakesalongafriendortwoofaconvenientlydifferentstripe:]
THETRAPSET。
OnSaturdaymorningJohnB。WinterssentverbalwordtotheGoldHillAssayOfficethathedesiredtoseemeattheYellowJacketoffice。
ThoughsucharequeststruckmeasdecidedlycoolinviewofhisownrecentdiscourtesiestometherealikeasapublisherandasastockholderintheYellowJacketmine，andthoughitseemedtomemorelikeasummonsthanthecourteousrequestbyonegentlemantoanotherforafavor，hopingthatsomeconferencewithSharonlookingtothebettermentofminingmattersinNevadamightarisefromit，Ifeltstronglyinclinedtooverlookwhatpossiblywassimplyanoversightincourtesy。ButasthenithadonlybeentwodayssinceIhadbeenbruisedandbeatenunderahastyandfalseapprehensionoffacts，mycautionwassomewhataroused。MoreoverIrememberedsensitivelyhiscontemptuousnessofmannertomeatmylastinterviewinhisoffice。Ithereforefeltitneedful，ifIwentatall，togoaccompaniedbyafriendwhomhewouldnotdaretotreatwithincivility，andwhosepresencewithmemightsecureexemptionfrominsult。AccordinglyIaskedaneighbortoaccompanyme。
THETRAPALMOSTDETECTED。
AlthoughIwasnotthenawareofthisfact，itwouldseemthatprevioustomyrequestthissameneighborhadheardDr。Zabriskiestatepubliclyinasaloon，thatMr。Wintershadtoldhimhehaddecidedeithertokillortohorsewhipme，buthadnotfinallydecidedonwhich。Myneighbor，therefore，feltunwillingtogodownwithmeuntilhehadfirstcalledonMr。Wintersalone。Hethereforepaidhimavisit。FromthatinterviewheassuredmethathegatheredtheimpressionthathedidnotbelieveI
wouldhaveanydifficultywithMr。Winters，andthathe(Winters)wouldcallonmeatfouro"clockinmyownoffice。
MYOWNPRECAUTIONS。
AsSheriffCummingswasinGoldHillthatafternoon，andasIdesiredtoconversewithhimaboutthepreviousassault，Iinvitedhimtomyoffice，andhecame。Althoughahalfhourhadpassedbeyondfouro"clock，Mr。
Wintershadnotcalled，andwebothofusbeganpreparingtogohome。
Justthen，PhilipLynch，PublisheroftheGoldHillNews，cameinandsaid，blandlyandcheerily，asifbringinggoodnews:
“Hello，JohnB。Winterswantstoseeyou。”
Ireplied，“Indeed！Whyhesentmewordthathewouldcallonmeherethisafternoonatfouro"clock！“
“O，well，itdon"tdotobetooceremoniousjustnow，he"sinmyoffice，andthatwilldoaswell——comeonin，Winterswantstoconsultwithyoualone。He"sgotsomethingtosaytoyou。”
Thoughslightlyuneasyatthischangeofprogramme，yetbelievingthatinaneditor"shouseIoughttobesafe，andanyhowthatIwouldbewithinhailofthestreet，Ihurriedly，andbutpartiallywhisperedmydimapprehensionstoMr。Cummings，andaskedhimifhewouldnotkeepnearenoughtohearmyvoiceincaseIshouldcall。Heconsentedtodosowhilewaitingforsomeotherparties，andtocomeinifheheardmyvoiceorthoughtIhadneedofprotection。
OnreachingtheeditorialpartoftheNewsoffice，whichviewedfromthestreetisdark，IdidnotseeMr。Winters，andagainmymisgivingsarose。
HadIpausedlongenoughtoconsiderthecase，IshouldhaveinvitedSheriffCummingsin，butasLynchwentdownstairs，hesaid:“Thisway，Wiegand——it"sbesttobeprivate，“orsomesuchremark。
[Idonotdesiretostrainthereader"sfancy，hurtfully，andyetitwouldbeafavortomeifhewouldtrytofancythislambinbattle，ortheduellinggroundorattheheadofavigilancecommittee——M。T。:]
Ifollowed，andwithoutMr。Cummings，andwithoutarms，whichIneverdoorwillcarry，unlessasasoldierinwar，orunlessIshouldyetcometofeelImustfightaduel，ortojoinandaidintheranksofanecessaryVigilanceCommittee。ButbyfollowingImadeafatalmistake。Followingwasenteringatrap，andwhateveranimalsuffersitselftobecaughtshouldexpectthecommonfateofacagedrat，asIfeareventstocomewillprove。
Trapscommonlyarenotsetforbenevolence。
[Hisbody-guardisshutout:]
THETRAPINSIDE。
IfollowedLynchdownstairs。Attheirfootadoortotheleftopenedintoasmallroom。Fromthatroomanotherdooropenedintoyetanotherroom，andonceenteredIfoundmyselfinveigledintowhatmanywilleverhenceforthregardasaprivatesubterraneanGoldHillden，admirablyadaptedinproperhandstothepurposesofmurder，rawordisguised，forfromit，withbothorevenonedoorclosed，whentoolate，IsawthatI
couldnotbeheardbySheriffCummings，andfromit，BYVIOLENCEANDBY
FORCE，Iwaspreventedfrommakingapeaceableexit，whenIthoughtIsawthestudiousobjectofthis“consultation“wasnootherthantocompassmykilling，inthepresenceofPhilipLynchasawitness，assoonasbyinsultaproverbiallyexcitablemanshouldbeexasperatedtothepointofassailingMr。Winters，sothatMr。Lynch，byhisconscienceandbyhiswellknowntendernessofhearttowardtherichandpotentwouldbecompelledtotestifythathesawGen。JohnB。WinterskillConradWiegandin“self-defence。”ButIamgoingtoofast。
OURHOST。
Mr。Lynchwaspresentduringthemostofthetime(sayalittleshortofanhour)，butthreetimeshelefttheroom。Histestimony，therefore，wouldbeavailableonlyastothebulkofwhattranspired。OnenteringthiscarpeteddenIwasinvitedtoaseatnearonecorneroftheroom。
Mr。Lynchtookaseatnearthewindow。J。B。Winterssat(atfirst)nearthedoor，andbeganhisremarksessentiallyasfollows:
“Ihavecomeheretoexactofyouaretraction，inblackandwhite，ofthosedamnablyfalsechargeswhichyouhavepreferredagainstmeinthat——
infamouslyingsheetofyours，andyoumustdeclareyourselftheirauthor，thatyoupublishedthemknowingthemtobefalse，andthatyourmotivesweremalicious。”
“Hold，Mr。Winters。Yourlanguageisinsultingandyourdemandanenormity。ItrustIwasnotinvitedhereeithertobeinsultedorcoerced。IsupposedmyselfherebyinvitationofMr。Lynch，atyourrequest。”
“NordidIcomeheretoinsultyou。IhavealreadytoldyouthatIamhereforaverydifferentpurpose。”
“Yetyourlanguagehasbeenoffensive，andevennowshowsstrongexcitement。IfinsultisrepeatedIshalleitherleavetheroomorcallinSheriffCummings，whomIjustleftstandingandwaitingformeoutsidethedoor。”
“No，youwon"t，sir。Youmayjustaswellunderstanditatonceasnot。
Hereyouaremyman，andI"lltellyouwhy！Monthsagoyouputyourpropertyoutofyourhands，boastingthatyoudidsotoescapelosingitonprosecutionforlibel。”
“ItistruethatIdidconvertallmyimmovablepropertyintopersonalproperty，suchasIcouldtrustsafelytoothers，andchieflytoescaperuinthroughpossiblelibelsuits。”
“Verygood，sir。Havingplacedyourselfbeyondthepaleofthelaw，mayGodhelpyoursoulifyouDON"TmakepreciselysucharetractionasI
havedemanded。I"vegotyounow，andby——beforeyoucangetoutofthisroomyou"vegottobothwriteandsignpreciselytheretractionIhavedemanded，andbeforeyougo，anyhow——you——low-lived——lying——，I"llteachyouwhatpersonalresponsibilityisoutsideofthelaw；and，by——，SheriffCummingsandallthefriendsyou"vegotintheworldbesides，can"tsaveyou，you——，etc。！No，sir。I"malonenow，andI"mpreparedtobeshotdownjusthereandnowratherthanbevillifiedbyyouasI
havebeen，andsufferyoutoescapemeafterpublishingthosecharges，notonlyherewhereIamknownanduniversallyrespected，butwhereIamnotpersonallyknownandmaybeinjured。”
Iconfessthisspeech，withitsterribleandbuttooplainlyimpliedthreatofkillingmeifIdidnotsignthepaperhedemanded，terrifiedme，especiallyasIsawhewasworkinghimselfuptothehighestpossiblepitchofpassion，andinstincttoldmethatanyreplyotherthanoneofseemingconcessiontohisdemandswouldonlybefueltoaragingfire，soIreplied:
“Well，ifI"vegottosign——，“andthenIpausedsometime。Resuming，Isaid，“But，Mr。Winters，youaregreatlyexcited。Besides，Iseeyouarelaboringunderatotalmisapprehension。Itisyourdutynottoinflamebuttocalmyourself。Iampreparedtoshowyou，ifyouwillonlypointoutthearticlethatyoualludeto，thatyouregardas"charges"whatnocalmandlogicalmindhasanyrighttoregardassuch。
Showmethecharges，andIwilltry，atallevents；andifitbecomesplainthatnochargeshavebeenpreferred，thenplainlytherecanbenothingtoretract，andnoonecouldrightlyurgeyoutodemandaretraction。Youshouldbewareofmakingsoseriousamistake，forhoweverhonestamanmaybe，everyoneisliabletomisapprehend。
BesidesyouassumethatIamtheauthorofsomecertainarticlewhichyouhavenotpointedout。Itishastytodoso。”
HethenpointedtosomenumberedparagraphsinaTRIBUNEarticle，headed“What"stheMatterwithYellowJacket?“saying“That"swhatIreferto。”
Togaintimeforgeneralreflectionandresolution，Itookupthepaperandlookeditoverforawhile，heremainingsilent，andasIhoped，cooling。Ithenresumedsaying，“AsIsupposed。Idonotadmithavingwrittenthatarticle，norhaveyouanyrighttoassumesoimportantapoint，andthenbaseimportantactionuponyourassumption。Youmightdeeplyregretitafterwards。InmypublishedAddresstothePeople，I
notifiedtheworldthatnoinformationastotheauthorshipofanyarticlewouldbegivenwithouttheconsentofthewriter。Ithereforecannothonorablytellyouwhowrotethatarticle，norcanyouexactit。”
“Ifyouarenottheauthor，thenIdodemandtoknowwhois?“
“Imustdeclinetosay。”
“Then，by——，Ibrandyouasitsauthor，andshalltreatyouaccordingly。”
“Passingthatpoint，themostimportantmisapprehensionwhichInoticeis，thatyouregardthemas"charges"atall，whentheircontext，bothattheirbeginningandend，showtheyarenot。Thesewordsintroducethem:
"Suchaninvestigation[justbeforeindicated]，wethinkMIGHTresultinshowingsomeofthefollowingpoints。"Thenfollowelevenspecifications，andthesucceedingparagraphshowsthatthesuggestedinvestigation"mightEXONERATEthosewhoaregenerallybelievedguilty。"Yousee，therefore，thecontextprovestheyarenotpreferredascharges，andthisyouseemtohaveoverlooked。”
Whilemakingthosecomments，Mr。Wintersfrequentlyinterruptedmeinsuchawayastoconvincemethathewasresolvednottoconsidercandidlythethoughtscontainedinmywords。Heinsisteduponitthattheywerecharges，and“By——，“hewouldmakemetakethembackascharges，andhereferredthequestiontoPhilipLynch，towhomIthenappealedasaliteraryman，asalogician，andasaneditor，callinghisattentionespeciallytotheintroductoryparagraphjustbeforequoted。
Hereplied，“iftheyarenotcharges，theycertainlyareinsinuations，“
whereuponMr。Wintersrenewedhisdemandsforretractionpreciselysuchashehadbeforenamed，exceptthathewouldallowmetostatewhodidwritethearticleifIdidnotmyself，andthistimeshakinghisfistinmyfacewithmorecursingsandepithets。
Whenhethreatenedmewithhisclenchedfist，instinctivelyItriedtorisefrommychair，butWintersthenforciblythrustmedown，ashedideveryothertime(atleastsevenoreight)，whenundersimilarimminentdangerofbruisingbyhisfist(orforaughtIcouldknowworsethanthatafterthefirststunningblow)，whichhecouldeasilyandsafelytohimselfhavedealtmesolongashekeptmedownandstoodoverme。
Thisfactitwas，whichmorethananythingelse，convincedmethatbyplanandplotIwaspurposelymadepowerlessinMr。Winters"hands，andthathedidnotmeantoallowmethatadvantageofbeingafoot，whichhepossessed。Moreover，Ithenbecameconvinced，thatPhilipLynch(andforwhatreasonIwondered)woulddoabsolutelynothingtoprotectmeinhisownhouse。Irealizedthenthesituationthoroughly。Ihadfounditequallyvaintoprotestorargue，andIwouldmakenounmanlyappealforpity，stilllessapologize。Yetmylifehadbeenbytheplainestpossibleimplicationthreatened。Iwasaweakman。Iwasunarmed。I
washelplesslydown，andWinterswasafootandprobablyarmed。Lynchwastheonly“witness。”Thestatementsdemanded，ifgivenandnotexplained，wouldutterlysinkmeinmyownself-respect，inmyfamily"seyes，andintheeyesofthecommunity。Ontheotherhand，shouldIgivetheauthor"snamehowcouldIeverexpectthatconfidenceofthePeoplewhichIshouldnolongerdeserve，andhowmuchdearertomeandtomyfamilywasmylifethanthelifeoftherealauthortohisfriends。Yetlifeseemeddearandeachminutethatremainedseemedpreciousifnotsolemn。Isincerelytrustthatneitheryounoranyofyourreaders，andespeciallynonewithfamilies，mayeverbeplacedinsuchseemingdirectproximitytodeathwhileobligedtodecidetheonequestionIwascompelledto，viz。:WhatshouldIdo——I，amanoffamily，andnotasMr。Wintersis，“alone。”
[Thereaderisrequestednottoskipthefollowing——M。T。:]
STRATEGYANDMESMERISM。
Togaintimeforfurtherreflection，andhopingthatbyaseemingacquiescenceImightregainmypersonalliberty，atleasttillIcouldgiveanalarm，ortakeadvantageofsomemomentaryinadvertenceofWinters，andthenwithoutacowardlyflightescape，Iresolvedtowriteacertainkindofretraction，butpreviouslyhadinwardlydecidedFirst——ThatIwouldstudiouslyavoideveryactionwhichmightbeconstruedintothedrawingofaweapon，evenbyaself-infuriatedman，nomatterwhatamountofinsultmightbeheapeduponme，foritseemedtomethatthisgreatexcessofcompoundprofanity，foulnessandepithetmustbemorethanamereindulgence，andthereforemusthavesomeobject。
“Surelyinvainthenetisspreadinthesightofanybird。”Therefore，asbeforewithoutthought，Ithereafterbyintentkeptmyhandsawayfrommypockets，andgenerallyinsightandspreaduponmyknees。
Second——Iresolvedtomakenomotionwithmyarmsorhandswhichcouldpossiblybeconstruedintoaggression。
Third——Iresolvedcompletelytogovernmyoutwardmannerandsuppressindignation。Todothis，Imustgovernmyspirit。Todothat，byforceofimaginationIwasobligedlikeactorsontheboardstoresolvemyselfintoanunnaturalmentalstateandseeallthingsthroughtheeyesofanassumedcharacter。
Fourth——IresolvedtotryonWinters，silently，andunconsciouslytohimselfamesmericpowerwhichIpossessovercertainkindsofpeople，andwhichattimesIhavefoundtoworkeveninthedarkovertheloweranimals。
Doesanyonesmileattheselastcounts?Godsaveyoufromeverbeingobligedtobeatinagameofchess，whosestakeisyourlife，youhavingbutfourpoorpawnsandpiecesandyouradversarywithhisfullforceunshorn。Butifyouare，providedyouhaveanystrengthwithbreadthofwill，donotdespair。Thoughmesmericpowermaynotsaveyou，itmayhelpyou；tryitatallevents。InthisinstanceIwasconsciousofpowercomingintome，andbyalawofnature，IknowWinterswascorrespondinglyweakened。IfIcouldhavegainedmoretimeIamsurehewouldnotevenhavestruckme。
Ittakestimebothtoformsuchresolutionsandtorecitethem。Thattime，however，Igainedwhilethinkingofmyretraction，whichIfirstwroteinpencil，alteringitfromtimetotimetillIgotittosuitme，myaimbeingtomakeitlooklikeaconcessiontodemands，whileinfactitshouldterselyspeakthetruthintoMr。Winters"mind。Whenitwasfinished，Icopieditinink，andifcorrectlycopiedfrommyfirstdraftitshouldreadasfollows。IncopyingIdonotthinkImadeanymaterialchange。
COPY。
ToPhilipLynch，EditoroftheGoldHillNews:IlearnthatGen。JohnB。
Wintersbelievesthefollowing(pastedon)clippingfromthePEOPLE"S
TRIBUNEofJanuarytocontaindistinctchargesofmineagainsthimpersonally，andthatassuchhedesiresmetoretractthemunqualifiedly。
Incompliancewithhisrequest，permitmetosaythat，althoughMr。
WintersandIseethismatterdifferently，inviewofhisstrongfeelingsinthepremises，IherebydeclarethatIdonotknowthose“charges“(ifsuchtheyare)tobetrue，andIhopethatacriticalexaminationwouldaltogetherdisprovethem。
CONRADWIEGAND。
GoldHill，January15，1870。
IthenreadwhatIhadwrittenandhandedittoMr。Lynch，whereuponMr。
Winterssaid:
“That"snotsatisfactory，anditwon"tdo；“andthenaddressinghimselftoMr。Lynch，hefurthersaid:“Howdoesitstrikeyou?“
“Well，IconfessIdon"tseethatitretractsanything。”
“NordoI，“saidWinters；“infact，Iregarditasaddinginsulttoinjury。Mr。Wiegandyou"vegottodobetterthanthat。Youarenotthemanwhocanpullwoolovermyeyes。”
“That，sir，istheonlyretractionIcanwrite。”
“Noitisn"t，sir，andifyousomuchassaysoagainyoudoitatyourperil，forI"llthrashyoutowithinaninchofyourlife，and，by——，sir，Idon"tpledgemyselftospareyoueventhatincheither。IwantyoutounderstandIhaveaskedyouforaverydifferentpaper，andthatpaperyou"vegottosign。”
“Mr。Winters，IassureyouthatIdonotwishtoirritateyou，but，atthesametime，itisutterlyimpossibleformetowriteanyotherpaperthanthatwhichIhavewritten。Ifyouareresolvedtocompelmetosignsomething，PhilipLynch"shandmustwriteatyourdictation，andif，whenwritten，IcansignitIwilldoso，butsuchadocumentasyousayyoumusthavefromme，Inevercansign。ImeanwhatIsay。”
“Well，sir，what"stobedonemustbedonequickly，forI"vebeenherelongenoughalready。I"llputthethinginanothershape(andthenpointingtothepaper)；don"tyouknowthosechargestobefalse?“
“Idonot。”
“Doyouknowthemtobetrue?“
“OfmyownpersonalknowledgeIdonot。”
“Whythendidyouprintthem?“
“Becauserightlyconsideredintheirconnectiontheyarenotcharges，butpertinentandusefulsuggestionsinanswertothequeriesofacorrespondentwhostatedfactswhichareinexplicable。”
“Don"tyouknowthatIknowtheyarefalse?“
“Ifyoudo，thepropercourseissimplytodenythemandcourtaninvestigation。”
“AnddoYOUclaimtherighttomakeMEcomeoutanddenyanythingyoumaychoosetowriteandprint?“
TothatquestionIthinkImadenoreply，andhethenfurthersaid:
“Come，now，we"vetalkedaboutthematterlongenough。Iwantyourfinalanswer——didyouwritethatarticleornot?“
“Icannotinhonortellyouwhowroteit。”
“Didyounotseeitbeforeitwasprinted?“
“Mostcertainly，sir。”
“Anddidyoudeemitafitthingtopublish?“
“Mostassuredly，sir，orIwouldneverhaveconsentedtoitsappearance。
OfitsauthorshipIcansaynothingwhatever，butforitspublicationI
assumefull，soleandpersonalresponsibility。”
“Anddoyouthenretractitornot?“
“Mr。Winters，ifmyrefusaltosignsuchapaperasyouhavedemandedmustentailuponmeallthatyourlanguageinthisroomfairlyimplies，thenIaskafewminutesforprayer。”
“Prayer！——you，thisisnotyourhourforprayer——yourtimetopraywaswhenyouwerewritingthose——lyingcharges。Willyousignornot?“
“Youalreadyhavemyanswer。”
“What！doyoustillrefuse?“
“Ido，sir。”
“Takethat，then，“andtomyamazementandinexpressiblereliefhedrewonlyarawhideinsteadofwhatIexpected——abludgeonorpistol。Withit，ashespoke，hestruckatmylefteardownwards，asiftotearitoff，andafterwardsonthesideofthehead。Ashemovedawaytogetabetterchanceforamoreeffectiveshot，forthefirsttimeIgainedachanceunderperiltorise，andIdidsopityinghimfromtheverybottomofmysoul，tothinkthatonesonaturallycapableoftruedignity，powerandnobilitycould，bythetemptationsofthisState，andbyunfortunateassociationsandaspirations，besodeeplydebasedastofindinsuchbrutalityanythingwhichhecouldcallsatisfaction——butthegreathopeforusallisinprogressandgrowth，andJohnB。Winters，Itrust，willyetbeabletocomprehendmyfeelings。
Hecontinuedtobeatmewithallhisgreatforce，untilabsolutelyweary，exhaustedandpantingforbreath。Istilladheredtomypurposeofnon-
aggressivedefence，andmadenootheruseofmyarmsthantodefendmyheadandfacefromfurtherdisfigurement。Themerepainarisingfromtheblowsheinflicteduponmypersonwasofcoursetransient，andmyclothingtosomeextentdeadeneditsseverity，asitnowhidesallremainingtraces。
WhenIsupposedhewasthrough，takingthebuttendofhisweaponandshakingitinmyface，hewarnedme，ifIcorrectlyunderstoodhim，ofmoreyettocome，andfurthermoresaid，ifeverIagaindaredintroducehisnametoprint，ineithermyownoranyotherpublicjournal，hewouldcutoffmyleftear(andIdonotthinkhewasjesting)andsendmehometomyfamilyavisiblymutilatedman，tobeastandingwarningtoalllow-livedpuppieswhoseektoblackmailgentlemenandtoinjuretheirgoodnames。Andwhenhedidsooperate，heinformedmethathisimplementwouldnotbeawhipbutaknife。
Whenhehadsaidthis，unaccompaniedbyMr。Lynch，asIrememberit，helefttheroom，forIsatdownbyMr。Lynch，exclaiming:“Themanismad——
heisutterlymad——thisstepishisruin——itisamistake——itwouldbeungenerousinme，despiteofalltheillusageIhaveherereceived，toexposehim，atleastuntilhehashadanopportunitytoreflectuponthematter。Ishallbeinnohaste。”
“Wintersisverymadjustnow，“repliedMr。Lynch，“butwhenheishimselfheisoneofthefinestmenIevermet。Infact，hetoldmethereasonhedidnotmeetyouupstairswastospareyouthehumiliationofabeatinginthesightofothers。”
IsubmitthatthatunguardedremarkofPhilipLynchconvictshimofhavingbeenprivyinadvancetoMr。Winters"intentionswhatevertheymayhavebeen，oratleasttohismeaningtomakeanassaultuponme，butI
leavetootherstodeterminehowmuchcensureaneditordeservesforinveiglingaweak，non-combatantman，alsoapublisher，toapenofhisowntobehorsewhipped，ifnoworse，forthesimpleprintingofwhatisverballyinthemouthofnineoutoftenmen，andwomentoo，uponthestreet。
Whilewritingthisaccounttwotheorieshaveoccurredtomeaspossiblytruerespectingthismostremarkableassault:
First——TheaimmayhavebeensimplytoextortfrommesuchadmissionsasinthehandsofmoneyandinfluencewouldhavesentmetothePenitentiaryforlibel。This，however，seemsunlikely，becauseanystatementselicitedbyfearorforcecouldnotbeevidenceinlaworcouldbesoexplainedastohavenoforce。Thestatementswantedsobadlymusthavebeendesiredforsomeotherpurpose。
Second——TheothertheoryhassodarkandwilfullymurderousalookthatI
shrinkfromwritingit，yetasinallprobabilitymydeathattheearliestpracticablemomenthasalreadybeendecreed，IfeelIshoulddoallIcanbeforemyhourarrives，atleasttoshowothershowtobreakupthataristocraticruleandcombinationwhichhasrobbedallNevadaoftruefreedom，ifnotofmanhooditself。AlthoughIdonotpreferthishypothesisasa“charge，“IfeelthatasanAmericancitizenIstillhavearightbothtothinkandtospeakmythoughtseveninthelandofSharonandWinters，andasmuchsorespectingthetheoryofabrutalassault(especiallywhenIhavebeenitssubject)asrespectinganyotherapparentenormity。Igivethemattersimplyasasuggestionwhichmayexplaintotheproperauthoritiesandtothepeoplewhomtheyshouldrepresent，awellascertainedbutnotwithstandingadarklymysteriousfact。Theschemeoftheassaultmayhavebeen:
First——Toterrifymebymakingmeconsciousofmyownhelplessnessaftermakingactualthoughnotlegalthreatsagainstmylife。
Second——ToimplythatIcouldsavemylifeonlybywritingorsigningcertainspecificstatementswhichifnotsubsequentlyexplainedwouldeternallyhavebrandedmeasinfamousandwouldhaveconsignedmyfamilytoshameandwant，andtothedreadfulcompassionandpatronageoftherich。
Third——ToblowmybrainsoutthemomentIhadsigned，therebypreventingmefrommakinganysubsequentexplanationsuchascouldremovetheinfamy。
Fourth——PhilipLynchtobecompelledtotestifythatIwaskilledbyJohnB。Wintersinself-defence，fortheconvictionofWinterswouldbringhiminasanaccomplice。IfthatwastheprogrammeinJohnB。Winters"
mindnothingsavedmylifebutmypersistentrefusaltosign，whenthatrefusalseemedclearlytometobethechoiceofdeath。
TheremarkableassertionmadetomebyMr。Winters，thatpityonlysparedmylifeonWednesdayeveninglast，almostcompelsmetobelievethatatfirsthecouldnothaveintendedmetoleavethatroomalive；andwhyI
wasallowedto，unlessthroughmesmericorsomeotherinvisibleinfluence，Icannotdivine。ThemoreIreflectuponthismatter，themoreprobableastruedoesthishorribleinterpretationbecome。
ThenarrationofthesethingsImighthavesparedbothtoMr。Wintersandtothepublichadhehimselfobservedsilence，butashehasbothverballyspokenandsufferedathoroughlygarbledstatementoffactstoappearintheGoldHillNewsIfeelitduetomyselfnolessthantothiscommunity，andtotheentireindependentpressofAmericaandGreatBritain，togiveatrueaccountofwhateventheGoldHillNewshaspronouncedadisgracefulaffair，andwhichitdeeplyregretsbecauseofsomeallegedtelegraphicmistakeintheaccountofit。[Whoreceivedtheerroneoustelegrams?]
Thoughhemaynotdeemitprudenttotakemylifejustnow，thepublicationofthisarticleIfeelsuremustcompelGen。Winters(withhispeculiarviewsabouthisrighttoexemptionfromcriticismbyme)toresolveonmyviolentdeath，thoughitmaytakeyearstocompassit。
NotwithstandingIbearhimnoillwill；andifW。C。RalstonandWilliamSharon，andothermembersoftheSanFranciscominingandmillingRingfeelthatheaboveallothermeninthisStateandCaliforniaisthemostfittingmantosuperviseandcontrolYellowJacketmatters，untilIamabletovotemorethanhalftheirstockIpresumehewillberetainedtogracehispresentpost。
Meantime，Icordiallyinviteallwhoknowofanysortofimportantvillainywhichonlycanbecuredbyexposure(andwhowouldexposeitiftheyfeltsuretheywouldnotbebetrayedunderbullyingthreats)，tocommunicatewiththePEOPLE"STRIBUNE；foruntilIammurdered，solongasIcanraisethemeanstopublish，IproposetocontinuemyeffortsatleasttorevivethelibertiesoftheState，tocurboppression，andtobenefitman"sworldandGod"searth。
CONRADWIEGAND。
[ItdoesseemapitythattheSheriffwasshutout，sincethegoodsenseofageneralofmilitiaandofaprominenteditorfailedtoteachthemthatthemeritedcastigationofthisweak，half-wittedchildwasathingthatoughttohavebeendoneinthestreet，wherethepoorthingcouldhaveachancetorun。Whenajournalistmalignsacitizen，orattackshisgoodnameonhearsayevidence，hedeservestobethrashedforit，evenifheisa“non-combatant“weakling；butagenerousadversarywouldatleastallowsuchalambtheuseofhislegsatsuchatime——M。T。]
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