The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-03-24

general as pretty hard lot and devoid
entirely of all decent traits of character
| Of course, I would not for moment
think of lauding the few exception to
the general rule, yet there have been in.
stances where these people have gone out
of their way to do a kindness to some
poor fellow who was in unfortunate cir
cu-stances. It is fact that the gamb.
ling houses of Denver contribute largely
toward the institutions of charity of that
city, and there have been times when the
moral element of the city, failed to raise
sufficient funds for certain charitable
purposes, the gamblers raised it and
turned it over to the preachers.
Among the great number of people at
tracted at the first OF the boom was a
preacher who came with the desire to
open a mission or Church, if such pro-
ject were practicable. In Creede all are
in a common acquaintance, aud the
preacher soon became we'll acquainted
with one of the principal gamblers of the
place. One Sunday night about six
weeks ago the preacher met his profess
sional friend and stated to him the bur.
den of his hope. He wanted to build q
Church and intended doing so. The
gambler said to him "come with me and
1 will give you chance to preach and
take up a collection for your Church
scheme" At that time and now the most
prominent place in Ureede is ''Soapy"
Smiths saloon, and to this joint the
preacher was conducted. When acquaint-
ed with the preachers object, "soapy"
closed the games and discontinued the
sale of liquors for the time being and
announced TO the crowd of miners who
were drinking or playing then that there
sis preacher in tie house and he wants
to preach, so let up on it for awhile and
give him a show The preacher Was
given place of prominence from which
to speak he stood on the "Keno" call.
er's platform, and, nothing daunted by
his surroundings, he delivered sermon
in true Western language and style
which at once went to the hearts of the
men, who cbeered vociferously and threw
up their hats. The preachers friend
took off his hat and passed it among the
boys for a collection, and every man
present, with but few exceptions, put
something in the hat, but when the gam
bier noticed that some we're putting
small change in the hat, he said in in
jured tones, damn it, boys, don't put
chicken feed in here, put in biNs." In
all he collected in the neighborhood of
ninety dollars from the five or six hundred
men present. He was disappointed in the
amount and said to the preacher, "You 60
home and I'll try to rustic you up some
more money for your church." When
the preacher was gone he took the nine
ty dollars and bought chips st the Faro
table and sat down to play the game. In
about two hours he pulled out of the
game with about seven hundred and IF
ty dollars ahead. BE took this to the
preacher and told him that it was the
best he could do, "as they we're not COM
ing very smooth" with him just at pres
ent, but if he didn't get enough money
for bis Church within week orstwo to
call again aud be would see what he
could do.
There is a place of worship in Creede
now, in which this man holds services
every Sunday. They are generally about
Eve hundred people present. On one
side of the Church is saloon and gam
ing house Known as the Texas Ex.
change" and scross the street is a dance
hall and hep variety theatre. The
sweet sound. OF sacred music rise from
the lips of the devout people, rough and
dirty, but sincere and fearless, and startle
the rugged walls of the wild mountains.
The cold is inten SO, and the wind sweeps
down the gulch like whirlwind hurri.
cane. The mountains, white with snow,
lift their heads high up toward the stars
that are twinkling coldly upon the
wicked little camp. As the good people
send the sounds of NEARER My God to
Thee" and "Safe ia the Arms of Jesus"
out on the night air, rushing wind
bears it far away down the guch, and the
worshipers are startled by the broken
sentences which come from the neighbor
ing institutions, such as Seventeen iu
the Black, Little o, Keno" put this
Eve on the ace" or the shrill laughter Of
the demi monde across the street.
There is but little law in Creede save
that of the sixshooter and Winchester
rife. The courts are held in open air.
The witnesses are those who happen to
be on the street. The principals are
usually subpeuied by rifle or revolver
bullet, and the burial usually follows
soon after the case is decided.
Undertakers do an extensive business.
When a gun shot is heard you will see
this individual reach for his tape line and
start in the direction from which the shot
wzs heard to come.
The Dead Sea now covers the spot
where men in ancient days became too
wicked to live. The topography of the
country here would have to be consider
ably changed before there could be a
large body Of water, but certain it is that
Sodom and GomorroW could not have
been worse than Creede is to-day, and the
fact that it is still untouched by the hand
of the Great Judge is evidence that men
have more lenient judgment meted out to
them now than in the days of Lot and