Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-09-08
A ReminiscenCe of Early Life
in Leadville,

In IFS carly days Leadville was inc
resort of perhaps some of the most re-
characters 10 be found any
where in tho country. These in turn
were tue immediate cause Of scenes and
events as singular and oftentmes az
pathetic as any that could possibly have
originated in the fertile imagination Of
a French Dumas or an American LIP
pard.
Among others who in the infancy of
Leadville's great boom, settled here to
court Fortune, was woman of a some
what notorious reputation, known BY
the ouphonious sobriquet OF wild
Moll.n She was a woman of dissolute
habits, who had led a very wicked life
back east on the variety stage, and who,
when drink and vice bad drawn deep
lines upon her once handsome face,
and dlmmed the lustre of her large dark
eyes, abandoned the scenes Of her
youthful conQuests ana entered upon
turbulent career in the Far West.
Mol. wicked as she was, had one re-
deeming quality of heart, and that was
her absorbing love for a little girl-her
own child-who, though not over five
years old, was gifted with extraordinary
intelligence of mind, which quickly
made her the favorite Of every man in
camp.
Moll tenauted q very precarious old
structure on Carbonate hill, whence
she often sauntered down into the camp
to visit the dance hall and variety
theatre: and with painful frequency
indulging too bounteously at the foun-
tain Of Bacchus. In dcplorable state
of intoxication, her once beautiful hair
streaming in the wind in the widest
disorder, she would stagger along the
streets Of the camp, singing weird lay.
until her trembling limbs sank beneath
her, and overcome by her dissipation.
she would drop into a death-like stupor
in some sheltered nook and there re-
main until the gray dawn streaked the
eastern sky and awakened her from her
restless slumber.
Bessie was the name Of Moll's little
daughter, but by the ninera- ShO rAs
generally called Little Bess.' Strange
to relate, Bessie had inherited none of
her. mothers evil qualities and bad as
Moll was, she had watched with true
mothers love over the life Of her little
daughter, guarding 1t with scrupulous
care from the communicating influences
of her own wicked life.
AS the camp grew older, its morals
likewise began TO be renovated, and
Moll one day, TO her own surprise,
found herself the inmate Of the jail,
committed by Justice X-on charge
Of drunkenness.
1t was the evening Of the second day
OF her confinement. The rain was COM
inc down in merciless shower, and the
wind howled IN lusty blasts through
the dark streets ofthe camp, swaying
the pines on the hillsdes until in their
uniform movements they resembled the
tossing billows of a storm-swept ocean,
and shaking the log cabins OF the min
ers until they groaned in every joint.
Although the hours had advanced
close upon midnight, Justice WAS
still seated in his uncomfortable little
Office, which served at once The purpose
ola court room, too busily occupied
with the perusnl of bulk of dispositions
in an important criminal case to be dis
turbed either by the moaning sound ol
the storm without, or the screeching OF
the tin sign in front Of his door, on
which, in large, almost faded gold let
ters, appeared the words, " Justice ol
the Peace and Attorney-at-Law""
lie suddenly started up from his work
at the sound of faint rap upon the
door, evidently produced by the crook
ed finger of some person, and a tiny
voice calling in trembling accents for
admittance.
The Judge started up from his chair
approached the door and slid back the
heavy bolt. He then opened it ial
enough to see out. The rain dashed in
furious clatter upon the floor Of the
office, the Pickering ray from the lamr
on the pine desk radiated like an arrow
through the black night and the sheets
of splashlng raiudrops without. 1t
revealed to him a strange scene indeed.
On the doorstep stood a little chit off
child in an ancient pattern OF sunbon
net and wrapped in dirty and now
thoroughly drenched woolen shawl
while in q semi-circle few feet beyond
clad IN the toughest habiliments, witt
revolvers strapped around their waists
and rough horsehide boots reaching Il
their knees, stood some fifteen or TWEEN
| ty miners, who, to all appearances, hat
acted as bodyguard ofthe judges puul
lapplicapt.
"Come in," said the judge In hi
tenderest tones, opening the door stll
wider. In stepped the little wall
while the miners crowded through th
door as fast as they could, glad to et
cape the fury Of the weather, and after
friendly nod to the dignitary. range
themselves at a respectable distanc
from their charge.
"You arc bad man, bad man." sal
the little waif after the Judge had seate
himself. She barely topped his knee