Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-26
A BORDER ROMANCE.
The Tragic Fate Of Monte Kate
and Poker Bill.
THE GENEROSITY OF A QUEER WON an.
A Dashing and Liberal Female Gambler and
How She Ruled the frontier
Bill's Death and Rates
LAST Game.

San ANTONIO, Tx July 25.-Monte Kate
fell dead at Lozier, small station on the
Texas Pacific one day last week. Every.
body on the Southwestern frontier knew
Monte Kate. She has prominently figured
ss border character for the past twenty
years. A correspondent OF the New York
Star says: never met any one who knew
her real name or aught Of her antecedents.
saw her for the first time here during the
summer OF 1865. She was then the talk Of
the town-brilliant, witty, young, divinsly
beautiful and possessed Of an abundance OF
s6onsy, which was lihersify supplisd her
BY the countless friends the witchery OF
her smile had won to her side. She had
Just come in from one Of the frontier posts
and was scattering her money right and
left. She had sumptuous apartments at
the best hotel drank the costliest wines,
ate the choicest viands and drove about
The Alamo City
in natty little phaeton, drawn by pair OF
mettlesome pied" ponies. | saw her
every day for two weeks. One evening on
the Military Plaza she passed me as was
strolling with friend along the bonquette.
"A pretty woman observed.
Yes" replied my friend, that's Monte
Kate. She's been here about three weeks
on a regular spree. Yesterday the Sheriff
attached her ponies and carriage for debt
and she was forced to give up her apart
ments at the hotel. She has friend out
at one OF the frontier posts, and she has
sent for him 10 come II her relief. he
has to do il every time she comes 10 the
city. He'll be here tomorrow, pay her
debts and take her back with him. Next
day she'll make another big stake and
come in here to spend 1t. Shell never let
ND till she's dead broke, aad then she'll go
back TO her game and drink hothiHS uhll
she's way auead."
she runs Il game, them
"Yes-moute Tnirs how she got her
name. Shes The s.t.kc:t deater g.. '""
rOntier."
The next morning went down 10 the
railroad depot to see friend oil.
ON the Platform
at the station was huddled little group, a
man, evidently German, his sick wife and
three little children, the youngest baby,
who was crying piteously. They were on
their way TO New Braunfels and were ont
OF money. They had no friends and no one
seemed 10 consider it his duty to Inquire
into or alleviate their sufierings. The
woman. who was young and had an inter
esting face, was moaning pitifully, and the
DOOR husband trled to console her, while
great tears rolled down his cheeks aud
dropped upon the wasted hands of his he p
meet. My friend made some inquire:
from one OF the bystanders about them and
was going 10 order their removal to sone
place where the sick woman could receive
proper medical attention when street
hack drove up ana Monte Kate alighted
Her cheeks were flushed and she walked
upsteadly. The crowd about the pool
family caught her eye and she came towarC
il. When she saw the mans tears and tht
big. hungry eyes Of the children. and tn
wan. thin face OF the mother her Womanl>
sympathy was aroused. ----
She PasnVa H.. Way Forward
and addressed the man few words in hi
n,tive tongue. He ewiped his eyes with hi'
hand and replied, and for several minute:
they carried on an animated conversation
Suddenly Kate faced the crowd and asl
eyes flashed with scorn.
You re fine lot OF suckers, you are"
she cried. Here's this poor man with a
sick wife and starving children been lying
on this platform ever since yesterday, and
nobody in all the city had heart enough u
throw them a bone or crust OF bread
You call yourselves Christians. I'm glad
ain't but I've got heart and | can. see
dog sur1er. All Of you have got money
in your pocket. / haven't. I'm busted
but think l can raise few dollar3
She was very much excited and began
tearing the rings off OF her white fingers
She called the hackmsn up, added ear
rings, long chain, a costly watch, neck
lace OF pearls and diamond breastpin tc
the lot and poured them into his hat.
Sam" she said, "tske these up TO Issscs
and get all you can Oh em. Tell him |
want the
Money for Particular Purpo'e.
Drive like the devil aud I'll see that You
SIZE walked bsck to the side OF the Ger.
.'e hacknau drove ave., and
l.. E,'s;a Shispered few void !!:aittG
. ,ne sick wife. The wOman's face
ned; she said something in low
to- 20 her husband and he dried his eyes
/ he children crowded abJut and stared al
the beautiful, richly dressed woman in
open mouthed. open eyed ndtr IL lde
on in silence Presently the hackman re-
turned and jumping from his carriage
placed a roll OF notes in Kstes Outstretched
hand. without looking at the amount she
passed il over to the German. He fairly
capered with Joy and the sick wife would
have kissed their bensfsctors hand. Kate
prevented this act OF homage and drew bsck
with something like flush OF shame on
her face.
NO, no" she said, mot that"
Under her directions the family were re.
moved to cheap boarding house near by
and doctor summoned 10 attend tue sick
woman.
The Crowd Cheered
and the train came in. A man among the
passengers Joined Kate aud the pair drove
off together in the hack.
The next time ] met yonte Kate she was
behind a monte table at a frontier post,
deity manipulating the thin, gaudily col
ored Spanish cards. It was just alter pay
day, and judging from the size OF the
bank" spread out on the table before her,
she had made big winning. II was very
cold outside and the adobe casino was ful!
Of that heterogeneous crowd only 10 Se
found on the fron,ier-soldiers, gamblers,
cowboys, scouts, ,MeIicans, rustlers, Indians
and negroes In the back room bale was
in full blast and the clink OF the gam b!er 4
ivory chips kept time 10 the music OF the
asthmatic orchestra. Contrary 10 all pre-
cedsnt, Kate was beginning to drink before
DtI gbTDt Wds CIUscu, Out obo npPaiOhsay
knew how much to take, for she was cool
and collected, although several empty
champaign bottles on the windovledge be
side her bore evidence TO the fact thst hel
librations bad not been governed by any
great amount OF temperance. A gambler
explained her unusual indulgence:
.Poker Bill was Killed Last Night
at that table yopdsr," he whispered, "ant
Kate's been drinking ever since"
Poker Bill was Kate's latest friend ant
her bscker st monte. She desired 70 trea
the house and called all hands up. 0a'
alone remained behind, be went at th'
stove. Kate went to bis side and Learned
his story. He was q poor vaquero. VIII
made 9 scanty living for large family o
little children riding the range" on BIZ
stock ranch. That morning hi, little son
10 years old, while riding broncbo pom!
had hteD thrown by the animal, and whel
be was picked up it was found that his LEI
was broken.
II kem in byre arter ther DOCTOR" con
concluded the man. beginning 10 cry again