The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-19

- \GaEH 49, -
Leadyille, when tic place vas a mere mining
camp Of so people.
Tho morning after his arrival nc started
On a tour among the saloons and gambling
places. The Inmates laughed at him aud in
yited him 70 take q drink or a hand at poker,
but Uzze,l began at once by filling his i'm
prOvised cabin at evening service, and COM
menced to raise money with which 10 build
a church. lie irst tried the miners. but not
getting all be wanted he EXTENDED bis solicit
tations to the gamblers and the women Of
the town. From these reckless people he
met with n universal response. One saloon
keeper offered him the proceeds Of a keg
Of whisky, which Uzzell refused 70 accept.
Having taken quite q collection in the saloon,
a gambler, reaarking that they had done tic
fair thing b. the parson, insisted on his
taking a drink. Ii appeared that U2zell
must either drink or fight, 50 he pulled oif
his coat, whcrsupon the ~stalwart bartender,
who was something Of a fighter himself,
leaped over the bar and declared that be
proposed 70 take a hand, and Uzzell needn't
drink IL he didn't want to. This restored
quiet.
Jr. Uzzell tells a number OF good stories
| anent queer weddings and funerals he has
oliciated at Here is one concerning q we'd
ding.
4 have Just been l2t out y, jail, said the
man who wished 10 he married, and bor-
rowcd a saw and buck and went in search Of
work. When asked this woman here by my
side for u Job, she said she had no money to
hire . man. being G poor widow woman. /
told her / would saw the wood and tako her
for pay, Gnd she said sail right and here VIC
arc now 70 get married, but | haint got no
money, parson, TO pay the bill
Alr. Uzzell performed the ceremony and
paid the recorder fee.
There WIS then . great deal Of what was
called lot Jumping in Leadville. Mr.. Uzzell
| secured some lots for hischurch One day he
found a Jumper unloading logs for the pur-
pose Of building a cabin on these lots. Czzell
took of his coat and prepared 10 resist the
jumper, who was beginning to unload a fresh
lot Of logs:
III you get or that wagon / will thrash
you" said the preacher.
PEARSON, you wouldn't GRnt, would youf
replied the jumper.
II don't want TO fight, but il you put
auolurl ~ Dn lhlS AZ IA 'Hi@S" sN"' ~
I yol will me"
"Well, what do You want donef'
'Drive away with the load Of logs you now
have and then haul of the others already on
the lot"
The jumper concluded that Methodist prop
erty was not good property TO jump.
VI. II. Stevens, Of tho Iron mine, was q
great friend Of Uz~zell's, and on ono occasion
S.eyens authorized some ladies 10 give q
party, saying that he would pay for the re-
treatments, and suggesting that they sell
tickets az 81 apiece, the proceeds 10 b. given
10 Uzzell for his church. During the evening
tho parsOn stood at tine door taking tickets.
Suddenly he was called Up stairs. There he
found that Stevens had been smuggling
champagne in the building. II was too late,n
says Mr.. Uzzell, "to stop the drinking, but !
put an end to an intended dance. Az l en-
tered the room ONE one jumped on a chair
and shouted out, Get your partners for tho
first dancer That was Dick Allen, Of The
Leadville Reyeille, one Of the old newspapers
in the camp. interposed aud said would
not permit any dancing at q Methodist so
cial, and Dick did not urge the matter any
further, but an Irshman present did. He
said he had paid bis dollar TO get in and in
tended to dance. He insisted, notwithstand-
ing my objections, and finally threatened 70
give me q thrashing If | interferod. was
expecting trouble, when Tabor, who after
ward became United States senator, being
present, interfered in my behalf and quisted
the troublesome Irishman.n
Mr. Uzzell is now In charge Of tue Peoples
tabernacle at Denver, under the supervision
Of the Home Missionary society Of New
York.