The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-08-23

tol.shots over some disputed mining
claim or stake1.off lot in the heart Of
the young city. Might in these days
made right; there was no law, and an oc-
casional lynching bee only served to In.
cite men to more cruel and daring ex.
tremes. The camp at this time contain
ell about 10000 sous, and when l write
that Of this number at least two-fifths
were gamblers, thieves and assassins, I
simply state facts. Men who endured
so many hardships and lived up in the
heart of the Rocky Mountains, two miles
above the level Of the sea, forget all ex-
cept that they must acquire riches, and
it was immaterial to them how they be.
came 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 winter,
spring and summer Of 1879 in Lesdville
are two well-flled cemeteries.
On the corner of Harrison avenue and
State street an old withered bag of q
washerwoman from Denver by the name
of Ray, had pitched her tent. A dwarf
pine stood about the center of three lots
she had staked of, aud this pine was
made to do service as center-pole fol
her canvas mansion. The desirable 10.
cation of these lots excited the cupidity
Of four professional lot-jumpers, and
they announced that "Mrs Gray must
emigrate." One February night jim
Moore placed q brother dealer in his
char and walked out ON the street for
exercise and breath Of the pure cold
air which sweeps down from snow-cap.
ped mountain-tcps. He had been deal
ing for seven hours. and the fumes OF
liquor and smoke in the gaming room
had served to make him weak and dizzy.
AS he strode up Harrison avenue, in the
direction OF Capitol Hill, it seemed to
him that he had stepped into another
cline.
The night was intensely cold, and
small particles of snow aud frost we're
borne upon the bosom of the blast which
ragged from the west. They came with
singing force, and we're SO fierce that
the streets were almost deserted.
Jim Moore paused. The blast had
borne to his ears an unusual sound. 1t
was woman's shrek for help. He had
arrived at the corner of Main street, and
turning beheld tiny tongue of fame a
block below. A shanty on fire was his
first thought, bnt by the time he gained
the Chronicle Office be saw that it was
Mrs. Rays tent. The tarred canvas
burned fercely, and BY its light be saw
four men and recognized them as lot
Jumpers. One had choked the old wo-
man nigh unto death, and bis compan-
ions stood by, pistols in hand, to pre-
vent any attempt on the part of couple
of pedestrians, who had halted across
the street, at oxtinguishing the flames.
On the ground was tent which they
had brought with them, and it was their
intention to eject the washerwoman by
an incendiaty act, and then take posses.
sion of the vacated lots
The man from Indiana understood the
situation at q glance, and with few
quick bounds was within the glare of the
burning tent Two shots were fred at
him by the lot-jumpers and then he re-
turned their fire At the first report of
his pistol one went down with bullet
hole in the center of his forehead, and
the next instant his companion was also
lUing In the snow with shattered thigh.
By this time dozen men were on the
scene, and the remaining two backed off
in the direction of the rude Theater
Comique with pistols standing at full
cock.
When Mrs. Ray realized that she had
been saved, she went down upon her
knees to the courageous gambler who
had come to her rescue.
81 don't know your name," she cried,
in tones of emotion, the tears all the
while coursing down her wrinkled and
weather. stained face, "but one thing
do know, God bless youi You are the
whitest man in the mines!'
Several citizens assisted jim in erect
ing the lot-jumpers' tent for Mrs. Ray,
and then the undertaken was summoned
to remove the dead body. The woun-
ded man was conveyed to his cabin on
Lower Chestnut street, and be was ad-.
vised to leave the camp as soon as he
could travel Henceforth Jim Moore
was universally spoken Of as "the whitest
man in the mines," and Mrs. Ray was
never tired of singing his praise. The
washerwoman is now quite wealthy. A
few weeks following the destruction of
her tent she sold one of the lots for
$4,000, and with this sum erected COM
modious buildings on the remaining
two, which yield handsome rental.
My second night in the Carbonate
camp a friend asked il l knew Jim
Moore. My answer was in the negative.
He remarked that must make the &C.
quaintance of the whitest man in the
mines before could hope to enter Lead
yille's best society. We strolled down
from the Clarendon Hotel to the house
where Jim presided over faro layout,
and was introduced as 'sthe new editor
of the Chronicle" Moore scrutinized
me an instant With his hard, steel.g
eyes. and then gave me hand clasp
which brought tears to my eyes from its
severity. He smiled at my vince oi
pain, and, as he drew in stack of blues
from the queen ten, said, addressing
me:
"Where from ?"
est LOUIS" answered, as tersely as
the question had been put
"Good enough" was his response,
and be went on between cards asking
question after question as to people
whom he had known in that city.
DESTROYS of gaining his goodwill ]
placed tenadollar note on, the ace, play
ing it open "Please don't do it." said
he. alt breaks me all up to have friends
play at my table. II you want $50 or
500 take it out of the, drawer, but for
Gods sake don't play faro!
When the. ,Vigilaptes were organized
against the leeches of the mines, who
rejoiced in the title OF "The Law and
Order Abiders," Jim took no part "It
amt nv funeral" he exclaimed, Il can't
shake the boys, nor can't 60 back on
the good people here. So l guess I'll
take reserved seat on the fence and
IN knso