Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-18
DAISY'S MISSION.


Hell-Roaring Bar was neither pretty
nor euphonious name, nor a reverential
one, but considering the character of its
owellers, it was an exceedingly fitting
one for the locality that bore it. A six.
months residence there convinced me so
thoroughly of this fact that ! could not
conscientiously have changed single let
ter of the name, even had possessed the
power to do so. Not that it savored of
sulphurous odors; not that the roarings
of its apparent patron saint were ever
heard echoing among the canons that en-
compassed it, but for sinfulness, and
wickedness, and riotous debauchery, it
was peerless among all the mining camps
! have ever visited in California.
| was sent there in the summer of 1853
by San Francisco firm, to close out a
business that was drifting into involuntary
bankruptcy, and long dusty ride found
me there early in June of that year. A
view Of the camp from the mountain had
not impressed me favorably with it, and
nearer acquaintance confirmed the first
impression, but like a half reluctant bride
groom, had resolved to take it for "bet-
ter or worse" with slight hope, however,
that it would prove any better that it
looked.
Hello! Deacon. What do you want in
ell-Roarin'y Preachers don't stand
much show in these diggins. You amt
wanted; better git!''
This was my greeting. l had just
alighted from my mule, tired and out of
humor, and felt half inclined to resent
the brusque, unmannerly salutation, but
did not. 1t was not consciousness of
the truth that Quoted me, for my appear
ance was certainly slightly clerical.
True, / had perfect right to differ in
opinion with the speaker, for of a verify
this was just the place where preachers
we're wanted, and just the place they
should stay but, making no profession for
goodness, l held my tongue tor moment.
/ looked up; brawny and powerful
figure confronted me, and 1 prudently held
my temper. replied blandly that / ex-
pected to remain there while, and sug-
gested, with all meekness, that appear
aDces were sometimes deceitful. Soon
the Bar was agog with curiosity, and a
crowd gathered. And such crowd |!
Great, broad-shouldered fellows, dirty and
unshaven, deeply marked with chronic
dissipation, whose every second word was
an oath; striplings whose tongues were
volubly impudent and early trained to
blasphemy in imitation Of their elders,
gathered around, while / unsaddled my
mule in SO awkward a manner as to excite
derision. These people weighed every
thing, like their gold dust, in their own
Ecales, and, measured by their standard,
was regarded as worthless impostOr. l
had "store clothes" on, and this fact alone
was too much for the fixed conventional
ism of the Bar. Buckskin and gray fan
mel assumed a dignity in early times
among the "honest miners" more unyield-
ing, more exacting than purple and fine
linen. My "boiled shirt" was considered
an infraction, and therefore the Bar was
affronted. Deacon" was echoed from
mouth to mouth Bets were offered and
freely taken that / was psalm-singer;
gambler, with "dead thing" or ''waxed
keerds;" lawyer; doctor; anything
but a horse jockey, or gentleman. AL
though nettled with the uncourteous re-
ception, | could not afford to fall out
with my new neighbors. Beating my
dusty hat against my knee, with we'll
assumed swagger, | turned quietly, and
asked If the Bar was dry? And the Bar
was dry!
With whoop, the crowd adjourned to
the saloon-a rickety, clap-board institu-
ton, furnished with few stools and rough
tables-and the Bar drank-first with
myself, then with Joe Miles, the proprie-
tor; then with the bluff individual who
had first accosted me- Pressing through
the crowd, he held out his big, rough hand,
and, taking mine, he led me forward with
something Of triumphant air.
Boys" he said, II take it all back.
This is my old skipper; came out with
him from Boston in 40. He amt a
preacher; he spends his money like man,
and don't whine ANY one that don't like
him can call on Bill Thorp. That's me,
boys! Let's take suthin'."
Finding that things had take an unex-
pected turn, Immediately took advantage
OF the new situation. Thorp stood sponsor
lor me, and his emphatic assurance OF my
rnpreacher-like character and proper dis
regard OF the value of money put the Bar
IN good humor; SO / explained my bust
ness, and hoped to deserve well OF the
boys. And won the friendship of these
people; not by pandering to their tastes
OF falling into their practices, but by mind
ing my own business. While abstaining
rom rubbing against their prejudices
and scrupulOusly avoiding all inter-
ference with their pleasures, l sympa-
tnized with them in all their little troubles,
ana they respected me. The Bar, by
aay, did not seem to be very bad or
Doisterous place; in working hours 1t
indulged in kind of feverish rest.
Dut II was by night that 1t shone In