The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-12

AAI Hen IraFeInS evangelist came
w to Dodge City, Kan, in the early
days of that town and arranged to be-
gin an old-fashioned tent camp meet
ing every body thought it solemn duty
to advise him to be careful how he han
dled the cowboys, and their iniquities,
ia his discourses.
''Those fellows are terrors when they
get started one citizen said warning
~, land if you should say anything to
roll them they will certainly play the
mischief with you"
why, what are they likely to do to
me?' the minister asked.
There is no telling. They are like
ly TO do anything mean, such as tear
ing down the tent. riding through the
congregation and firing their pistols,
or even to. shooting you"
Are they SO bad as all that?"
Bad! Brother, if there is a species
of meanness under the sun that those
cowboys are not guilty of it is certainly
something that is totally unknown to
this part of the world"
as it possible?'
at is. Furthermore, these cowboys
run things here to suit themselves. The
whole town is under their domination
and you cannot look to anybody for
protection against them. The people
fear them and the authorities are pow
erless. So l would advise you to use
great caution in dealing with them"
Every well, brother" the minister
said. Il will endeavor to profit by your
friendly advice, and L hope l shall not
arouse the animosity of the cowboys.
] don't anticipate that l shall have any
serious trouble with them"
However, the meeting had not been
in progress more than three or four
days when one night several cowboys
rode into town, dismounted and filed
into the tent. They took seats well
back from the minister's stand and for
few minutes remained as quiet as
mice. The congregation, however, be-
came nervous and uneasy and kept
casting eager, inquiring glances back
in the direction OF the cowboys. That
the latter were not there for any good
purpose was we'll understood, and no
one doubted for a minute that they
would, sooner or later, break out into
some kind of devilment.
The preacher announced his text and
hogan his sermon. He spoke slowly
deliberately and calmly, showing that
he was not in the least disturbed by
the presence of the cowboys. His audi
ence wondered at his GOODNESS, and
more than one thought that he was not
aware of the seriousness of the situa
ton. He had been speaking for five
minutes, perhaps, when suddenly old
Zeph Bowers, the leader of the cow
boy crowd, let loose a terrific yell that
startled the entire assemblage. INT
other cowboys followed Zeph's lead
and for two or three minutes a regular
pandemonium of yels filled the tent
The minister waited patiently until the
noise subsidized, then he went quietly
on with his sermon.
But he was not allowed to proceed
far without interruption. He had
scarcely gotten started again when
those yells broke out fourfold stronger
SNNls anu az ldSI Olu oONCS )
called out:
It's no use, parson, you can't talk
against all of us. We come here to break
up this meeting, and we're going to do
il if it takes all night"
Finally the cowboys howled them
selves out, and again it became quiet
Then the minister made one more effort
to speak, and he started in to reason
with the intruders; but they refused tc
hear him, and before he had uttered
dozen words they were whooping ano
yelling again, and to add to the terror
of the situation, two or three of the
boys began to fire off their pistols.
A good portion of the audience left
the tent, feeling that it was no longer
safe to remain there. Others fidgeted
about in their seats, wishing they were
safely away, but disliking the idea OF
showing cowardicc by retreating while
the preacher remained
One brother in the church, who was
sitting near the minister. urged hin
TO fly, but the minister only shook hi,
head.
"They will shoot you. sure" the broth.
or urged, "if you persist in defyine