The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-12
CHEROKEE BOB.
THE REAL LIFE of A GEkTLEMANLY GAMBLER.

6etvuSSsv6U OOlv1O6I0Is
IARTE's JACK HAMLIN.
except about the game; and always Just soft
and even and still, without any rough
words, but everybody listened. for they knew
he meant all he said. But he was as pleas
ant and Rentlemanly and nice a. any thor
H liz. s'l'''1aA s0' s''' moi - your
He was known all through that county
right on the frontier with every new camp,
4 was Cherokee Bob everywhere. You know
the style Of that kind Of man. They used
to work up and down the river-start out in
parties of four or five. Sometimes there
but they would be dressed in mems clothes.
and when they started out you would think
they were oil men. When they struck the
camp they would pitch their tent and start
their gambling outfit. The women had their
games, too-roulette, you know--that was
generally their game, or some light game like
that. Cherokee Bob generally worked alone,
though, unless It was some very new remote
camp. He would 60 into the saloon, glance
around and pick out the best man. ask him
up TO drink. and game generally followed.
Well, these fellows used to congregate at
WAC 4/04le6S dv t00 NAVVuU x4OOUs xu6b
was the famous saloon Of all that country,
you know. It was kept by Fielding Brown
everybody knew Fielding Brown, up and
down the river. He was a sport, and he
was in with all the gamblers in the country.
They had perfect confidence in him; he
knew all their secrets, and never gave them
away. He kept little suite of rooms, you
know, in the rear Of his saloon. where they
went, you know, when they didn't want to
20 to . hotel. He kept first-rate house.
The officers Of the aarrisons at Fort Dalles.
Fort Vancouver, Fort simooe, Fort Lopwai
town, made SOFT Of resort there, too.
accommodations there. They could eat
by themselves whom they wanted to, and
everything was cooked in the best style.
He had the very best table-all the delica-
kinds Of game. Some Of these fellows were
shootists, .you know, and they'd bring in
game, and whatever was in the market the
Mount Hood would have it. His was the
only saloon, you know, the only one that
could cs At. so I'd 70 pay the price; Ths officers
was the first steamer built mp there to run
on the Upper Columbia. She was built at
Deschutes, and all the material and the
men came BY way Of the Dalles. But Col.
there.
W0A1s VI OVVI00N GW000 k81UOl0k0s GU8t WAS
their headquarters, too. They made it q
resort. Played high stakes, you know--all
night, you know, and that sort Of business,
right along.
Well, this Cherokee Bob, he travelled mp
and down the river, and he would take tn
the tesmsters, you know. They were quite
2 good income to him. They would take
their long trains, loaded with all sorts Of
supplies, away up in the country, and make
good wages; and then these gamblers would
fleece 'em all--see? But one Of the sources
Of income Of such fellows as these was the
soldiers. You see, they were paid of every
and then if there's anything left it goes to
the other fellows. Well, you see, these sort
of fellows, you know-Cherokee Bob
preyed on these fellows.
I can't tell you, of course, all the scrapes
Cherokee Bob was in. cause don't know
soon after came 10 The Dalles. You zee,
the cue was giveh me in the beginning,
when first went up there, you know, always
to give the gamblers what they wanted, be-
eanse they would. always pay-debts of
non9 si:yy you know they we're the very best
them and ], never made out any bill; and
by and BY they would come in and cay,
well. how muck do owe?'' and would
turn to my books and find find out; and
they would always pungle down.
V0lAS VuoE0 wore UuI60 IN6VS I'D G00t0
formed q company. was express agent at
90 beyond Portland then-this was in 5000
but the three Neds started route up
through that part of the country and called
1t Tracey Express-Ned Tracey, Ned James
to the whole country then: everything go
ing up to eastern Oregon. Washington,
Idaho and Montana was. distributed there,
and all the gold dust was sent down there
to be shipped to Portland. We ran routes
every two or three days to Walla Walla,
Eagle Creek and everywhere that new
camp was opened.
The messengers were generally q pretty
hard lot. They had to run through danger
ous country, alive with Indians and road
agents, so we had TO- get dare devil lot.
Trustworthy; but all other ways they were
rough. OF course they were right in with
these gamblers, you know. SO naturally
got moro or less intimate with them, too,
and had done this fellow, Bob, good
many favors, you know, so he felt frst-rate
toward me. and was ready to do anything
he could for me.
The particular thing tell you was in the
middle Of winter. Two men came into my
store one day. One Of these men was
soldier, whom had seen about the post.
He was scoundrel, the worst kind. The
other was rancher from mp county, who
had gold watch he wanted sent down to
Portland to be repaired. took the watch
and told him to come in again, and sent
it to Portland. and in course Of time it came
back BY express.
Well, one day the same two men came in |
again, and az it happened, Cherokee Bob
was sitting in the store. The rancher asked
for the watch, broue ht it out, and he asked
how much the bill was. When told him,
he said he hadn't got the money and would
either send for it or come in again and get |
it. In an hour or two the soldier came back, |
and said the rancher was busy packing to
20 out home, and had sent him to get the
watch. He threw the money ON the ccun-
ter, and I brought out the watch. and asked
him to sign receipt. He signed the ranch
er's name, and then made him Sign his
own, too.
He hadn't been gone long when in walks
this rancher, and asks for his watch.
Your watch,n says !. "Why. that other
fellow has been in and got it," and showed
him the receipt.
y don't know anything about that" says
he. II want my watch."
I told him the other fellow had got il. but |
he wouldn't listen, but kept on saying he'd
got to have his watch or the money for il. |
and began to talk rough. Says I, Look
here, you got to stop that right here,'' and
he know enough to keep an even tongue in |