The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
MISSIONARY POKER PLAYER.
An EVANGELIsTIC NIGHT IN a BAR
ROOM RESULTS IN \ SKIN GAME.
the Sentiments of the Miners and
How a second Teach Filled Hall
With Gold Dust and Left the
Miners AM Iameptiua.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
II was away back in the old flush Cali
fornia days that one rainy October even
ing, little after dusk, 1 found myself at
a hotel at BidwelPs Bar. on the Feather
river At the period Bdwel's Bar was
but rough mining camp not much DIFF
terent from a hundred other camps in
California. I soon discovered that some
boasterous characters were guests in the
hotel where 1 had found quarters for the
night. They were miners, teamsters and
stage drivers, and when the supper was
over and the teamsters and hostlers had
taken care of their stock for the night
as by mutual consent all gathered in the
long, low barroom, to make a night of It,
Some clustered around a rough table to
try their fortunes at poker; the teamsters
In knot conversed upon the state of the
roads, the probabilities of an early and
hard winter, or the merit Of their respec-
tive mu'es; sententious stage driver
called Curly" was telling characteristics
stories, and all, for a while, were in the
best OF humor. At length, however, there
was trouble at the poker game A few,
nasty, sharp words were passed between
two OF the players, when they sprang to
their feet and for three minutes fought
like tigers The crowd separated the
fighters, and. as they held them, asked
what the trouble was. One answered hot
~: mad just anted a five-dOllar piece,
when the black thief stole it."
That yellow-haired vagrant never had
I'VE dollars in his life" was the reply of
the other, and then the two men strug-
gIed like wild beasts to get a each other.
Just then some one in the room saw
something glisten at a distance on the
moor, and, picking it up, il proved to be
the missing half eagle, and it was APP
parent that the money had been brushed
from the table by accident.
Then mutual apologies and expressions
or respect and esteem followed between
the two men. A drink was ia zen all
round and the game resumed.
A broken-off story by Curly" was
scarcely recommended when a man far
gone IN liquor reeled into the room. and
staggering up to the bar, demanded a
drink The landlord was absent al the
time, but his daughter a kindly-faced girl
of 10 or l6 years of age who happened to
be standing near the bar with genuine
California candor, said You have had
too much bad whisky already; you cannot
get drink here"
At this the man commenced to assail
the girl with perfect shower of epithets,
but in an instant one of the teamsters
called "Posey'' sprang up seized the man.
swung him to the door, and opening 1t,
hurled him clear over the broad porch
into the night. AT that moment the land
lady entered, and, Selling one of Posey's
hands IN both of hers, exclaimed, "Oh,
Posey Posey, owe you ten thousand
thanks for that noble deedr'
Without the change of a muscle Posey
answered: "A thousand will do. my good
woman; a husbands plenty for Carrying a
small load of freight like that. He's bulky,
but he don't weigh much''
But the episode furnished excuse for a
drink all around, and the drinks were re-
peated until some of the men present had
too much aboard. At last Curly, the stage
driver, proposed that a literary society
should be organized; that every man in
the room should join it, and that when a
member was called upon he should either
tell story, sing a song or treat the
crowd.
An uproar of approval followed; the
cards We're put away and the fun COM
menced 1 was one of the first called
upon, and to manage the matter an the
easiest way possible 1 made the landlord
set it up" for the boys and to give them
cigars also. AT this they demanded my
name and elected me a true gentleman
and thorough old Californian by acclama-
ton right there and then, as a bystander
expressed it, Gin spite of his store clothes
and Urinary looks"
Then followed such stories as were never
told outside of California, such songs as
are only heard on the turbulent frontier
and frequent drinks.
All through the evening a young man,
almost boy, indeed had been sitting
alone in one corner of the room. He was
L. Frol l. Il l., \
half-sUupefied amid the revel, never once
moving, except when the ruffian had in
suited the girl, when he sprang to his feet;
but the big teamster was too quick for
Linn, and so he quietly settled back into
his chair. At last, one of the men, ex-
cited with liquor, struck the youth upon
the shoulder and said, rudeIy: Come,
pale face, a song, a story or treat"
The young man rose 70 his feet and
said, quietly: II cannot sing. 1 cannot
tell stories and I do not drink"
THE deuce YOU can't, and won't" said
the miner. What kind of a white-livered
monkey are you, anyway" and, turning
to the crowd. continued: II say, boys
what do you think of this rooster? He
can't sing, can't spin a yarn and don't
drink
A general howl followed this outburst,
and the crowd gathered menaclngly
around the youth.
Curly, the stage driver, here interfered
and said: Young man, better reconsider;
the boys don't like it; try a story, or try
a song, or order the poison
'But 1 don't drink" said the youth 1T
cannot sing and l cannot tell stories' and
as he spoke he turned a full, fearless face
upon the excited crowd.
A murmur of disapprobation began, and
one rusty miner was calling attention to a
"city chap as was too proud to go chats
with common miners and steamsters, -
when the big teamster, Posey, with a
wave of the hand, stopped him, and,
marching up to the youth, said: II think
there 5 a misunderstanding here. If you
don't sing, nor tell stories, nor drink, your
education has been badly neglected for
some kinds of business, sure; but think
IL over for minute; you might do some
thing else, perhaps
The young man looked down for mo-
ment, and then looking up, said: L might
read you something which, perhaps would
answer in lieu of song or story"
Il knowed It." said Posey. II knowed
there was game in him when he jumped
ont of his chair little while apO vUhqn