The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
lex WAS A DEAD SHOT.
AN EXCITING EPISODE OF EARLY
LEADVILLE DAYS.
From the wash,neton Post.

Chase.
From the Washington Post.
They called him TEX in lieu OF any
reliable information as 10 his proper pa
tronymic. and he bobbed up in that mis-
cellaneous assortment OF humanity that
hocked TO Leadville in t1e first flush OF
the silver excitement. Tex was an Apollo
OF the plains, a mere boy. with long. yell
low curls, blue eyes and a woman's COM
plexion, and with frame that lowered
s feet in his stockings. lie had been
member OF an immigrant train in his ten
derer years. which the Indians had at
tackled and wiped out Of existence. Tex
had been adopted by the tribe and had
spent some years in his savage society. IN
til Gen. McHenry. commanding regular
troops. one day swooped down on the camp
and seized Tex and restored him 10 civil
cation. And then Tex became cowboy.
That was his history down 10 the time
that he went to Leadville and became a
familiar figure about the gambling houses.
Everybody. with the possible exception
Of the parsOn and the few women and
children in camp, in those days wooed the
tickle goddess OF fortune in roulette or at
faro, poker and even keno. And Tex's
occupation as a professional gambler did
not lower his social standing by one de-
gree. As matter of fact, Tex was a great
favorite. He was big, kind hearted boy.
with a quiet manner. soft speech and
good-natured smile; but. wthal, mana
man. too. capable OF being aroused at
times, and in that condition one of the
most dangerous men IN the west.
One day Tex sat down in the cold
Room" a popular gambling resort on
Chestnut street to a little game of poker
The stakes were high, and Tex was stead
lily. losing. When he discovered that his
partner was playing with a double deck.
Tex put his hand on the jackpot and call
ed the other a cur. That party whipped
out a six-shooter, but lay dead in his
tracks, with a bullet hole through his
heart, before he could bring his pistol
TO a level. Tex was such an expert with
his gun!
Bret Harte relates that the gamblers
in "Tuttle's Grocery calmly continued
their game the day that French Pete and
Kanaka Joe shot each other TO death over
the bar in the front room. The games in
the Gold Room on this occasion must have
been less absorbing in interest, for the
crowd made a rush for Tex, who calmly
turned around at the door, and quietly
advised his pursuers TO resume their
peaceful occupation at the tables if they
did not want to fill a common grave over
on the other side of Capitol Hill" and
very wisely the crowd aceted on Tex's adj
vice And so the matter apparently blew
over without any serious annoyance to the
young man, who continued to walk the
streets in his leisurely way. obviously none
the worse in conscience for having as
sisted at the premature taking off of a dis
honest gambler. How many men Tex in his
short but eventful career had killed no.
body knew, but his bearing on this occa-
sion indicated that he was no novice. lie
was treated respectfully by passers, and
smiled as benevolently and kindly upon
those he cared to notice as though the
process of shooting a man through the
heart was an accepted act of ethical pro-
prety.
il people had not begun to twit Town Mar
shall O'Connor on his failure to do his duty.
The marshal had no hankering after Tex's
society, no vaulting ambition to arrest
him. Tex had been somewhat informal in
his administration Of Justice He might
have waited for his opponent to shoot first
and then allowed the regularly-elected
justice of the peace to try the case after
ward; bat Tex, in his youthful inexperi-
ence and very vague acquaintance with
the proprieties of civilization, had not
stopped to think of that. cold deck
and a suggestive movement toward a seat
of war on the part of an adversary had
always been his signal for prompt action,
and his triggerless siX-shoOter had on
such occasions always been the arbiter OF
justice from which no appeal lay. The
merciess twitting to which O'Connor was
tod had do
do something to maintain the dignity of
the law.
When Tax that evening walked into the
Gold Room, O'Connor was there They saw
each other at a glance. O'Connor leisurelv
walked toward Tex. and the boy fastened
his keen eyes upon him as though he would
read his thoughts.
Tex" said the marshal, you've killed
Skinny, and you know what I've got to
do with YOU
ARREST me?" said Tex quietly. The
! conversation was conducted in subdued
tones. Don't try it," continued Tex Il
like you and haven't got thing against
YOU. l don't want to kill you, O'Connor.
Now you go about your business and leave
me alone. When the grand jury meets
you'll find me right here in the Gold Room.
and I'll go with YOU and stand trial, but
l won't be arrested.
But, Tex said the marshal, "Ive got
to do my duty"
And I've got to do mine said Tex
Il done it this morning when l drilled
hole through Skinny and I'll do it when
ever man puts hand on me. l amt
spelling for a fight. specially with you
O'Connor, and If you see your duty make
sure that it is to let me alone. Now
go away and don't trouble yourself any
more about me-
Tex turned TO go away, but, in turning.
he saw the marshal draw his pistol There
was quick. sharp report, puff of smoke,
and O'Connor lay writhing on the floor
in his blood.
Again the large gambling room was in
state of commotion. Tables were up
turned and loud voices could be distin-
guished above the din shouting Kill himr'
Shoot him. There was a general rush
in the direction where Tex had stood, but
the boy had disappeared.
Then It was that Leadville experienced
a moral revulsion. When men could no
longer sit down to a beguiling game of
stud poker or watch the cards as they
were silently slipped from the case by the
nimble fingers of the faro dealer without