The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-10

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The Tusear5ra Recieao says that the
first appearance of a clergyman in Tus-
carora was signalized by the burning of
the Grand Prize hosting works; and
that on Sunday last the Rev. 5. p. Kelly
preached in that camp and the next day
the Navajo Company discharged forty
two miners. 1t is an old superstition
that preachers bring bad luck to a new
mining-camp, and that with the advent
of churches and ministers good times
depart. The mention of this fact recalls
a circumstance which happened in that
connection in White Pine, in the early
and flush days of that district.
Red Frank Wheeler and Billy Wake
field kept ''the store of the Town of
Hamilton, the establishment combining
in itself store, saloon, hotel, post-ofiice,
and express-office, and consequently be-
ing place of popular resort. One day,
after the mail and express had been dis
tributed, and the crowd which usually
thronged to the store on the arrival of
the stage had somewhat thinned out, a
prospector sat on barrel reading the
ReUtiIIe, which in those DAYS carried the
freshest news to White Pine, as all COM
munication was via Austin. Seated on
the box beside the prospector was a
meek, oily-looking parsonage, evidently
a new arrival, for he wore broadeloth
instead of the rough costume affected
by the inhabitants of a new mining
emp.
The prospector seemed to be reading
his paper with deep interest, when sud
=, ha ar RI
upset the barrel he was sitting on, and,
as he ripped out a great, double-barrel-
ed oath, hush came over the room,
and all present turned their eyes toward
him.
"What is the matter, my friendP'
said the stranger, touching him on the
shoulder.
"Matterl The matter is that the
camps as good as gone up the tlUme,
and every mothers son of us may Jest
rs well pack up our traps and light out.
That's what's the matter! jest listen
to this"
ia And then, while deep silence reign
ed and every man in the room bent his
head forward to catch the words, the
prospector read from the ReUeiiie a state
tended shortly to leave Austin for White
Pine, to organize a congregation and
establish church A look of horror
came over the features of every miner
in the room, and Frank Wheeler was
yisibly agitated as the reading was con-
cluded; but the stranger was evidently
mystifed and asked for an explanation.
Just then Uncle John Gray walked into
the store, and recognizing the stranger,
introduced him to Frank Wheeler as the
Rev. Mr.. Nicholl and then the miner
attempted to apologize. He suffered,
and hesitated, and finally blurted out:
"l'l be dog-goned, old pard, if I'd
have said a word agin preachers if I'd
khowed you was the preacher feller,and
/ wish | may land in - in a minnit, if
| intended any offense. Come up and
take drink and call the thing squar'"
The preacher " came up and as the
boys and the preacher stood at the bar,
each with his glass in his hand awaiting
the signal, "Here's to us" the pros
pectOr said to the preacher; % You're 4
sociable sort of cuss for preacher af
ter all, and may not bring any bad luck
to the camp; but leastways you fellers
ought to give us miners a chance, and
not ring in your preachin' and start
your churches till the camp gifts kinder
settled like. Here's luck''
And then the preacher and the boys
said: IS Here's lucki" and there was a
rattle of glasses on the bar and the con-
Versation turned into other channels.
But Mr.. Nicholl had an ace-full beat
en- at game of poker that night, and
left for Austin next morning, and the
church was not started. Austin
(NeU.) ReUeiIle.