The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-20
EVANGELIST BRICK.


civilization that 1t Is moro than prob
able that not one missionary in two
dozen know OF our existence. Sec
ondly, as there were 10 ladies in Boil
der, hence no sewing circles, ministers
who cravcd society OF more refined
sort than that Of Sam Hiles' poker
room were inclined to fight shy OF us.
Once or twice, TO DO sure, wo had had,
Tor Il brief period in zach instance, Il
minister all TO ourselves. The first ono
was q brand new, very jealous, weak
eyed, scholarly, studious and shy young
man, with Bostoncso method OF hand
ling the kings English. But this ono
was not happy. He might have been n
star Of the frat magnitude at ladies'
Browning club, but at Boldor he was US
much out OF place MS the proverbial cat
IN q strange garret. He seemed to caro-
littla for the society OF his fellow beings,
ut least those In Boldor. Tho boys tried
TO mako him feel at home, and every
once in while some ono would ask him
to drink, but no never did So it cnmo
to pass that his life grew burdonsome,
because the boys called him ISIS" and
paid about as much attention to him us
il he had been tailor's dummy. But
when Hill Tobias, the big, kindly wit OF
the camp, on hearing tho reverend
cough ono day, said; Sonny, yc've
got tn Group, an OF I WIZ you I'd 90
right back tor my folks" 1t settled
"Rev. Sis, and next day he took tho
stage back to civilization.
The other one was not with US oven as
long I'D isis" lie came month after
isis" left and stayed about three weeks.
Ho was big, ovor-ied, canting sort OF
chap and talked Shop" too much out
OF business houra. One morning some
thing broke about the engine at the
Highland nine, and Wallace, the man
ager, used cuss words right in the pres
ence OF Rev. Obadiah Sweet, who then
and thero began--just began-alo long dis
course on swearing by way OF reproof.
| only heard one side of the story, and
that was Wallace's version. It seems
that he took Rev. Sweet by the shoulders,
abused him roundlyas wolf in sleeps
attire, and smotc him with more or less
violence with the toe OF his miners boot.
And Rev. Sweet walked ten miles down
to Redwood to wait for the stage.
One day, however, man-an evan
gellst-came and stayed week, and in
Boldcr society were wrought great
changes, most notable OF which was tho
conversion Of Brick Yates, one Of tho
toughest, most profane menin the camp.
1t was tho fourth or fifth night OF tho
cvangelists stay. He had cxhorted as
only . true man, with his heart in his
work, can, and finally asked all those
who wanted to become Christians to
como forward and take front scat.
There was moments silence. Then
arose Brick Yates, who had at frst,dono
all he could to hinder the work, and his
great voice growled: "I'll Jest 20 yo!"
And he went up, followed by a dozen
"bad" ones.
The next night n contingent from
Redwood came up and invaded the
sanctuary. They were all tough, but
behaved pretty well until they discov-
cred that they were getting very dry.
Then, i'll the most earnest part OF Rov.
Haywood's discourse, they rose and
started to march over to Hiles's. Mr..
Haywood stopped speaking and looked
at them in mute appeal, but Brick was
equal to tho emergency. As the Rcd
wood crowd came dumping to the door
he rose, and, in hoarsc whisper heard
by every one, exclaimed: "Here!
Whatinell d'you fellers mean by dis
turbin these here percedin's? Go back
an set down till tho rev'ren gifts
through. Plenty time ter drink. Hear
me?"
They heard and went back to THOR
seats, and every one OF them put S. in
the hat.
Henceforth Brick was Boldcr's cole
spiritual physician. He was also doc
tor, nurse and general console- to all
the rough population OF the camp. at
the start though he did not stop taking
an occasional drink he quit gambling
and getting dunk, and gradually broke
himself of using strong cuss words,
though few OF the milder ones he
never did get rid OF. AT first few un-
converted ones made fun him. But he
always took it all good naturedly, and
they seeing he was in earnest soon let
him alone.
When chap called Charlie Ross" In
some unaccountable way hold four kings
in little game wherein another king
was hold by Buck Pcnroso, and fingered
Tor FIVE or six days afterward with n A
bullet inside Of him up, Brick Yates was
the one who picked him up and carried
him homcand nursed him tenderlv till he
died, and Brick it was who performed
the last rites, preaching briof, but for
chile, homily on tho advantages OF strict
honesty.
When little Sherburne, assayer at the
Highland, was sick with mountain fever,
1t was Brick who stopped work and
stayed by his bedside three weeks, and
who took the lads body to Leadvillo
and shipped it home. And when George
Hawley, who had been Bricks enemy
for many years, lowered between liio
and death for ton days, us the result OF
an accident at the Columbia shafthouso,
it was Yates who nurscd him and
brought him back from the jaws Of
death, a bit crippled, but strong enough
to work and grateful almost to worship.
| But the English company operating
the Highland mine shipped in one day
q lot OF Cornish miners--rough, british,
ignorant fellows, lar different from tho
splendid boys whom the crazy freaks OF
the manager who succeeded Wallace
had forced to quit work. From this
time on Bricks work was hard, but he
never ialtercd. All the old residents
were his staunCh friends, but with
these loutish Cornishmen he could CO.
l,1 Oh a /. 1