Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-03-23
A NIGHT IN A BAR-ROOM.

u
river. At that period Bidwolls Bar was
but rough mining camp, not much diff
ferent from hundred other camps in
California. l soon discovered that some
hotel where | had found quarters for the
night. They were miners, teamsters, and
stage-drivers and when the supper was
over and the teamsters aud hostiers had
taken care of their stock for the night, as
by mutual consent all gathered in the
long, low bar-room, to make night of
it. Some clustered around rough table
to try their fortunes at poker the team
sters in knot conversed upon the state OF
the roads, the probabilities of an early
and hard Winter, or the merits Of their
respective mules a sententious stage
driver, called Curly" was telling char.
acteristic stories, and all, for a while,
were in :he best humor. Atlength, how
ever, there was trouble at the poker
game n few hasty sharp words were
passed between two of the players, when
they sprang to their feet, and, tor three
minutes fought like tigers. The crowd
separated the flghtors, and, as they held
them, asked what tho trouble was. One
answered hotly: Il had just anted n
five-dollar piece, when the black thief
stole it,
THAT yelow-hared vagrNnt never
had five dollars in his life," was the re-
ply of the other, and then the two men
struggled like wild beasts to get at each
other.
just then somo one in the room saw
something glisten at distance on the
floor, and picking it up it proved to be
the missing half eagle, and it was appar-
ent that the money had been brushed
from the table by accident.
Then mutual apologies and expressions
of respect and esteem followed between
the two men, drink was taken all round,
and the game resumed.
A broken-of story by "Curly" was
scarcely recommended when a man far
gone in liquor reeled into the room, and,
staggering up to the bar, demanded
drink. The landlord was absent at the
time, but his daughter. kindly faced
girl, of fifteen or sixteen years of age,
who happened to bo standing near the
bar, with genuine California candor,
said (: You have had too much of bad
whisky already you cannot get drink
here"
At this the man commenced to assail
the girl with perfect shower of epithets,
but in an instant one Of the teamsters,
called Posey," sprang up, seized the
man, swung him to tho door, and opened
it, hurled him clear over the broad porch
into the night. AT that moment the
landlady entered, and seiMng one Of Po-
sey's hands in both Of hers, exclaimed,
"Oh, Posey, Posey, | owe you ten thou
sand thanks for that noble deed"
Without the change Of muscle Posey
answered "A thousand will do, my
good woman thousands plenty for
carrying a small load of freight like that.
/ He's bulky, but he don't weigh much. "
But the episode furnished excuse for n
drink all round, and the drinks were re-
peated until some Of tho men present had
too much aboard. At last Curly, the
stage-driyer, proposed that literary so
ciety should be organized that every
man in The room join it, and that when a
member was called upon he should either
tell a story, sing song, or treat tho
crowd.
An uproar of approval followed the
cards were put away, and the fun com
menced. | was one Of the first called up
on, and to manage tho matter in the easl-
est way possible, bade the landlord "set
1t up" for the boys, and to give them ci-
gars also. At this they demanded my
name, and elected me true gentleman
and thorough old Californian, by accla-
nation, right there and then, as II by
stander expressed it, "spite Of his store
clothes and Urinary looks"
Then followed such stories as were new
or told outside Of California, such songs
as are only heard on the turbulent front
Ter, and frequent drinks.
All through the evening, a young man,
almost boy indeed, had been sitting
alone in one corner Of the room. lie was
pale and frail looking, and had sat as if
half stupefed amid the revel, never once
moving except when the rufllan had in
suited the girl, when he sprang to his
feet but the big teamster was too quick
for him, and SO he quietly settled back
into his chair. AT last, one Of the men,
excited with liquor, struck the youth up
on the shoulder, and said, rudely:
"Come, pale-face, a song, story, OF a
treat"
The young man rose to bis feet, and
said, quietly: 81 can not sing, | can
not tell stories, and do not drink"
"The deuce you can't and WON'T" said
the miner. "What kind Of u white-lv-
cred monkey are you, anyway" and
turning to the crowd continued =" say
boys, what do you think of this rooster ?
He can't sing, spin yarn, and don't
drink"
A general howl followed this outburst,
and the crowd gathered menacingly
around the youth.
Curly, the stage driver, here interfered
and said " Young man, better recon-
slider the boys don't like it /; try a story,
or try song, or order thu poison"
"But / don't drink" said the youth;
" can not sing, and can not tell sto
ries, ;" and, as he spoke, he turned full,
fearless face upon the excited crowd.