The sun., 1890-12-21
LEADVILLES FIRST PARSoy.
EPlsoDEs IN THE EARLY DArS Or
1RE GREAT MINING CANT.

| He is now the preacher in the Peoples Taber-
| nacle in Denver He has been In contact with
many Western types, but his latter experiences
| Is .uncventful when compared with that Of
| 1878 and 1870, when sin was running riot
In Leadville. In those days he was fre-
uently0placed in positions in which any
other mans life would have been endan-
Rered. but somehow Parson Toms honest
simplicity always stood him in good stead, and
he made friends instead OF enemies even
among outlaws. The wickedest men in the
camp respected him. and gave Hberslly to his
church. and. although he never suoceeded
iu turning them from evil, they invariably
came 10 him when in trouble aud whom sum.
moned to the Court Of the Most High Tom
Uzzell whispered assurances Of hope.
III hell itself had opened Its Jaws In those
days don't believe Leadville would have hest.
tsted an instant" Parson Tom said one day:
There were no depths OF vice to which It did
not sink. and its early record Of crime Is second
10 mono in any section OF the wild West The
town was hell bent and in most cases I think
1t gained its objective point"
Parson Tom was called one night TO perform
the marriage ceremony for tho notorious
Doc" Baggs. The prospect was not alluring.
but Parson Tom, to use his own language.
didn't like 10 refusc," and he went to tho no-
torious dive, where the rooms above the gam.
bling house beamed with light and splendor,
and tho wedding guests in rich attire impa.
tiently awaited the coming OF the clergyman.
The BRIDE whose character was not OF the
best. was arrayed in conventional bridal attire
Of th" most luxurious quality. and "Doc"
was rasplendent in full evening dress.
None OF the minor fashionable details
had been forgotten. Tho men ana women
were tho entire sporting population OF Lead
vile. For moment the splendor Of the scene
and the dignity OF tho bridal party almost
f.: .a sn vs1s' ss Z.
apd T. asE i9s Gods blsssins On shs msrriaG.
usual form oi suppliSstion. After Bsggs bad
farson Rssn PsTson 4 ao ats ae
retire ths 65idegroom forgot hls lines and
sHts P.n 1.'!SS ssu tzzsl" he said. what ar. you
shnsIPf Sty YSpFO not going until we've had
50 Parson Tom sat down. and although hi.
ns mouth he Of
iS.y'd he sad A. m Snt and afraid
Until s ana b.re .sne sees m ne
home In the abandonment oar5ieee IN the town
hs must have and rs
bena t. ossa: "a:P ssy W.
easily changed when occasion required.
So ss.y! hs 81 S. .s
ihs MS ability. but no invariably heard stories
Psrsop Tom as death approached. seeming to to
Tsfhrd WS tbs bis as dire9
ssid bSt they always waited ss mo !isE eHfa ems.
be bo9ge there vas sad harvest OF death and
sr;ais he @ ts q a.asins an G
Is' nsHpSi .aS sss
e w Ss;: :sS S.s
MSors b an the s. sFdP nso hall
.srbss 'S,n.s cover up ,h. counter,
t. ss' rsaS3 ss sssE ss
lively tor time, but we never aecopplished
The lecture was forgotten. The tinkle Of Elasess
great miionalres. Tabor Was then IN Load.
Sass MAS has
He was western Coal Oil Johnny." and be yerv
soon so I;aq ran through an immense fortune. When
dsisrute; Iarsoa uzzeli ssid 70 Pat Galise6ei:
!hs aIs n Pat your
~ No; be jabers: Tat replied; 8" that's a loie.
Eyeryhody knows @ they're in loime stone"
II;sadyille an old woman known as Mother
Fay ln va. began washing under pine tree Just
lil. stopped washing, nnt n piano into her
slaaty' and attircd herself in silks, and sa,ins.
WA. M poor shoemaker at Orc City. now Leaf
h hs the setses tsesne nad h4 n
'lln. Ho had discovered indications Of rich
SGr6onaes sa during one Of his explorations, AMI
further inves,isations. 4 grub I'- stake" ak is .
rient to last three months. il required
easpei Ees % TaSor Is re
nst ebe Of rssy psSEepdss eg tas
s,ad stake on condition that tWo thirds Of Riches
Is hh n shs baS o wo
Tn5or r,nSn hat The samples sssayed and bought
diisrepetab'e d house to pray with an abandoned
BY drunken g!wboS. The arm had 10 b. be c,iI
or OF, 1T the shquIdsr and It was thought that hs
sown 50. on good ground brougbt forth fruit mel.
faithful wlie. Mollie May; Tie Issper Of :
notoiiodS muse Known aS tut Ion TOD asked
Parson Tom II he would perform the funeral
service service oyer tho remains OF = bnby born IN her,
little white coffin into the church. Parson
In Tom and lhdertaker Rogers, who now lives IN
Denver. carried the coffin Tho women
cried" IIzell said. while relating this incl-
dent and Rogers cried and cried"
ON that OCCASION Paisun Tom rode down
~ Marrl,"n RI avenue 70 the cemetery betwesn two
Al the golden dust Of Colorado's fortunes
blew light hy rarson Tom, He might haye
Deeh rich. but his lines lay along a dil-
erent route. In those days the only smelter
IN tae place was the orgina st. LOUIS
more bnilt. ". II. James OF the Grant smeltsr.
pne q ls rrhss, RI, men |. Colorado was ths
liz nidIIy' op apolsSr spv. mi.ionans was using he
bell in Parson Toms church ia Lead,
.iiie IL. Thi"!l IL occupies tho highest point Of
ton BY CAPT. Cooper, an old miner, The bell
Was ireightel from Denver and was erected
That morning the Par,on rang the bsl for love
l.ast It's mellow tones yibrated over the hills.
AllI every bpuy htnlfAI IN AN nl1 nina,