The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-21
THE THIRST FOR BLOOD.
Experience Of = Man Forcsd 70
Garry . Pistol.

CariOus Experience Of = Man Forced 70
Carry . Pistol.
We we're sitting beside the great stone
Areplace In tho Clarendon hotel nj the gold
camp of Cripple Creek, COL, writes John
Spears in the New York Sun. talking OF tho
various phases Of mining camp life . the
peoulisritiss OF mountain towns, whom ] re-
marked that thu only way to make suoh .
town absolutely unique was TO make II dry
in the Kansas or lows sense. At that Harry
Wilson, Of the Rock Island Railroad com
pany, who was sitting next TO me. said;
"Dry towns In tho west arc not 10 scarce
"A YOU would Imagine. In Colorado they
are called local option towns. Communi-
ties can vote for the suppression OF the
liuuor traffic II they will, and that REMINDS
me Of . curious experience one o. OUT
agents had ZONE years ago IN suon . .own.
sure In q way that l think will interest You.
Tn town was 10 completely opposed 10
tho liquor traffic that every officer OF tho
law-mayor, justice OF the peace, policemen.
constable, deputy sheriff, and 20 on-wss =
rank prohibitionist. or at least pretended
10 be: neyerthelsss a remnant loved wine
| and beer and took whisky when the lighter
drinks failed, Naturally they ordered
goods from Wholesale dealers sno
had them shipped over our road. NssutAl-
~, too. some on getting the goods 500 tnem
TO personal acquaintnnoes-did ths pootleR
trade, YOU know. TO stop this trade officers
of the law kept an eye on all packages ar
irving BY freight, md, OF course, some
times made MISUNDERSTANDING the wrong
goods, to the annoyance OF the patrons OF
the road, Il was no part of the duty OF our
agent there to enforce the local law; it was
his duty to protect our patrons from annoy
sunce. An order was issued by the company
directing him to deliver goodst to consiRnees
only. and to keep oil other persons from
the freighthouse and PLATFORM.
"a abort time after this a policeman who
had been selected for the post, because MS
record seemed to point him out a. we'll ttted
for the place, came on the platform slteI a
train arrived. and began exaMln ing PACE
ages. The agent told him courteously to
leave. The policeman refused, and after
soms words the agent kicked him of. Both
men vent for their guns on the instant, but
the agent got the drop, and the policeman
had to take a sneak. .
That evening friends came to the agent
and told him that the policeman had sworn
revenge ut the first opportunity. The police
man had in his time shot two men and
slashed a third with a knife. Moreover. he
was an officer Of the law and in case ne
killed the agent could very readily claim
that it was in the discharge Of his duty and
secure an acqnittHl. 1t was a serious matter.
The agent was advised to apply at once to
be transferred to another station.
l"He says now that as he listened to the
advice a creepy sensation came over him
from his feet up; a sensation OF genuine
fear, but his pride was too strong to let him
90 away, and buckling on a revolver he told
his friends he would stay. Thereafter he
never left his bedroom or walked the streets
without it.
cat first he had but one thought in the
matter-he must keep a sharp. lookout to
save his life. But very soon a feeling OF in
dipnation came to join tho feeling of appre-
hension. 1t was an outrage that no should
be compelled to carry a Weapon III such a
manner, The indignation grew; the po-
liceman deserved death for his threats.
The agent had never avoided the police
man, but now he began to take a little
pains to meet him just to see what he
would do. A little later the indignation
had grown into hate, and he not oniy
sought the officer. but sneered in his face.
devilishly enger to have a gesture or move
ment made that would serve for an excuse
for opening the fight. He had carried a
pistol at first to save his " life. but he
had developed p thirst for blood that was
rapidly becoming uncomfortable. He was
saved from numbering the officer, perhaps
in cold blood. by an order transferring him
elsewhere. He had become SO eager that
he protested against the change. But he
had to submit.
"Within a month after he had begun
work elsewhere the feeling was gone and he
was overwhelmed with nstonishment as h
time before. 1 know him to be n man who
loves peace. He has no desire now to harm
in any way that policeman, and yet l shoult
be very sorry to have the two meet nRail
for I have no doubt the agent would xii
him on the slightest provocation.'