San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-01-26

gers OH the soda card.
Certainly not, l shall not interrupt
replied the reverend gentleman in an
apologize toI o, "but did not see you
at worship this morning?
"No," Jim said, slightly Modified,
"and / expect your hat came back -
light. l wanted to come down and take
part, but a $1,000 sucker from Virginia
City CHANGED in, and, -, you know /
had to accommodate him."
The sacredotal laborer took his de-
parture, after declining several invita-
lions 10 drink from gentlemen in the
arowd who recognized him, and never
again called round to ascertain what
cause had detained Jim Moore from at
tending morning service.
1t was in these early days that claim
and lot jumping fourished in Lead
vile. II man, after toiling for weeks
and months in small shaft, CHANGED to
strike it rich, tidings of his good luck
would spread through the camp like
wildfre. In their greed for carbonates
many men would forget that their once
poor companion had delved in the hard
stone and fireclay until he had fairly
won his prize, and their ruling thought
was through what agency he could be
dispossessed and his paying claim relo-
Gated. Claim jumping finally came to
be quite science, and mines had to be
guarded night and day. AS the price
of real estate advanced in the camp, lot
jumping became quite fashionable, and
as half dozen land companies set up
claims to the ownership of every foot
of ground between the Arkansas and
the First Range Oh the one hand, and
California Gulch and Tennessee Park
on the other, the only bill of sale recog-
nized as genuine was Winchester rifle
and pair of self-cocking revolvers.
There was seldom an hour in the day
or night that was not broken by an ex-
change of rifle and pistol shots over
some disputed claim or staked-of lot in
tho heart of the young city. Might in
those days made right; there was no
law, and an occasional lynching bee
only served to excite men on to more
cruel and daring extremes. The camp
at this time contained about 10000
souls, and when 1 write that of this
number at least two-ffths were gam
blers, thieves, highwaymen and assas
sins, 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,
forgot all except that they must acquire
riches, and it was immaterial to them
how they became wealthy. Every base
passion was quickened to such an ex-
tent that the old adage Of Honor
among thieves" was even forgotten.
Now all was changed, and the only
to the winter, spring and
summer of 1879 in Leadville are two
we'll filled cemeteries.
On the corner of Harrison avenue
and State street an old, withered bag
of washerwoman from Denver, by the
name of Ray, had pitched her tent. A
dwarfed pine stood about the center of
three lots she had staked off, and this
pine was made to do service as center
pole for her canvas mansion. The de-
sirable location of these lots excited the
cupidity of four professional lot jump
ers, and they announced that Mrs.
Ray must emigrate." One February
night Jim Moore placed brother
dealer in his chair and walked out on
the streets for exercise and breath of
the pure cold air that sweeps down
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 up Harrison avenue, in the di-
rection of Capitol hill, it seemed to
him that he had stepped into another
cline.
The night was intensely cold, and
fine particles of snow and frost were
borne on the bosom of the blast which
ragged from the west. They came with
singing force, and were so fierce that
the streets were almost deserted.
Jim Moore pau-ed. The blast had
borne to his ear an unusual sound. 1T
Wa, u woman's shrek Tor help. He had
arrived ut the corner of Main street,
and turning beheld tiny tongue of
flame block below. A shanty on fire,
was his first thought, but by the time
he gained the Chronicle office he saw
that it was Mrs. Rays tent. The tarred
canvas burned tiercely, and by its light
he saw four men and recognized them
as lot jumpers. One had choked the
old woman nigh unto death, and his
companions stood by, pistols in hand,
to prevent any attempt on the part of
couple of pedestrians, who had halted
across the street, at extinguishing the
flames. On the ground was tent
which they had brought with them, and
it was their intention to eject the wash
erwoman by an incendiary act, and
then take possession of the vacated lots.
The man from Indiana understood |
the situation at a glance, and with
few ouick bounds was within the glare |