Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-07
PISTOLS OFT OF STYLE IN TEXAS.

The day when the shooting-iron
ruled Texas has gone never to return
Public sentiment, which is stronger
than law here as elsewhere, has de-
creed that the revolver must go. A
wonderful change has taken place In
the minds OF Texans concerning the
proper costume Of gentlemen and the
correct way of righting wrongs. The
immense emigration which has been
pouring into the State from England.
Germany and the Northern States
has got good deal TO do with this
right about the face in an important
matter, but the native Texans them
selves long ago saw the folly and
danger Of conducting business, socie-
~ and politics on self-cocking princl-
piles.
Like most other States Texas has
had laws against carrying concealed
weapons, but they have not been en-
forced until now. Every man had
his weapon, and a good many women
and children also took good care not
10 be without the means Of waging
offensive and defensive warfare. The
cowboys, cowmen, professional des-
peradoes, freighters and adventures
o. all kinds always went armed,
whether on the range or not, and
when in town and full Of liquor they
generally made things uncomfortable
for everybody else by shooting for
fun or murder. The increasing mum
Der of homicides in old communities,
coupled with some very sorrowful
features, and the growing reckless
ness of the border men on coming III
from the plains, brought about tire
mendous change 10 sentiment. Many
preachers ventured to preach against
the incessant use of the firearms and
To denounce the idea that one must
even go about with a deadly weapon
in his pocket as cowardly. The news
papers waged an unrelenting warfare
on the revolvers, losing no opportu-
nifty TO ridicule the man who carried
one, and speaking in the plainest
terms of individuals who in anger or
fear committed murder. Two or
three self sacrificing preachers left
their homes and went about the state
making stump speeches against the
Texans pet weakness. One made
extensive tours along the frontier,
urging upon the cowboys the neces-
sity of greater circumspection and
the preciousness of human life.
Probably If all this had not been
sternly backed up by the courts and
the local magistrate. not much good
would have come OF il; but the exec
utive and judicial officers of the state
appear To have entered into the spirit
OF the reform with great earnestness,
and offenders now have the strongest
incentives, both of persuasion aud
fear, to obey the law. AT first, when
fines were imposed there was some
grumbling, but in very little while
! everybody laughed and approved the
punishment except the man who hap
pened TO get caught. In Tyler the
other day three men stood on street
corner conversing on the subject of a
recent killing, when one the men IN
an endeayor TO describe the scene eff
fectively, reached for his revolver
mechanically. and, finding that he
did not have it with him, asked one
of the bystanders to let him have his
| for moment, The fellow drew his
and handed it TO the speaker. with an
admonition to be careful with IL,
when n third party called police
man and had the owner arrested.
| The culprit was taken before a jus
tice, the crowd following, aud fined
one hundred dollars and costs, the
limit of the law. Most of the magis
trates are very severe on men of good
standing who have been found guilty
OF carrying concealed weapons, and
SO many fifty dollar and hundred dol
lar fines have been imposed that the
element which was at first disposed
To resent the innovation concludes
after a while that it was not best tC
resent the dispensation.
The surprise of some of the COW
boys on coming into the nearest set
Elements has been intense. Very few
of these worthless have been seized OF
the charge of carrying concealt {
weapons, for most of them weal
their arms in full view, but grea
many have been arrested and fined
for shooting within the city limits o
some town whose principal houses
still bear the marks of previous soci
ability on the part of the cow punch
ers. Great has been the disgust o
the cowboys. on firing a round o
two down the street just for the fur
of seeing the folks scatter, to be drag
ged before a rural justice and fine,
ten dollars for violating the city ord
nances. Such a thing was neve
heard OF before, and in some instance
indignation meetings have been held
and all the innovations of the tender
feet denounced.
Just where the thing will end. o
how lasting will be the reformation
remains To be seen, but at the present
at any rate, there appears to be NJ
disposition TO show any quarter {
the men whose god is the gun.