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

Jim Moore was one OF the most
widely known characters in the great
Carbonate Camp during the winter Of
1S78-79, AMI his popularity did not
wane to any perceptible extent until
the first week IN March, 1880, when he
Joined the church, forsook politics, and
permitted the Democrats to elect Al
Mayor and two of the six Aldermen
which comprised the Common Council
of Leadviile. Colonel Jim was not
handsome by any means, but what he
lacked in personal appearance was made
up for in greatness and kindness OF
heart. He stood five feet, nine inches
in bare feet, and in his knee-top patent
leather boots he was good inch taller.
His weight never exceeded 40 pounds,
yet he was III athlete, and boosted OF
muscles as hard as iron. No one knew
his age, but his home hal once been in
Evansville, Ind, and he was intimately
acquainted with Frank M. Gilbert, one
of the brightest editors of that little
Hoosier city, and was never so happy
as when narrating some boyish tiasco
wherein Gilbert was one of the princi-
nal characters. His forehead was high
and narrow, hair so black that it gilt
tered in the light of day, eyes OF the
color OF steel gray, hose decided pug,
mouth as large as Emily Soldene's, lips
almost as thin as paper, teeth irregular
and CHASTITY white, chin and 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 lowlands of
Arkansas from the day of his birth.
BY avocation Jim Moore was gam
bier. He found his way to Leadville
in November, 1878, took rooms on
Lower Chestnut street, his meals at the
Tontine restaurant, and dealt faro in
the Texas saloon on Harrison avenue.
The first day in camp no one paid him
a second thought, and his table was
patronized by strangers alone. The
second day June Richards, the camp
bully, Charged him with turning top
and bottom" Jim was shutting the
cards, preparing for fresh deal, and
he promptly knocked 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
unusual had occurred. The crowd fell
back in anticipation of an exchange of
pistol 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 Jim's soiourn
in camp reckless 1rospector 10y e
name of Mooney, who had backed the
seven spot heavily to lose when 1T had
won, called the man from indiana Il
tim horn gambler, and threw his heavy
bowie knife across the layout. Jim
could uot wink at such a breach of Ell
uuette, and shot Mooney through the
heart without rising from his chair. An
inquest was held, and as all the gentle
men present Mt the time of the shooting
pronounced it an act of self-defense,
Jim was back at the table dealing
within few hours following the
tragedy. This event sent his stock
away above par, and from that day he
was recognized on the street by the first
gamblers of Colorado.
In the meantime Methodist parson
had come to the mines, and was endeav-
oring to raise sum of money sufficient
TO build place of worship. Jim called
on the parson, extorted from him a
promise that he would not play faro,
keno OF draw-poker, nor be too hard on
the sporting men of the camp-and
then set about taking up a collection.
He prepared list, subscribed $50 by
way of beginning, and then circulated
the paper around the saloons and gam
ing tables, swearing that any sport who
declined to chip in was no friend of Jim
Moore. The result was that Lesdville
possessed a church before Christmas
Jim attended the dedicatory services,
led in singing, and passed the hat
around twice, once before the sermon
and once following it. On the follow
ing Sabbath, Jim was not at church,
and in the afternoon the parsOn called
at the Texas House to inquire if Mr..
Moore was indisposed. He found Jim
dealing, and q throng Of miners about