Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-20

Sc. broken limb, raise a tent or build a
shanty with the next man And because ne
was cool as ice when fiery blood coursed
through the veins Of other men-because he
was brave as a lior-because he was gentle
as a woman with sick men-because he had
big heart-because he spoke kindly words,
and because nothing came acaiss to Parson
Jim, the rough specimens Of humanity Ia
George Washington Gulch loved and re-
spected him as they never could have loved
and resnectea a grave and learned doctor of
divinity from the east.
Now. in 8 western mining town il Is
gross breach of etiquette to make inquiries
as to a mans pedigree or to attempt to learn
more than he chooses to tell Of his history
prior TO his arrival in tho camp. So long as
he is square and behaves himself he is ono
Of 1.-THE boys" and as such is bound to them
bv sort of freemasonry Hence, when Par
son Jim came to the gulch and announced
himself as a preacher the miners asked no
questions. They did not take much stock"
in preaching, but they were disposed to give
the new conner show" and when tirae
passed and Parson Jim proved to their salts
faction that he was made Of the right stuff"
they not only tolerated him, but made him
heartily welcome.
There was no church in the guich; there
was no school house; there was not even
hall of any lind. There was. however, a
large frame shanty used for whisky saloon,
named by IT'S proprietor Tho Rocky Noun
tain Sample Rooms In the west, be it re-
membered, all the drinks are samples, no
matter if the same consumer gets away with
fifty glasses from the same barrel
Parson Jim made his appearance IN the
gulch during the winter Immediately follow
ing the summer when the Hon. Samuel Green
made his important discovery Of the exist
ence of silver in the valley. He arrived on
q handsome roam mare, without bag or bag
gage. and made his quarters at the rude ho-
te! connected with the Rocky Mountain
Sample Rooms. During the evening thers
was a scufie in the large barroom, and the
newcomer looked in through one Of the doors
to sec what was the trouble. A young and
slender lad Of perhaps 10 or 20 years was
struggling with brutal looking muscular
giant Of twice his age. 1t was only ques-
ton Of minutes when the big rough fellow
would down" his young opponent, and yet
the dozen or 50 Of onlookers made no attempt
at interference Just es the new arrival ap-
peared on the scene, the younger combatant
got in a nasty blow, which evidently hurt
and irritated his opponent. Quick as light
ming the big fellow drew his bowie knife and
raised it preparatory to plunginS it into the
lad.
Hands of, you bully" shouted the stran-
ger in the doorway The burly fighter glanced
rapidly in the direction from whence these
words came, but did not drop the hand which
gripped the ugly knife
drop that knifel" Numbered the stranger,
at the same time laying his hand upon his
pistol pocket
The bully noticed the last named action
and letting go the boy yelled, with added
oaths, Curse you; shut up. Who are you,
anyhow The large man was evidently
very angry. He held the knife In his left
hand and with his right drew heavy re-
volver, which he proceeded to level at the
stranger.
Throw up your hands, quick" shouted
the latter. But the fellow did not hear this
warning. Click! went the hammers Of the
pistola It was question of quarter seconds
now. Bangi went one revoiver-the stran-
ger's-and the big man feu-dead.
Then there was nonentary silence, fol-
lowed by some queer CALCULATIONS: Dead as
Injinl-"Ssrved him rightr-"Stranger's
a plucky unl"-"Be-ewtiful shot!"-"Who
air you, stranger, anyhow
Boys" said the new arrival, when at last
he had chance to speak, ''this is a sort Of
business that l am not fond of. Sometimes
it is necessary, though, as it was tonight. l
am sorry; but let's say no more about it. l
pay the funeral expenses and answer all cues
tons. You want to know who l ana Well,
I'm preacher; and therel be preaching in
this room, with the landlords permission,
next Sunday morning at 10 o'clock
It was strange introduction for q
preacher, but il was. perhaps, the best one he
could have had in that wild place. Any way,
the respect Of those rough miners was last
ingly secured, and from that time on he
grew in favor as man and preacher.
In those old coach days there was one seri-
GUS drawback to travelling between Denver
and George Washington Gulch-the road was
infested by small but hitherto invincibIe
band Of desperadoes, under the leadership Of
regular dare devil known as Kansas. :"
This man Kansas had attacked and robbed
the coaches fifteen or eighteen times within
SIX months: and although he had never been
known to be accompanied by more than
SAEcc uib DS1iil was tIC Ici OK
Of the stage drivers and their passengers.
Once the propristors Of the stage line had or
ganized posse Of armed men, who secured
the country in search Of Kansas and his
crew; but the outlaw remained at large, and
within a week lightened q coach Of s., DOC
worth Of silver iDgots.
Late in the evening Of a summer day,
when, with the exception Of party Of gam
blers at the Sample Rooms all the citizen.
of the gulch were soundly sleeping, a soil
tary horseman rode up to the unpreteutioas
shanty which did duty for a parsonage. II
was nothing but a two rooned hut, rudely
constructed and roughly furnished On this
occasion the parsonage" was il sole charge
of All Wing, q heather Cninee, who acted
IS Parson Jirn's cook and chamberrna;d Alb
Wing was InseIf perchance in some China
mans paradise, for his sleepy features, usu
ally utterly void CT expression, were Hum
ined by yellow smile. The parson was OF,
as he frequently was, On trip down the val
lev. and the parsonage being well removed
from the main portion Of the settlement, was
seldom visiting during his absence. The
dreaming Celestial was therefore much sur
priSed, and indeed frightened, when he was
awakened from his slumber by violent ham
mering at the barred door He cautiously
drew back the wooden bolt, and peeped
out into the warm, starlit night. Close &c
the door he beheld stalvart man with long
black lair and heavy museache, holding IN
one hand the bride of a large horse, while on
his left arm he carried . glrl-evl0ently dead
or In fainting condition.
Where IS tie parsonT asked the stranger
in firm but quiet voice.
"Parson Jir he go way Uuchee; he nc
come home till Sunday" replied the SUI.
priSed Chinanlan.