The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-09-23

ls7s-7a, no character was better known than
Jim Moore, "The Whitest Man In the
Mines" Col. Moore was not beauty. He
was five feet nine inches In height, and
weighed only 1856 younds, but he was m
athlete, with muscles ~ hard ~ iron and .
movement ~ quick rs q cat. He hailed
from Evansville, Ind. His forehead was
high and narrow, bis hair black, eyes steel
gray, . large mouth and apug nose. de
was always smooth shaven, drank some, out
never 10 excess, and was man born to lead
In whatever station he might be found.
Col. Moore was gambler by profession,
aud Immediately after locating In the Car
Donate Camp, com menced dealing faro ut
the Texas House, on Harrison avenue, Lead
VILE. The Colonel was entirely unknown
when he commenced operations in Leadville,
and the next day after he commenced deal
ing, John Richards, the camp bully, charged
him with running "brace F" game. Moore
struck him over the head with the heavy sill
YER box, procured n new box and continued
coolly dealing, while Richards friends were
trying to bring him back to consciousness.
When this was accomplished, the crowd
scattered In expectation Of seeing little
pistol practice between Moore and Richards,
but the latter walked meekly out.
On the fourth day Of Jims operations In
Leadville, a gambler named Mooney, who
had lost heavily by his reckless betting, drew
bis bowie knife and applied an opprobrious
epithet to Moore. The latter pulled re-
volver, shot Mooney through the heart, and
the Coroner's jury acquitted him on the
ground of self-defense, and Jim was ut his
post dealing, as usual, In the course Of few
hours. This little episode raised Jim in the
estimation Of the gamblers and desperadoes
of the camp, and these who had looked down
upon him before were glad TO recognize him
now.
Jim was q restless phenomenon. Not long
after he became acclimated and acquainted
In the camp, an humble follower of John
Wesley came TO Leadville to establish a
church. When Jim heard Of the movement
he observed to n small knet Of gamblers
gathered around him, /" BY Cd, boys, the
town isn't worth . damn without church
In II, and I'm going to help the parson." SO
he called upon The minister, got . promise
from him not TO come down too hard on the
sporting men, and promised his aid. Hegot
up . subscription paper, headed 1t with
round sum, passed 1t around among his
friends, and raised enough 10 erect church
building. Then he went to church on the
first opening Sunday, led the singing and
passed The hat around twice.
But the next Sunday he was absent from
church, and the minister anxious to know II
he was sick went to the Texas House to in
quire. lie found Jim seated in the midst of
q crowd Of gamblers and miners, dealing
faro. As soon as Jim espied the parson he
paused In his dealing and sternly said:
"No monkey work here, parson."
"Certainiy not" said the preacher. I
shall not bother. did not know but that
you were I'LL, ~ you were absent from
church and called to inquire"
"No," sail Jim, al wanted to come, but
= sucker came In with 5000 to spend, and I
had to stay to accommodate him." and the
minister went away.
But the incident by which Jim gained the
sobriquet OF "The Whitest Man In the
Mines" occurred soon after this. The town
was springing up with mushroom rapidlty,
titles were loose, and m-jumping was m
IA hn
1900 people In the camp st the time Of
which write, and nearly half Of them were
gamblers, highwaymen and desperadoes.
Men had come to the camp 10 get rich, and
all other duties and purposes but this were
lost sight Of
On the corner of Harrison avenue and
State street was . very valuable lot, which
had been taken rs . claim before II was of
much value by poor, old, withered washer,
woman named Ray, who had come up from
Denver. Here she had pitched her tent, and
was engaged in washing for miners and
camp men. II had been decided by four
professional lot-jumpen that Mother Ray
had no right to this valuable corner, and
must give 1t up. 30 one cold night their
plan TO dispossess the poor woman was put
into operation. a........... ....
Jim Moore had been dealing faro for many
hours without rest, until his brain reeled
and the smell of liquor and tobacco smoke
made him sick. 80 he asked a brother
gambler TO take his place behind the magic
box for awhile, while he took Q stroll In
search Of pure air and . cure for his head
ache. IL was cold but starlit evening, and
Jim enjoyed IL to the fullest extent, rs he
walked up and down the streets, not caring
whittier he went, but only bent on getting rid
Of the weakness and dizziness brought on by
Ills steady work and confinement.
Suddenly woman's shrek sounded on
the night air, and Jim Moore paused to
listen. The scream was repeated, and Jim,
hurrying In the direction from which the
sound proceeded, saw Mrs. Rays tent in
flames. In tho ligh. Of the fire Jim beheld
the forms Of four men, and their movements
excited his suspicious that all was not right
He hurried forward. One of the four vii.
iains had choked the old woman nearly to
death, and the four now stood with cooked
revolyers TO prevent any attempt Of couple
Of parties near BY at extinguishing the fire.
They had new tent with them which they
meant 10 have erected on the site Of the old
one when they had turned the old woman
out Into the cold.
Jim Moore took In the whole situation Il
agisnce, and sprang forward to the rescue.
The Jumpers fred two shots Ut him, but they
missed him, and when he answered them,
one man went down with hole In bis head
snd another with broken leg. The frine
brought crowd OF men, and in the excite.
ment the remaining two escaped.
When Mrs. Ray recovered enough to speak,
she went down on her knees and said to
Jim, amidst tears and sobs II don't know
your name but \ do know, and may God
bless you, that you are the whitest man in
the mines"
Willing hands In the crowd soon erected
the new tent for the old woman; the