Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-07-21

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Some tnere playing cards on the TOP of an
old basvfi.
worn outside the former mp y.
the sleeves was the prevailing fashion
in dress. The inevitable revolver In its
case ca the belt completed the costume
When l entered. some were playing
cards on the top Of an old barrel. come
were talking. and a select little party
Of drdv.rs and bush hands We're playing
pitch aud tons with half crowns IN an
other corner.
salu:od tho company, as was Gus
tomafy. and went 70 the bar To enter
hotel and not drink was then just a.
extraordinary and rcprchcnsible us tax
ing a Jack Smither'-i. e.. lone
drink E-or without inviting every nnc
in tin room 10 drink with You. there
fore called upon those present 10 breast
the bar and signify by what deaths they
would die
That this was popular form Of sui
eide was evidenced by the alacrity with
which the entire company responded 10
the invitation. In fact. three or four
old lpafcrs. who had some days previ-
ously undergone the process OF clam
ming down. - and were now in the con-
ditioh when drink is not only doubly
sccertable but sort of physical pcccs-
sity 10 alleviate that prostration called
tsutfering recovery were no moved
that. having first assisted themselves 10
respectable sized nobblers of Queens
land rum. they got together in corner
Of The bar and. holding out their glasscs
toward me. began 10 sing in anything
but the steadiest or most musical of
voices
"Coinf, fil up your giasses and drink while
whstev.r's the damage IN pay.
30 be easy and free while you're drinking
with
I'm b man you don't m~et every day"
They were doubtless right 40 fag as
the last assertion. considered in per-
sonal sense, wss concerned. Still tho
kird bf man these conyivial old 6sh had
special reference 10 WAS man like
themselves. who came in with his Ei00
or Et50 check. as the case mIgnt be,
after long spell Of bush work for some
squatter. or after long overland trip
with some drover and who. handing it
over the bar 10 the publican. said. ~
say, old stick in the mud, jnst keep
this ere and let's know when il done,
will yer" Then straightway cried to
Id. bbys; Breast the bar. We soma of
Aaron, breast the bar Nominate yer
p'isius and give il name And this
would last for four or five days. or
II.
interruptions as the generality of pab-
liean4. for week or esen ten days.
This WAS their bean iieal Of man
the e.ft Of p..tn you didn't meet with
every day.
Shdirtly after / entered mn old organ
ctte was placed on the counter and some
wonderful gyrations called dancing were
dcserEb bed TO the strains Of the Devils
March. Another and perhaps the most
popular Of the innocent little amuse-
mentk indulged in by this typical happy
family was that of having afyiendly
spar without the aid of boxing gloves
ON the slightest prete1t On the COM
plcfie en Of one Of these rounds. which.
with due regard to the rroprieties. was
always fought outside. the party who
had come on second hfst WINS Obliged
TO set up the drinks all ronnd These
little incidents were rather encouraged
than otherwise.
En- tering into conversation with one
or tvs o members Of the company who
seemed in rather less bcmnddled con-
ditioh than their fellows. ! learned TINT
not a few of those present were s;girly
delay I'd there until the thnndcygts INA
had properly ret in. 40 tina. they iE xht
surni ennf certain dry stages on the nm
certa En track leading 10 the newly dis
eeve1ed goldbelds In Western Australia.
OF &C ur-e. the chief topic of converse
tion Was the arrest which had been
nlade that aft rnoon found that al
though popular feeling Was dead aEa;rs;
the opposed murderer. still. from the
fact that the man. by name Dan
Smy Ihe. who had laid the information.
bore tie reputation of being "a crooked
one even 10 his own mates, the crowd
ON the whole was open 70 conviction
As knew the indirect iniluence of
publ opinion. even on police trial.
in such part Of the world, and not
wishing the witnesses for the pros Gu