The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-06-06
A NIGHT IN A BAR ROOM,
An Old Time Story, BY RambIe

An Old Time Story, BY Rambler
1t was away back in the old flusf
California days that one rainy October
evening,a little after dusk, found my
self at hotel at BidwelPs Bar, on the
Featherriver. Atthat period Bidwell's
Bar was but Tough mining camp,no'
much different from hundred other
camps in California. 1 soon discovered
that some boisterOus characters were
guests in the hotel where l had found
quarters for the night. They were
miners, teamsters, and stage drivers
and when the supper was over and the
teamsters and hostlers had taken care
Of their stock for the night, as by mu-
tual consent all gathered in the long,
low bar-room, to make a night of it.
Some clustered around rough table
to try their fortunes at poker; the
teamsters in a knot conyersed upon
the state of the roads, the probabilities
of an early winter, or the merits OF
their respective mules a scntentious
driver called Curly was telling char
acteristic stories, and, for while, all
were in the best of humor. At length.
however, there was trouble at the po-
ker game, few hasty sharp words
were passed between two of the play
crs, when they sprang 10 their feet,
and, for three minutes fought like I'll
gers. The crowd separated the fight
ers, and, as they he'd them, asked
what the trouble was. One answered
hotly Il had just ontee1 a five dollar
piece, when the black thief stole it,
THAT yellow haired yagrant never
had five dollars in his ii,e,' was the re-
ply Of the other, and nrn the two
men struggled like w. last TO ge.
at each other.
just then some one il. the room saw
something glisten ct distance on the
floor, and picking it up it proved 10 be
the missing half eagle, and it was ap-
parent that the money lad been brush
ed from the table by accident.
Then mutual apologies and express
sions Oc respect and esteem followed
between the two men, a drink was
taken all round, and the game resum-
ed.
A broken-off story by 'Curly' was
scarcely recommended when man far
gone in liquor reelcd into the room,
and, staggering up to the bar demand
ed a drink. The landlord was absent
at the time, but his daughter, kindly
faced girl, of fifteen or sixteen years
of age, who happened to be standing
near the bar, with genuine California
candor, said:
tYOu have had too much bad whis =.
ky already; you cannot get a drink
here
At this the man commenced to as
sail the girl with a perfect shower Of
epithets, but in an instant one of the
teamsters. called 'Posey.' sprang up,
seized the man, swung him to the
door, and opening it, hurled HIM clear
over the broad porch into the night.
AT that moment the landlady entered,
and, seizing one of Posey's hands in
both of hers, exclaimed, 'Oh, Posey,
Posey, l owe you ten thousand thanks
for that noble deed
Without the change of a muscle
Posey answered: "A thousand will do
my good woman a thousands plenty
for carrying small load of freight
like that. He's bulky, but he don't
weigh much
But the episode furnished excuse
for drink all round, and the drinks
were repeated until some of the men
present had too much aboard. AT
last Curly, the stage driver. proposed
that a literary society should be Or
ganized that every man in the room
should join it and that when a men,
ber was called upon he should either
tell story, sing song, or treat the
crowd.
An uproar of approval followed ;
the cards were put away, and the fun
commenced. l was one of the first
called upon, and, TO manage the mat
ter in the easiest way possible, l bade
the lannlord set it up for the boys,
and TO give them cigars also. At this
they demanded my name, and elected
me q true gentleman and thorough old
Californian,by acclamation,right there
and then. as bystander expressed II,
spite Of his store clothes and Urinary
looks
Then followed such stories as were
never told outside of California, such
songs as are only heard IN tho turbu.
lent frontier, and frequuat drinks.
All through the evening, a young
man, almost boy in6eed, had been
sitting alone inone corner of the room.
He was pale and fraii looking, and
had aat aa IF half stunafiod amid tho