The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-09

who were then mlllionaires. but afterward
disappeared in the maelstorm or remained
among the wreckage to earn a living as
eoch found a way. one Of them is driving
a hack. He related his romantic expert
enoe pointed out the houses he had erect
ed and the blocks he used to own, and
talked gayly of the time when he had
tens of thousands of dollars cash to his
credit in the banks and thought 40 more
of a thousand dollars than he now does of
a 50-ceut fare. He was little too fluent
with his tales of past prosperity to inspire
complete confidence, and he may have en-
riched his own biography with the eXpe-
rience of others but all that he said was
true of somebody.
The finest house in town, which was
built i'm the middle of a block then worth
several hundred thousand dollars. would
he an ornament to Michigan boulevard. 1t
has been purchased by the Masons for
about per cent Of its cost, and il now
a home for INDECENT members Of that or
der Another handsome buildlng-one of
the finest examples of architecture west
of the Missouri river. also belongs to the
Masonic fraternity and is used for lodge
purposes. Thus all the relics of past
glory are utilized and furnish topics for
the entertainment Of strangers who like
50 hear what happened when Wichita was
a big town.
| haven't been in Wichita before since
it was "the end of the track" and the
widest and wickedest town in the West
1t was the center of the cattle trade in
those days, the shipping point for the
Texas herds; the end of the trail, where
thousands OF steers which had been driven
across the ranges of Indian territory
were loaded on the cars every week to
be shipped to the Eastern markets. Every
thing was wide open then with a VEN
geance, and the cowboys were kings
One night 1 attended an entertainment
in the Palace Opera House. or a place
with some such name, kept by "Rowdy
Joe" a famous character who had for
merly been known as Joseph Lowe OF
La Sale. ILL., He was a boatman before
he came to this country. and had won an
enviable reputation as "the toughest man
In Kansas" Mr. Lowe kept a drinking
place, gambling den and dance house
combined and Mrs. Lowe, who was bet
ter known as "Rowdy Kate" was his
cashier and first Lieutenant Together
they made a powerful team, and the at
fractions OF their place of business were
well advertised between the Missouri river
and the Rocky mountains There was
nothing TO beat IT then and there has
been nothing TO beat It since
On the evening of my arrival-It was in
the spring of IA attended a yaudevIIIa
entertainment at this famous place. ana
the great attraction was a "serlo-come
artist of the feminine persuasion who's.
pictures were plastered on all the dead
walls in town. At the close of her frss
number, while waiting for the applause
to subside, she leaned against the side of
one OF the stage boxes which was Occur
pied by gigantic drover and a party Of
friends. With his long arms he reached
over the rail- grabbed her around the
waist, lifted her into his box and placed
her calmly upon his knees In less time
than Ii takes to tell II.
The audience was furious at the famiI-
iarities taken with its favorite, and there
was a rush for the stage. The big drover
dropped the girl. and, drawing his revolv
err, held the crowd at bay. Then bedlam
broke loose, and pretty soon nearly every
body began to shoot Those who did not
care to participate In the battle started
for the door, and their fight was hasten
ed by a hysterical individual, who in
leaping from one bench to another struck
a big kerosene lamp with hk head and
sent 1t flying into the midst of the pande-
monium.
How l got out of the place never was
able 10 decide, but "Rowdy Joe's" pal
ace was a heap Of ashes two hours after
ward, and there were rumors OF numerous
lost lives
"Rowdy Joe" passed in his checks" at
Denver only few weeks ago. This town
got too tame for him and he went out to
the mines. Then, afteE he reached the
age of 20, he decided to settle down and
enjoy a peaceful life. During the last
blizzard he drove into town and left his
horses hitched In the street without blan-
kets. A policeman of humane Instincts
took them to a stable, and Joe expressed
his views of that interference and OF po-
icemen in general in a saloon where he
had taken refuge from the cold An ex-
member OF the Denver police resented the
criticisms "Rowdy Joe" Is in the ceme-
terry and the ex-polceman is in Jail await
ing trial for murder.