The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-13
FORCED TO DRINK.
A story of Poets, POet-ScOuts and
Wild Western PlayfuIneSs.

Opie Read, In letters Southern Magazine
Capt. Jack Crawford, the poet scout; Col.
scout ans M poet SCOUT %itn9T5 Sfhg
a poet were playing cards in a Black
Hills saloon. when swashbuckling bully
from the plains entered the place. He had
wealthy; he had just shot out mans eye,
and was therefore gleeful. When ne
hat, and swore that every man must take
drink. Wild Bill said that he didn't
mind taking something, and Visscher made
no objection whatever, but Crawford re-
marked that he did not drink "But," said
he. Ito be sociable. L will take cigar with
YOU.
The swashbuckler looked at him scorn-
fully and said: mo. you'll not take a
cigar"
well, then. I'll take lemonade"
You'll not do that; you'll take whisky"
But" Crawford protested. II never took
6. drink OF whisky in my life
We'll, them it's time to take one Come
on here" and he laid rude hands on Craw-
ford's garments: Then Wild Bill mildly
e% neo AT hf fne OF the wa Rap5
take it up?" he howled. 1t was evident
that he was not personally acquainted
well. yes. as haven't anything else on
hand at present, 1 believe that feel lit
Tie Ike taking All {aI II up ane with that he
swashbuckler. though on the floor, was in
his glory-he had excuse indulge his
sentimental yearning for slaughter; and ne
hash-like in its quickness Bill had m COW
cred with an iron that had killed twenty
men. At this moment a man who had Just
entered the saloon quietly remarked: Hell
loa, Wild Bills got another sucker
Hold on" the terror howled Are you
Wild Bill?'
That's what they call me-"
We'll now want to say that your friend
may take wa-what he pleases. And TO
show you that I'm Sorter sociable inclined
I'll take lemonade myself
This incident appealed to the quick in
and was therefore impressionabie a few
days later he was in a mining town, broke.
Honor could take care of itself. but appetite
must be humored. The truth is, he wanted
a great deal of Ticker" and he wanted II
at once. He went TO several saloons. but no
one asked him to drink, and he was too
proud to hint that he ought TO be invited.
That was where honor was the enemy of
appetite. thought struck him; an idea
nimbly tripped across his poetic fancy. lie
recalled the Wild Bill incident. and he
would turn it to account. He went into a
saloon and sat down near a table; he threw
o peope oR ceg he se 0
and determined gang of men, / saw a
rough just now force a poor fellow to take
that game on me; catch me pouring stuff
down my throat merely. TO crafty the
within of a fool. There's nobody in this town
that can make me take drink. I've come
here TO foster the Murphy movement"
lanlx cowboy turned from the bar and
friend" said he. aain't YOU putty bold?,
You bet I'm bold"
And you won't take a drink?"
mo, / won't"
do you want to know what you'll do?
You'll just take six right now. Come here"
He drew his revolver. Visscher began to
stammer
MY friend" said he in the hope that the
fellow would make IL twelve Il never took
a drink In my life"
THAT so? Well you'll take six right now
Barkeeper, put six drinks on the bar just a
foot apart" And when the barkeeper had
done this the cowboy added: Now, Mr..
Pinkfoot, you begin at that end and drink
your way down here"
Visscher mumbled that he had left his
pistol at the hotel.
II don't care anything for your pistol;
drink your way down here"
Visscher made the journey, with but a
breath between each glass, and the cow
boys roared with laughter: but a chill fell
upon their mirth when Nisschar remarked:
Gentlemen, IL you'll have these glasses
filled again I'll drink my way back"