Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-06-02
Death Of the King Of Pain.
A WONDERFUL QuAcK-II1s CAREER
GRAPHIC SKETCH.

The story of the "Kiug of Pain" other
wise quack doctor, named Mcbride. who
was we'll knowu in various portions of this
State, some years ago, is told at length by
an indianapolis correspondent of the New
York Eceming Lcadcr. He was a tall grace.
tul young fellow, with much hair and an un.
mistakable appearance of quackcry in his
looks and actions; but he made money very
fast. His "king of Pain" as his worthless
stuff was labeled, was warranted to cure any.
thing from toothache to consumption. lie
went about with it in an exaggerated wagon
aud with an accompaniment of music, scat.
tering his small bills with much looscuess aud
haranguing the cowds that curiously follow.
ed him. lie was known, the correspondent
tells us, from the coast of Maine to the Pa.
cltic, ,trom the st. Lawrence to the Rio Grando
lie got along excelently as long as he attcu
dcd to his legitimate, or rather ilcgitimatc
business; but finally he acquired passion
for gambling. lie was lucky with his first
ventures, which were made in indianapolis,
! and this turned his head, so that at times he
would abandon his business altogether, and
remain at the faro table day and night. We
quote from the account:
On one occasion he began gambling cx.
cursion in Chicago, then came on here In
both places he was fortunate, and followed up
Ills luck in Louisville and Cincinnati His
wagon and six followed him wherever he
went, but he gave hardly any attention to that
business. In the two cities we have men.
toned nc still went on pursuing his lack
which pursued him. When he went on a
mississippi steamboat to proce, to New Or.
leans nc had some $4,000 in a., pocket,
which he increased sailing down the river
lie arrived in New Orleans, where he again
buckcd the tiger, but here his luck seemed to
desert him. He played his money and grad
naly lost it. After his money was gone to
the last cent, he played his watch and Jewels,
OF which he had great number, and lost
them. Then he played his wagon aud hor
ses and lost them. After that he borrowed
as much money as he could possibly get to-
gehcr and played that, and again lost, until
he was "laid perfectly fiat" For some timo
he wandered about the Crescent CITY, living
from hand to mouth. Then he made little
stake, and, apprchensivo of losing that, took
berth in steamship to New York. There
nc opened some place on Broadway, where
ne made another pile Of money lie began
patronizing the green table again, and his
luck turned to him. 1t was there that one
Gay saw him give poor girl with whom
nc came casually acquainted, roll of bills
amounting to $1,000, upon condition that
she would leave the city and turn to yirtu
Gus course OF I!to. L was present at the time
and demonstrated with him on his rather ex-
travagant piece of generosity. He answered.
81 won it in four nights at faro and if can
do worthy deed with the Internal money,
why shouldn't [? I'll make up for it in
devlltry before another week passes" And
SO he did. lie was an habitua lounger in
houses of i'll fame, whore he would spend
hundreds of dollars in night. Then he
you'd 60 to playing again, and perhaps some
drinking the next day, and in all this tur
mol aud excitement found time for business
at length business grew dull in New
YORK, ana he determined to start once more
onshis travels in his wagon and six. In this
way he again found his way to this city, where
nc was suddenly prostrated by his life of
excitement. Only three days ago he took to
his bed, never to risc from it again. Rcck-
less, immortal, an cmpiric, gambler, rogue,
but with kind heart, he fingered on the
verge OF death, and last night quietly passed
away. Tho cause of his death is supposed to
be some affection of the lungs.
Financially, the oa.ecr of this man was an
entire success; yet no was one of the most
transparent rogues that ever eulled confd
ing public. He boastcd publicly that he
was humbug: but his wagon was surround.
ed continually, often by those who had heard
the boast, and after littlomusio and speech
they would buy eagerly. Tho fact is not a
pleasant one; and we suppose this mention Of
it will be more of an advertisement than anv.
thing else for the fellow that takes tho great
oharlatan's place,