The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1891-05-01
LEADVILLE YEARS AGO.
Episodes je the Mdny-Sided Life
of PdrSOH USSeU i3L Colorado.
New York Sun.l.

Parson Tom Uzzell was the first
clergyman to set up the tents Of the
Lord in Leadville. He is now the
preacher at thePeople's Tabernacle
in Denver. He has been in contact
with many Western types, but his
latter experiences is suneventfulwhen
comparedwith thatof 1878 and 1879
when sin was running riot in Lead
vile. In these days he was fire.
quently placedin positions in which
any otherman's life would have been
endangered, but somehow Parson
Toms honest simplicity always
stood him in good stead, and he
made friends instead Of enemies,
even among outlaws. The wicked
est men in the ca, respected him,
and gave literally to his church,
and, although he never succeeded
in turning them from evil, they in
variably came to him when in
trouble, and when summoned to
the court of the most high, Tom
whispered assurances Of hope.
|
"If hell itself had opened it's
jaws in those days don't believe
Leadville would have hesitated an
instant" Parson Tom said one day.
"There were no depths Of vice to
which it did not sink, and, it's ear
ly record of crime is second to none
in any section of the wild West.
The town was hell bent, and in
most cases l think it gained it's
objective point"
Parson Tom was called one night
} to perform the marriage ceremony
for the notorious "Doc." Baggs.
The prospect was not alluring, but
Parson Tom, to use his own Ian
Lguage, didn't like to refuse" and
he went to the notorious dive
where the rooms above the gam
bling-house beamed with light ant
splendor, and the wedding guests
in rich attire impatiently awaited
the coming of the clergyman. Th'
bride, whose character was not o
r the best, was arrayed in convention
:. al bridal attire of the most luxuri
r Gus quality, and "Doc." was re
O splendent i'll full evening dress
+ None of the minor fashionable de
Il tails had been forgotten. The mel
|. and women were the entire sport
ing. population of Leadville. Fo
a moment the splendor Of the seen
o and the dignity of the bridal part
4, almost staggered the parson, who's
't drawmg-room experience had bee
/ very limited. But he summone
1t sufficient voice to unite the pal
d and to ask for Gods blessing on th
L marriage. All present bowed thei
J. heads, and Tom was encouraged t
II elaborate somewhat on his usut
form of supplication. After Bags
, had kissed his bride he slipped
II $40 note into the parsons hanC
! When Parson Tom started to retil
i the bridegroom forgot his line
Nc and swore viciously.
- "D-n you, Uzzell," he sal,
u @what are, you thinking Of? Yo
- are not going until we've had som
70 thing to eatl"
So Parson Tom sat down, and a
though his heart was in his mout
or he partook, perhaps, Of mo.
lg sumptous repast than he had ev,
re seen before or has seen since.
rd "I kept the money in my har
n, all the time," he said afterward
er "and I was mortally afraid they
&C. do me, but they didn't. Tn,
re kept up appearances until l lei
ch and Baggs sent me home in Il
he handsomest carriage in the town
sr- In those days marriage hcen
IN, were not required in Leadville, al
@; Dareon Tom thinkc +bot ba mn