Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-17

OR,
The Whitest Man Il the MineS.o
From the New York Star.
Jim Moore was one OF the most widely-known
characters in the great Carbonate Camp during
the winter of '7S-Q, and his popularity did not
wane to any perceptible extent until the first
week in March, 1880, when he iOined the church.
forsoOk politics, and permitted the democrats
to elect mayor aad two Of the six aldermen
which comprised the common council of Lead
vile. Colonel Jim was not handsome by any
means, but what he lacked in personal appear
pearance was made upf for in greatness and kind
ness of heart. He stood five feet nine inches in
bare feet and in his knee-top patent-leather
boots he was q good inch taller. His weight
never exceeded one hundred and forty pounds:
yet he was an athlete, and boasted of muscles
that were as hard as iron. No one knew his
age, but his home had once been in Evansville.
Ind, and he was intimately acquainted with
Frank NJ. Gilbert. one Of the brightest editors
OF that little Hoosier city. and was never So
happy as when narrating some bOyish fasco
wherein Gilbert was one of the principal charac-
ters. His forehead was high and narrow. hair
so black that it glittered in the light of day.
eyes Of the color of steel gray. nose a decided
pug. mouth as large as Emily Soldenes. lips al
most as thin as paper, teeth irregular and
CHASTITY white, chin aud under jaw massive
cheek bones prominent as an Indians. and his
SmOOth-Shaven face was as SallOw as though he
had wrestled with chills and fever in the low
lands of Arkansas from the day of his birth.
BY avocatiOn Jim Moore was a gambler. He
found his way to Leadvile in November, 1873
and took rooms on lower Chestnut street his
meals at the TOntine restaurant, and dealt faro
in the Texas saloon on Harrison avenue. TIE
first day in camp no one paid him a second
thought, and his table was patronized BIZ
strangers alone. The second day June Richards
the camp bully, charged him with turning top
and bottom" jim was shuff1iHg the cards pre-
n ho W. kpo cI-ot
Richards down With the heavy silver box When
the bully returned to consciousness he saw that
Jim had procured fresh box, and was dealing
as coOlly as though nothing had occurred. The
crowd fell back in anticipation of an exchange of
pstol-shOts, but Richards remarked that he was
no hog, knew when he had enough. and left the
house to spend his money in the little church
saloon.
On the fourth day of Jm's sojourn in camp
reckless prospcctor by the name of Mooney, who
had backed the seven-spot heavily to lose when
the seven had won, called the Man-from- Indiana
tin-horn gambler, and threw his heavy bowie
knife across the layout. Jim could not wink at
such breach of etiquette. and shot Mooney
through the heart without rising from his chair.
An inquest was held. and as all the gentlemen
present at the time of the shooting pronounced
it an act of selfdefense Jim was back at the table
dealing, within few hours following the ira
gedy. This event sent his stock away above par,
and from that day he was recognized on the
In the meantime Methodist parson had come
10 the mlnes and was endeavOring to raise
sum OF money sufficient to build place of wOr-
ship. Jim called on the parson, extorted
promise from him that he would not play faro.
keno or draw poker nor be too hard on the
sporting men of the camp-and then set about
taking up collection. He prepared list. sub
scribed $50 by way of a beginning and then cir
culated the paper around the saloons and gam
ing tables, swearing that any sport who de-
al nod n1,sr 81
The result was that Leadville possessed church
before Christmas. He attended the dedicatory
services, led in singing and passed the hat
around twice, once before the sermon and once
following it. On the following Sabbath Jim
was not at church. and in the afternoon the mar
son called at the Texas House to inquire if Mr..
Moore was indispOsed. He found Jim dealing
and a throng of miners about the table
mo foolishness here, parson." said Jim.
sternly, as he paused with his fingers ON the
soda card.
Certainly not shall not interrupt" replied
the reverend gentleman in an apologize tone,
but l did not see you at worship this morn
ing"
NO" said Jim, slightly mollified, "and l ex-
pect your hat came back ID light. wanted
to come down and take part, but % 900
sucker from Virginia City chanced in, and h.
you know had to accommodate him."
The sacerdOtal laborer took his departure,
after declining several invitations to drink from
gentlemen in the crowd who recognized him.
and never again called around to ascertain what
cause had detained Jim Moore from attending
morning service.
1t was in these early days that claim and lot
jumping 1ourished in Leadville. If man. after
tolling for weeks or months in small shaft
Glanced to strike it rich tidings of his good luck
would spread through the camp like wild-fire.
In their greed for carbonates, many men would
forget that their once poor companion had delyed
IN the hard stone and fireclay until he had fairly
womb, won his prize, and their ruling thought was
and his paying claim relocated Claim
jumping finally became quite science
and mines had to be guarded night
and day AS the price of real estate ad-
vanced in the camp, lot jumping became Quite
fashionable, and as halfdozen land companies
set up claims to the ownership of every foot of
ground between the Arkansas and the First
Range on one hand, and California Gulch and
Tennessee Park on the other. the only bill of
sale recognized as genuine was a Winchester
rifle and pair of self-cOcking revOlvers. There
was seldom an hour in the day or night that
was not broken by an exchange of rifle and
pistol shots over some disputed mining claim or
ed-off lot in the heart of the young CITY,
Might in these days made right; there was no
law, and an occasional lynching bee only
served to incite men on to more cruel and daring
extremes. The camp at this time contained
about 10000 souls, and when / write that of
this number at least two-fifths were gamblers,
CMeVeS nlgnWaymen ana assaSSlnS, simply
state facts. Men who endured so many hard
ships and lived up in the heart of the Rocky
Mountains, two miles above the level of the sea,
forgot all except that they must acquire riches,
and it was immateral to them how they became
wealthy. Every base passion was quickened to
such an extent that the old adage of ~honor
among thieves was even forgotten. Now all is
changed, and the only monuments to the win
ter, spring and summer of 1879 in Leadville are
two well-filled cemeteries.
On the corner of Harrison svenue and State
street an old withered hag of a washerwoman
from Denver, by the name OF Ray, had pitched
her tent. A dwarfed pine stood about the CEN
ter of three lots she had staifed off, and this pine
was made to do service as goenter-pole for her
canvas mansion. The desirable location of these
lots excited the cupidity of four professional lot
Jumpers. and they announced that "Mrs. Raw
must emigrate." One February night Jim Moore
placed brother dealer in his chair and walked
out on the street for exercise and breath of
the pure cold air which sweepsdown from snow
capped mountain tops. He had been dealing
steadily for seven hours and the fumes of LIQUOR
and smoke in the gaming room had served to
make him weak and dizzy. AS he strobe nm
Harrison avenue, in the direction of Capitol
Hill, 1t seemed to him that he had stepped into
another cline. rp0' -A'o
The night was intensely cold and small parti-
nln nfS