The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-08
BILL DEVERE'S POEM
Inhabitants of the Rocky Mountains
Are Acquainted With Him.
STYLED THE TRAMP POET "
He has Shared the Life of the
Prospector and Many VIII Read
These Lines with a Sense
of Delight.

Missoula, March MANY Montana
people remember Bill DeVere. the
Tramp Poet" Some of his verse has
appeared in the Standard and its
quaintness has won for IL the appre-
citation from the general public which
Bills friends have always accorded his
= work. Men who are at all familiar
with the sporty side of life in the
Rocky Mountain states know DeVere
and have an admiration for him. The
gamblers, race track men and their ilk
hold him in high esteem and, wherever
he goes he knows that he will find true
friends. During his Montana life, De-
We're made many friends in Butte and
Missoula, who still have very pleasant
recollections of him.
During the first rush to Creole at the
time of the Cripple Creek discoveries,
DeVere went in with the crowd and
shared with the others the privations
of life in the camp that has since be-
come famous. one incident which oc-
CURED during his stay in Creole, De-
We're afterward related in a character
istic poem, 1.-TWO Little Busted Shoes
Joe Lydon received an autograph copy
of the poem soon after IT was written
and the other day he gave it to a
Standard reporter. The men named in
the verses are well known in Butte
and in this city. Joe Simmons dealt
bank here for a long time. He is now
dead but he is remembered by many
who knew him here as a free-hearted
fellow, who was a true sport. "Soapy"
Smith is well-known to all who have
lived in Denver. Crazy Horse" has
ganIbled all through Montana and Col
orado and enjoys the reputation of
having won the biggest turn ever made
on an S-die case This was in 1892 in
corded in these verses Jim Sanford is
better known as DOC" and is in Mis-
soula now. He vouches for the truth
Of the poem which DeVere named Two
Little Busted Shoes" and which is
given below:
The Orleans Club at Jmtown, Colora-
do, '92,
Was joint where you could play all
games from a split up TO a blue.
And the gang that hung around the club
I'll say. 'twixt you and me.
Would hardly cut a figure at Methodist
Pink Tea.
There was Big Ed Burns" and Crazy
Horse" Jim Sanford" Windy
Dick"
Tom Kady," the shell juggler Joe Pal
mer," pretty slick.
Joe Simmons" who can deal the bank
and never lose a check.
Pete Burns" Jim Bolen." "Soapy
smith," all high cards in the deck.
1t was in the gray of morning and the
heterogeneous gang
Sat worrying the barkeeper with nom
sense, gun and slang.
All kidding" chatting" "guying" in a
smooth, good-natured way,
About the incidental bosh that happened
yesterday.
Son,attnnas lin aasv t,i.ad cha,rN ono 90
them'd try to snooZe,
And then some one would loosen up and
order up the booze"
Some break-of-day boy would come in and
give the bar boy CUFF
And learn without politeness that he'd
have to have the stuff"
When one of them would tell the tramp
TO 'go and soak his head"
And say IL he drank water he'd be found
some morning dead"
They'd ask him why he didn't send 10
papa for a check
So he could purchase barb wire booze
TO lubricate his neck.
And after they had kidded him until he
couldn't talk
They'd I'LL him up with Red Eye and tell
him to take a walk"
Not by any means bad fellows. but they
loved little lark.
And they'd give up to the needy quicker
than gospel shark.
happened in one morning TO investigate
my trunk:
i had left II in the barroom, for 1 slept
up in a bunk.
And sleeping berths were limited. and I
could name a few
Who have stood up in the corner back
there in 's2.
Pete Burns remarked: Get on 10 him:
since he stopped gettin' drunk
He's saved up all his money for a Sara
toga trunk"
And they gathered round me each OF
them, with laughter, josh and kid
To investigate my wardrobe when / OPEN
UP the lid.
II happened now that Jersey" Eye see
Jersey is my wife,
And no man ever had a better partner IN
his iife).
And as each fellow cranes his neck the
first thing that he views
Is two tiny little stockings and two little
busted shoes.
Right there on top they rested and in
fancy seemed 20 say,
Now. papa. don't forget us when YOU'RE
wandering far away"
Not a single word was uttered by the
gang that stood around.
And i knew that l the secret 10 each
great rough heart had found.
And knew that each was thinking in
the early morning gray
OF their wives and little darlings who !
were praying far away.
Praying for those great rough fellows
who would give their very life
That those wives and little children could !
be spared all pain and strife
Might never know adversely or what n !
was 20 lose
The father who would purchase them
those little busted shoes.
I knew their thoughts in retrospect few
Ger the western plain
To their patient wives and little ones
they miRhf not sec again