The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-08-16

FRIDAY. AUGUST II, 1895.
LESSON OF THE TOURNAMENT.
The long talked of tournament Of the
Black Hills Firemep has come and gone
and is now a thing Of history, existing
only in the memory; most kindly re-
membered no doubt by those who dug
up the cold. hard cash for Its maintain
ance or backed their judgements with
the '"stuff' and lost on their pets, and
those good fellows who were out for a
time got drunk, made fools of them
selves and now suffer from humiliation
shame and remorse, and also the hostile
and beligerant elements of Deadwood
and Rapid City. How many of u
people have taken the time to consider
the effect this and similar holidays have
upon the community, and more espe-
clally the younger portion. The only
c~ommendable feature OF such gather
ings, the encouragement of skill in the
use OF fire apparatus, is crushed and lost
sight OF by the money making gambling
schemes connected with it.
What benefit is to be derived from
such gatherings and what are the les
0 n taught? Look at this whole mat
ter stripped OF ali the guild and glitter
which the press and the public have
thrown around it and what have you?
The education, training and
ment OF firemen, a most worthy and
oommendable object, thrown aside and
trampled under foot, by a. lot of boast
ing, betting buffers, for money making
alone. We do not mean to cast the least
reflection upon those who unseltishly 90
into these organizations for the protec-
ton and preservation OF life and pro-
perty, for that is the least of our
thoughts, for it is not that class OF men
who as a rule take part in these tourha-
ments. What do they transform them
selves into? Nothing more than huge
gambling hells, filled with a lot Of loud
and foul mouthed reprobates who fill
the air with coarse, vulgar language and
fumes OF Tobacco and whisky. We can
say that the tournament t closed
was much more free from that reckless
element than any yet held in the Hills
and notwithstanding that, the saloons
and dives were filled with it for several
days prior to the first day and thronged
the streets when ever the races were on.
The great majority OF visiting fremen
conducted themselves like gentlemen so
lar as we are informed, but the crowd
that follows them is a disgrace and de-
moralizes any community into which
1T enters.
Does 1t pay for our officials and the
public generally to these
gatherings in the way they are CON
Quoted. There is but one way it can be
justified and that is by taking the posi-
ton that gambling is right and a proper
thing for tbs young men to be educated
an; there is no half way grounds about
il. just think OF it, every boy in the
community standing by and watching
the officials OF the city and the fathers,
putting up their money on these con-
tests. Can it be wondered at that these
BOYS think it right and proper? There
is no truer statement than that tive are
all largely creatures OF our %envoirn-
ment' and we can expect our boys to be
no better than their environment.
Then add to all of the above influences
the federation by the officials and the
public, q law breaking; almost every
contest wound up with a visit to a sa-
loon, an open violation OF law, and bet
ting. and gambling is also strictly forbid
den BY the law. It will not do to shield
ourselves behind the shallow and fimsy