New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-19
A SUNDAY IN GUTHRIE.
DIVINE SERVICES IN TIE CAPITAL OF TIE
NEW TERRITORY.
HOW "oLp 81" GOT AWAY WITH THE GAMBLERS
THE MINISTER WHOSE FEET THE LORD
DIRECTED TO A CORNER LoT-A BOOMER
OF THE LoRUs-THE REPENT.
ANT CONVOY.
ANT COWBOY.
trRox STAFF CORRESPONDENT or rHE rHBUxEl

ANT COWBOY
tFRox 4 STAFF CORRESPONDENT or rHE TEBUSEl
Guthrie. Oklahoma Territory. May IO-Ah. that first |
Sunday In Guthrie! What day II was, and how It's
and incidents crowd upon ones memory The
dust and the dirt, the heat and the binding rays Of
the sun, the groups gathered about the big tent down
In the hollow and near the creek, listening to the
words OF all sorts OF preachers, from the dominic IN
bis black gown looking like exotic among the sturdy
pines OF Northern forest TO the fiery eAhorer from
Texas In cavalry boots sOmhrero and cartridge beit'
And then the hustle Of tho town, the open stores
and eating houses business never at siandstI fahs
crying their wares to the accompaniment Of hymns and
sometimes tho distant report OF a pistol Pictures
worthy the brush OF Salvador Rosa-scenes which the
pen Of q Dickens might have rovelled In
Not a single suggestion OF Sabbatarfan qutet'
Hold, wrong. There was something TO mako the
day little different nom those that had preceded H.
For one the Land once closed. The distribution
of the mail from the tent IN iron OF which long lint
of expectant faces stu DO daily from the
time the rises until u sets, was likewise suspended
But most noticeable OF al--the gamblers had disap
pearod nom the public streets; and though they did
not cease altogether plying their trade on this day,
they had At rate becn consdeate enough 10 retire
TO their fonts TO attend to the pluckng OF victims.
Al this due, believe TO the efforts Of Old ST.
the chief OF the Guthrie police force. "sP-hs fun
name which but few know, is Silas W. Ancerscn-is
a character. Tall, thin and rav.boned be does not
suggest to you the traditional guardian Of the peace
and vet ST" carried "buly" for many years IN
Chicago, and in bis day broke the hearts warrant
you, Of all the fat footed nurse-msids on his beat
lie distinguished himself In tho riots Of II, but he
refers rho part ne played then with only half the
satisfaction with which he points to the tin star on
his breast which seems 10 have been chopped out with
hatchet and which prcclalms the exalted Office fod
by him to-day. sr Is good nature Itself He
laughs and Jokes you prod him occasionally
with a lItc "sasS'-he never gets Hngered. Alto
gcthcr. he arts u he but on ordinary mortal
better than you I, and not country constable
lie actually took nip out Of my flask ono day. And
the manners Of Chesterfield which he displayed on
that memorable occasion said So with longing
wlnk-oh, so expressive fur whishey vas awful scarce
just then and those who had Of tho precious snh
husbaudcd II aS II had been gathered In the tabled
fountains eternal youth and not In Kansas PrObfb
ton dlsiillcry-said ST. with longing wink at the
profered TASK and In voice trembling with emotion
Say, young fellow, youIl excuse mo for not roius
Ing, won't youP
Oh, hs has manners, "Sl' has. And he
Is so suavc, eloquent. 40 discreet. on the
evening preceding that sunday / had the privi
lego Of attending him In round Of calls which no
made upon the gamblers. Their places Of business
at present under the protection II the law, being
regularly licensed and do, IN fact represent Of tho
promising infant Industries Of the young common
wealth. SIS intention that Of converting some
OF the eminent gentlemen whose literary stiainments
srp confined knOWl edgo OF the Drvis PRAYER book
Foremost among these Rcddy tho Gambler
whom the Chief of TolIoe honorrd by calling upon
first As ne approached the tent, stumbling through
tho dark across boards and tent pegs pn~trats
sleepcr, hero skrtinR The business end 81 mule or
there carefully avoiding tho pitfalls Of claim Jumpers
could hear Reddy's voice:
"Chuchaluck! Chuck Rlucki Try your lurhI
Come on now aud don't mako faces Here's your
chance Of making pill This Is not a skin game
gentlemen! II /, conducted strictly on business
principles Come on, now Comet Chuck a luck.
chuck A-uch, try your luck
A score or - ~ mcn In tho tent were In no humor
apparently for playing, or, What Is llhcly. they
had already been cleaned out by R"dy,' for when
we entered iheru lull In the preceding and
cvery body looked solemn. Hcihy's" cnqueuce was
expended I'm vain. His invitation To step up met
with no response the part Of the crowd. ST.
looked sympatbetcay a. ltndy' s"ross the grcSGy
table and finally threw out toclcr7
Rcidy,' said he, bows bar
sBiz!- answers Rrddy," who has como to Okla
bona elk days before With set OF old dice, empty
tomato can for a dice box and shirt, biz says
Heddy, IL only tolcrAb!e.'
why, Hcddy,- replies tho Chief Of PoIice. you
have q fine lot now tent, nice SCI Of tools and
money In bank, darn Say. liz can't be 50 very
| bad"
Yes, but Here YOU are. try your luck, churk
A-iuck chuck s-luck. step this way gentlemen and
get Sceommodarrd' NJ ibis 10 couple Of young
men who had just entered the tent.
well, now, Rc!dy,- persists the Chief Of Police
you are pretty well fixed, and you Afford TO shut
| down o.moruw, just for on" day you know"
| "Tu morrow. what's nat furl'
ats sunday to-mOuOw7
"But how about tho busy beo,' hppAnty ~
marks Rr,dy." (which must Improve each shining
hour How about that"
"wclI. drip The bee br Just for ono day7 argues
al o. and o.. 'y p,.u
think quiet day t'-noruw will be great boom for
the town and between ourselves, Reddy, think II
! will; sortcr encourages fUks Ia como TO Oklahommy
and settle, chl And, then, NO arr going TO have
services
what"
Services prayer meetings, sunday school and that
sort OF thing
"WelIi"
And you know Rcddy, VIC couldn't get along with.
out your Hno voice.
Come, 81, now you'fe wedding mc.'
"NO, this IS on tho dead. The meeting is going 10
be held In rlc nest hollow that's straight
we'll says Roddy but at this point therr are
some new arrivals, and with an eye 10 business
Reddy7 grows eloquent: "Chuck a-luck
chuck a-luck, try your luckl7
So Is not 10 be baicd, however in that way, and
no urges again upon Rcddy" tho desIrabnity Of
shutting up tomorrow for the sake OF encouraging
settlers Rcddy7' finally yields.
Count me IN ~, count mo IN. III be there
ami then no breaks out IN q voice that would stop a
railroad train:
! I'm meet you 81, by tho river,
Tho beautiful, the beautiful river,
That flows by
Put in another minute he IS once morn in attendance
upon his customers As Tb step out into the darkness
We hear parting promise:
"Hes, 81, count me In; I'll Do there and then
Reddy's7 eioquencc bursts forth more Chuck
A-luck, chuck-A-luck, chucka luckl Try your luck
All Of you come up, now. I'm tho softest snap In
, Guthrie. Como up am Try your mckl"
From tent 10 tent " old 81 went that night, arguing
and pernadIng never threatening One could moi
help noticing the clever manner In which h. deal