The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-09-02
s.sEMINoLE sAM.v
An Incident Of the Snake River Mines.
BY WYOMING KIT.

An Incident OF the Snake River mines.
BY WYOMING KIT.
~ "Won't ye come in an see Sam stran-
81 This question was addressed to me, as
/ slowly strolled through the Snake Riv-
er Mining camp, in Wyoming Territory,
one beautiful Sabbath evening in May
last. The speaker stood in the door of a
rough log cabin near the bank of the
stream. He was one tof those rough.
s.uncut diamonds, which can ever be
found in mining camps, whose every ex-
preston denoted a soul teeming with
genuine Western hospitality, and love
for his fellow man. Dressed in buck
skin from head to foot, ihe presented a
truly picturesque appearance, snacking
strongly of the romantic.
i"Who is Sam T. I asked.
2 HWhy Seminole Sam-him as air
curled up in.bed ID var, a buckin' agin
death, with all the keerds runnin' agin
him strong, too. -
I had.rode into the camp but an hour
befoTe. and had learned nothing OF the
man referred to. In answer to question
regarding him the man said:
1sSam cum over: var from the Seminole
range about q year ago, an squatted
down in this var house. He's a gam
bier. pard, but he does his work in a
honest, Christian like manner, an ye
4, h'ar ne q singin' q level. l.an squar' song
when I tellye that q whittier man never
showed up in the diggins Sam never
! took advantage o. greeny, or slung a
crooked keerd in his life, an q galoot
never yit went broke on his game q
squeain' "foul;" but the poor old boys
% settin' in hard game now, stranger,
am ifI war agoin' ter try an call the
turn. I'D say that Sam'll get worsted an
pass in his checks afore midnight. =
- -. Has heSbeen ill longw / asked, feel
ing q strange interest in the man.
@;sstNo; pard 'tain't anyFnat'ral allin."
( Ye see Sam sat down in game with
poker sharp from over on the railroad;a
few days ago, an during the play little
misunderstanding ariz atween 'em about
sthreeaces thet he'd mysterious evacuated
from the pack an'lwhich Sam diskivered
o locatin' 'ernselvcs in the strangers
sleeve. Durin' the argument Sam gotan
uplY idljik from q knife that war engineer
ed bY. .iiie stranger, nm now he's stretched
: ont in var heyin' q cussed hard Time, an
its bout ali the boy can do to corral breath
enough. for actooal use. We've bin ad.
yisinss Elm to do a.little chinnin' with "a
& gospel sharp, SOS ter fix matters up so:
4 that when he passes in his checks the
!. Boss lup above I'll allow him all fur them
tibet the natur O. the game IL allow One.
Of the boys has gone out now torustle upa
breaches, an thar. he comes now, pard /;
.ie'sgo in.1
Taeaminister; was a venerable looking
man with kind, sincere face which was
! now overcast with IN expression of gen.
.suine sympathy. As be. entered the cabin
Z ne followed, and never shall / forget the
scene within. Stretched upon q rough
palletriaysa. man. of powerful frame,
supon whom death had : placed its
seal sstse partially glazed 4Ayes
sand ghasrly, pale face betokening the
sne,n approach of ths grim monster.
Grolped about ;the sbed, with heads
bowed in reverential ave, stood score
of persons, representing every phase of
life in frontier sentiment, from the
blue:shirted miner to thesfashily dressed
gambler. The look of pain and sympa-
thy upon each face expressed in Ian
guage palmer than. words how great Q
! fayorite Sam was with all. Tho
minister approached the bed and with
feverent words fsympathy took the dy-
ing man blythe hand. Sam looked into
his face with an inquiring look for a mo:
ment, and then said
Ithope you won't put itnpSa as cheeky,
spason, fur me 8 putin you to this trou-
BE, but deth has grip. on me that 1 can't
! shake loose, an the boys. thought. mebbe
I'D better send fur ye to kinder put in
word fir; me above, seein' as how'll amt
acquainted up-thar, an don't feel like
intrudin' by chippin' inter strange
game. I'll play ye honest talk now,
parson, san' own qp thet sit's layout I
kinder never could see any thing an
tharfore Il never cottoned TO it; an L
feel thet if;I,d;set in; the game now I'd
lose my grip right on the fnst deal, an
20 clear through without swinnin' a bet.
ifTd learned the religious game when
I fnst struck out on. my own hook, l
might stan some chance now of quittin'
Durty near even !; bnt wouldn't it look
kinder cheeky an unperfessional to
throw OFF on'a game Sur years, an then
call for 6 stock of checks an try ter get
inter it when I hev nothin' to show upin
theplayf
The minister had been for years an
humble laborer in this rough portion of
the Lord s vineyard, and was thoroughly
familiar with aH the slang terms so uni
yersally in vonge in the mountains. In
kind, pleasant voice he replied:
s:ssNo, Sam, I am sure it would not. -
This blessed book which I hold in my
@hand teaches US that truly repentant
ssinners can be saved even at the elev-
enth hour. The dying thief upon the
cross found peace with God while. the
lev hand of death was, fastened upon him.
"He that believeth shdlbe saved. - :
s'Thats consolin', parson, an, believe
yer givin' me the.square tip, an readin'.
the heavenly law correct. Il never
thought I'd be barred entirely outen the
. game, but felt kinder sneakin' about
losin' everything on other rackets, an
( then beggln 1ur 8 STAKE 70 SET III tn!s
game. Parson, won't yer STAN in an
address. q, little string O. pious talk up
thar, an explain matters the best ye kin ?
: r,Jistt ten the Almighty that I'm q total
stranger to Him, an don't feel q bit level
d akin fur favor at this stage o. the
Z $purceedin's. You've stood in with Him
S fur years, parson, an mebbe now if ye'd
list say to Him that ye'd take it as a per.
.sonal favor, he mout have matters liked
up SOS. I'd stand little show when l
slip my grip an cut loose from the world.
I don't believe He'd give ye the shake,
parson, arter you've bin cappin fur His
game so long, do youf"
"The Lord is ever ready and willing to
{ hear and answer prayer, Sam, but before
- -: ECO Hia hlesainns He says wa nollst