The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-01-11
ALIAS THE PARSON.

Even in 80, SO long ago as that, when
few western towns could boast a street
lamp or a postoffice-to say nothing of
churches and school houses--Four Hole
City was generally classed as "desprit
hard place"
1t was the toughest of the tough.
Though comparatively young town at
the date of the incident about to be re-
corded, its notorious wickedness had ad-
vertisod it far and wide, and Four Hole
City was an accepted synonym for the
unique and superlative in western
wretchedness.
It's population varied according TO the
distance and direction Of the latest gold
find.
A clear spring of water had made the
spot a favorite camping place for miners,
and contraband barrel or two Of
whisky had established bar and made
the spring place ''city."
1t could hardly be said that the growth
Of Four Hole City was phenomenal-that
it was magic city or anything of that
sort. But it grew.
Trade was lively at the Red Finger
bar, and the cemetery spread like a
green bay tree. In due course Of time
there was another barroom and another
burying ground.
Then Little jug Nancy came, the first
woman, and forthwith another grave
yard was added to the list-three Of
them In seven months.
So alluring was the opportunity, in
fact, that speculative undertaken was
tempted across the mountains from
Frisco with a wagon load of coffins.
The market was all right, but it's a
part Of the record that the frisco under
taker was the FIRST man ever buried in a
coffin at Four Hole City. Little jug
Nancy officiated.
But In spite of all that the town grew.
And as it grew there became manifest,
at irregularly long intervals, natural
tendency towards something like reform.
At even rarer intervals this usually
vague manifestation took definite shape
and proportions.
The first effort Of the sort was when
Shoestring Mike and that gang had an
election. Mike set himself up for mayor,
and the rest of the boys were council
men. Long Dicky Bass was the marshal.
1t was all right while it lasted. They
buried the mayor and the marshal in one
grave and two of the council in another.
Another one Of the councilmen reformed,
and was hung six months later for horse
stealing. The others escaped.
Then the law and order fever struck
Four Hole City. They hung Jimmy
Doolan, of the Red Finger bar. Little
jug Nancy followed suit, same day, same
limb. Three or four of the opposition
lights snuffed out in amazingly rapid
succession-and then the law and order
gang caved.
This was when the Frisco undertaken
saw his opportunity.
Then Nigger-Foot Jim tried to run it
This reform was pre-eminently success
full, it must be acknowledged, 30 far a.
1t went. Jim was a dead shot, and a,
quick as a cat.
His government terminated very alb
ruptly, however, a few hours after
started, just as Jim stepped out Of tn,
door Of the Red Finger bar. It was don,
in the dark, and they never did find ou
who did it,
They made him a grave beside Littl
jug Nancy, and Four Hole City dropped
back into the old rut. 1t relapsed, il
other words.
Then United States man came along
Poor fellow-they were looking for him
They had his grave dug twenty -fou
hours in advance Of his arrival. The,
had his tombstone fixed and the epitaph
and one Of those Frisco coffins marke
for his private use.
Those brass buttons-six big ones an
nine little ones-msde elegant chips
These were by no means the only ei
, forts Jat reform, nor by any means tn
3 only failures. Suffice it to say that ther
had been precisely as many failures 9
there were efforts, and exactly as man
efforts as failures, when Parson JOS
came in that bright, breezy, beautifI
= day in autumn, 1850.
The parson didn't make any bone
about it. He called out the boys an
, told them what to look for.
"Ef the Lord don't hinder" said th
parson, "I'l preach here twice a wee
an pray the same. Eff you don't like /
d don't come. This yer's business, an
business is business. All invited. Smokil
3, allowed, but I'll lick the fust man I
laughs in meetin'. amt or seekin' I
fuss. Pm er peaceable man, but bus
=. ness is business. I'm yer ter save soul
an they must be order In meetin'. All
/ want is a square deal"
d He had come In on horseback, an
? without taking his feet from the stirrul
u he pronounced the benediotion, noddt
sl pleasantly to the crowd, and gallopC
o. off in the direction from which he hs
i come.
u 1t was done absolutely before a ns
in the crowd could realize it. The idea,
q, preaching in Four Hole Cityl Benedi
y toni Prayerl
" The strangest part Of il all was th
= the parson had compelled an unmista
able feeling Of respect. he had le
them impressed with the idea that
he was a superior somebody, amply able
~ take care of himself, and not too sane
'tc fed to fight
10 Three days later he came again.
This time they were ready for hi
Slippery Sam Digger was the spokeSm
la for the crowd. "This yer town." 81
a Sam, sis Four Hole City. We are
7s gang as lives yer in Four Hole Ci
We don't want no preaohin', and =
-- we won't have none of itI"
The parson was thoughtful for a
' seconds, weighing the matter deli
'u- rately, and then quietly announced q
,m there would be meeting, and that II s
he didn't like It he'd have 10 move.
Or Then they hitched. Itdidn't last lo
Sam was carried o. On enc Of