The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-09-19

Uptum Uens.
Some time since the LEADER alluded
to the existence Of opium dsns in our
midst, and suggested that steps be taken
to crush out the growing evil. One OF
the worst Of these places is in an alley
near Ferguson, and between Fifteenth
and Sixteenth streets. Last evening a
representative Of the LEADER, In CON
pany with a policeman, paid a second
visit to this establishment and watched
one OF the Celestials so through the
process Of opium smoking.
The fellow with q willingness which
was not affected, approached a table,
Or couch, on which was placed a pillow,
and just in front a tray PROVIDED In the
center witha small lamp covered with
q glass ch~imney-like continuance which
only serves to keep the air from dis
turbing the fame, and which projected
through a small hole in the top. Sur
rounding the lamps were various small
boxes, long wires which resembled
knitting needles, and knives which
were used for scaping off the top of the
opium pipe, which was the most curious
piece of apparatus in the whole collec-
tion. What corresponds to the stem of
the pipe resembles a full-grown flute
minus the keys, more than anything
else, and the bowl of the pipe, which
FITS into the stem about one-third Of
the length from the end. is a tulip
shaped box with a broad fiat top perfor-
ated in the centre by a hole about the
size Of n Of the wires above referred
to.
Seating himself in a reclining pos
ture with his head resting upon the
pillow, the Celestial after seeing that
the pipe was In perfect order, reached
forward his skinny hand and taking up
one of the wires, with a skillful motion
took some opium from one of the boxes
and heating it in the flames allowed it
to swell, when with a dexterous mo-
ton the pellet was rolled on the top Of
the pipe, the heating process being re-
peated several times. When tile proper
shape and size of the mass was OBJ
tanned, 1T was placed on the pipe bowl,
the whole charge, about the size of
the end Of ones little finger, was pune
tured with the wire through the hole in
the bowl.
The fellow grasped the stem of the
pipe with both hands, and still reclin-
ing, placed the opium against the flame
and taking the end of the stem in his
mouth inhaled, in the form of smoke,
the gradually disappearing lamp; the
opium, with its suffering and sizzling,
seeming to laugh at the devilish work
it was doing.
The first charge consumed, with ap-
parently but little more effort, two
others Immediately followed, and still
the smoker seemed to be but slightly
under its influence. After an interim
of perhaps Ave minutes, the slave to
the drug again prepared the charge.
The exciting smoke seemed to pene-
trate every fibre of the mans body. ab
The leathery skin appeared to sud
denly take alroseate hue, the eyes pro-
truding from their sockets, glirtering
like a basilisk's, and with a gasp as the
last agony Of ecstasY was over, and
with just enough reason left to lay the
precious pipe carefully down, the opium
smoker, apparently as senseless as the
dead, lay in elysium.
With a long breath. as the last act
WAS finished, our party lett the close
room, which was full of the peculiar
aromatic odor from the burning gum.
At the forthcoming meeting of the
council City Attorney Potter will pre-
sent for the adoption o rejection of
that body an ordinance touching upon
this evil in u midst.