Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-29

9eSHonS.
side getting ready for the entertain
ment. They were shouting, dancing
stamping their feet, clapping their
hands and doing other things that
would tend to cheer up the spirits of
any who might feel out Of sorts. In
front was a crowd Of seedy Indians,
half-breed MeXicans and those other
aimlcss creatures who always turn up
and hang around whenever there Is
big show going on. All We're drinking,
some from their private bottles, which
they kept conveniently protrudlng from
the leg of n boot. others from the
numerous bars in the yard. Most OF
these hangers-on We're on foot, but
quite n number were on horseback. For
amusement they tore around the house
and charged into the courtyard. making
as much noise as possible. Those who
were dismounted were peerlng into the
windows Of the ballroom, keeping at
the same time Il tight hold on their
horses reins, They knew their crowd.
The danccroum was packed. A waltz
was being played by harp, violin and
pccolO, Of which the last was the most
effective instrument, the Others all but
being drowned out in the hubGah
Among the dancers were gaudily
dressed rancheros and gamblers of the
respectable and fashionable type who
were regarded as great men by those
who made their money in honest call
ings. The "tin-horu" people were on
hand also. There were merchants,
store clerks. town and country officials,
cate denerls. naval officers in full uni
form and a large number Of other per-
sons who were engaged in some reput-
able pursuit, hence their appellatlon
The musicians were seated In the center
of the room a sensible arrangement,
as they would have been hopelessly out
Of hearing OF most OF the dancers II
they had been seated at the side.
An of the dancers were on perfectly
familiar terms with each other You
We're perfectly safe in asking any Of the
senoritas to dance, whether or not YOU
had had previous introduction. Some
times the young woman would be nc
companled by a darlS-haired, swarthy
Mexican. who carried a stlletto or a
pair OF revolvers. and In most cases all
these. He was her particular. company,
and was good man to avoid. such
person could be usually marked ont bv
his bearing. which was one Of eytran,e
huughtiness There were very few
American women OF the better class I'm
the nelghhorhood In those days ana
none OF them ever visited "A rondongo
"a
various couples made their yvnv IN a
large table in one corner where tbe,,
drank whisky or ogiinr5isnte- tb1t
Mexican lIuuor that seems like water
at first, but, after three or four pIassee
makes you feel as though Won had
swallowed a whole torchllght process
sion. This is one of the nunero,,s
courses of the fandanro The nih Cus
were the gambling games nIaved in t,o
open court. The most nonulo, s,,n,o
was Mexican monte BESIDES mi, tba,'s,
were a dozen Others in mn biati.-,.,,,
lette, lasauinette. chi,sa tve,,t,,Iol,,,
and faro The last was H., ,,,5,,S w. aoile
eral. So"
lverybodv took n t,,rr a. 4, a,,.t.
the night. Those tables were most ~
auented at which women nrosi,iaY
They were fashily dressed and snollei
cigarettes. One of them ,yora "a ne
concealed stiletto at her waist Sha
/ looked entirely self-possessed and. as
IL turned ont aftarvard U,as ,s,,.sn,, a.
capoble or thlsinr, care ~ bors,tS 'ieo''S
While tho fanIonpo woe a. a., i.t,..
the excited dancers evidentiy t,.,,IrIss ", ~.
snake Inc old adobe ba,,so ~ ing 20
the rame-keepers oaIlinr oit a., "' ~
Spanish and then In English, The result
dozen nav, nart,c,,in rys' paLty oil halt
entered the place. They wero ion ,','
one Bill Newman n gent1e,no,, 49,, og
for his dislike Of weII.orderaJ sd mJoeu
and the number of men he mad l,iiiody
This crowd had for its sole obiect ~
raising Of row II ne NO sus uDJect the
fandango to get throurb ,,,ith Suu' , LOT
shooting or other dist,nbnnna 80 sT I,'',
Newman and his friends N,ers ~ ~ i,it
this Occasion to SUNNY IL ''''ie oh
When the marty reached tho enc.
where the gambling was going 'p oo
Newman gave the signal for raid on nn
the gold that was beint, frad taiu on