Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-09-10
leadviIIe Piety.
Respect for the Gospel Maintained with
Revolvers.

IGOR. Carbon (Wyoming) Journal
OF course | went to Leadville
that wonderful mushroom city
which can boast of the most rascal
ly gamblers, hardest drinkers,
checklist bummers and vilest pros.
titutes in creation. Ones first i'm.
pulse upon arriving in the town is
to start ont and see the sights-to
gaze in upon the many gambling
bells, where money is ever chang
ing hands upon the turn of a card.
Above the sharp clicking of the
ivory checks, can be heard the
voices of the dealers calling upon
the players to "Make your bets,
gentlemen" while notes of exulta.
ton and cursing come forth in
strange chorus, uttered by those
who lose and those who win. But
it is not of gambling that | would
tell you. The scenes are but du.
pticates Of those 80 familiar to
every pioneer in the early days of
the Union Pacific railroad.
l was standing in front of the
hotel when my attention was al.
tracted by dilapidated, antiquated
looking specimen of a saloon bum.
mer, who was passing along the
street ringing bell. At intervals
he would cease ringing, and shout:
"Religious racket right away at
the big tent! Roll up, tumble mp,
OF slide up on yer years, fur we'll
have a bang.np dish O. Gospel
talk from Faro Bill-au' d o.oo.n.t
you forgit it,"
Turning to a dapper little gam,
bier who stood near, asked:
"Who is Faro Billi'
"Who is hei Well, now, if that
amt the boss play fur high, You
kin break me right here if |
thought there was bloke in the
mines that didn't know Bill. He
used to be one o. the boys, but got
capped into a religions game by II
slick-tongued gospel sharp about
two months ago. He's chopped Oh
all his old rackets, an don't stand
in with nOthin' now that don't show
mp a Bible or prayer book in the
lay out. Billy used to be the boss
gambler of the camp, and warn't
ateared to sit in a game with the
f1yest sport that ever slung a card;
but he's clean gone on the piOus
lay now, and seems to have lost all
the good there ever was in him.
The boss mouthpiece of the heav-
emily mill has gone down to Denver,
an Bill is goin' to stand in an
sling gospel to the boys as we'll as
he CAM
This explanation, given in the
most earnest tones, started me in
stanter for the big tent. 1t WAS
used ut night for a variety theatre,
where artists ~ of questionable
character performed acts of still
more questionable decency, and
was rented for religious service
every Sunday morning. l found
the tent filed to its utmost capac-
ity. Many had, no doubt, come
through curiosity TO see how Bill
would deport himself in this, his
initial sermon. Upon the stage sat
a burly, red faced man, with arms
folded in q careless manner, who
looked over the large audience
with an air of the most decided in
dependence. This was Faro Bill,
the speaker of the occasion. When
he arose he glanced around the
tent for a moment, evidently col
Letting his thoughts, and began:
"Feller citizens, the preacher
bein' absent, it falls OIL me to take
his hand and play it fur what it is
worth. You all know that I'm
just learnin' the game, an, of
course, may be expected to make
wild breaks, but l don't believe
thar's a rooster in the camp mean
enough to take advantage o my
ignorance, and cold-deck me right
OH the first deal. Pm sincere in
this new departure, an believe
that I've struck q game that l can
play clear through without copper
in q bet, fur when a man tackles