The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-06-14

NllN hIaNt lhIus n Mouefn Hell
a mushroom city had grown mp In a
week down In Greer county. In the fall
OF 1857. which the government was dis
putting as TO whether this land be-
longed TO the Indian territory or to
Texas. First. a t'g fellow. calling him
self "Rattlosnake Joe" had gone
through Kansas and Missouri. making
speeches to tho Oklahoma boomers and
Inducing them to stop trying TO force
an entrance to Oklahoma. and go to
Greer county. "the paradise OF Amer
lea" as Joe called IL. incidentally Joe
lecturcd and took UP collections.
Somehow the people got the idea
that Greer county had unworkcd gold
mines and diamond fields OF fabulous
richness. Perhaps Joe told them no.
AZ any rate Bob Rogers and Louise.
his pretty wife. left the boomer camp
at Hunnowoll. in Kansas. and. with
other homc-sockcrs. they trundlod OF
down the the old Kansas and Texas
trail into the promised land. Once
there they found that others had come
In from the Indian territory. Texas.
and even old Mexico.
In some manner peculiar 10 the west
a little nhanty. wagon and tent town
8prang into existence. and they called
the place "Rattlcsnako city" by COM
mon consent Texas Ben" Jones be-
came the marshal No ono proposed
his name In n convention. nor was
there an election held. Ben simply
became the marshal because he was
bigger, quicker on the draw. and ready
TO 80 into u fight any day or night OF
the year. Rattlesnake was n daisy"
while she lasted. and the boomers were
usually law-abldlng.
Unlike mining camps. there was
nothing 10 keep mp the town. No one
worked. because there was no work 10
do. Almost every one had little
money, and gambling became tho rec
ognlzed trade OF Rationale. While
tho men played poker and bucked the
tiger. the women pitched pennies for
cash. Every shanty and every wagon
had layout for gambling, ana soon
the desperate bands OF highwaymen.
moonshlners and cattle thieves that
lnfest this country began to come to
play. quite n Monte Carlo was thus
built up.
Bob Rogers and Louise had been
raised In Ohio and came OF good stock.
Dob had gone TO college long enough
10 learn 10 play poker and swear. He
coon became leader In the colony
about Rattlcsnnke because OF his
nerve, bearing and good looks. Louise
was the beauty OF Greer county, and
by Virtue thereof tho queen OF border
society. She led In all the dances held
In the center OF the canvas aud shack
city once week by degrees Rogers
won all the money OF his nelghboss.
and as fast rs he became broke cho
unsucceasfnl player took his outfit and
money away Not always though.
for sometimes he would wager his
wagon ana team and lose them also.
In that case he walked out OF Rattle
snake
As Rogers won money he took on Inn
portance. He opened n big gambling
house In n tent and called the place
Rogers Pavilion" He now virtual
~ owned the city. This tent became
the center OF attraction for all that
part OF Texas. Louise objected TO the
opening Of this house. but her hus-
band, carried away with the fever OF
gambling, laughed at her fears.
"Ho that lives by the sword shall
perish by the sword" she told him
more than once, but Bob went right on
winning the money OF the people who
played there, It appeared that he
could not lose. One day Texas Ben
strobe In and took a seat at a table
whore three strangers were preparing
to play poker. Ben was ugly and had
been drinking. He picked up the cards
and Joined inthe game, Ben had money,
and 20 did the other people,
by and by when big jack pot was
In sight, only Ben and dapper little
chap remained In the game. Ben drew