The Newtown bee., 1899-02-10

is to be said of the good-hearted men
often found in mining towns, who pos
sess much OF Christian spirit and charac-
ter, but after all a mining town ia not re-
markable for the Christian character it
develops.
The most successful business at Creole
in those early days was such busineps as
goes hand in hand with the saloon inter-
est. Saloons, dance halls and gambling
dens are copsrtners and their wide open
doors meet your eye on every hand, day
and night, Sunday, and the whole week
through. These resorts were the only
places where the miners felt really well
come. There they found fine music and
companionship. No one cares to sit on
the edge OF bunk in a cold room at
night, so the gambling dens were crowd
ed every evening,
Sunday was day for the prospector
to obtain his supplies, men spent the day
in gambling, drinking and merry max
ing. Many mines are running and ore is
loaded for shipment as on other days.
have preached in Creole when there
was so much noise from the confusion
on the street, hammering and saving OF
carpenters, that my congregation could
with difficulty hear the sermon. The
early days of Creede were enlivened
| by the presence OF some desperate
men. Masterden, who is reported to
have killed % man, found here congen-
ial element among men who were of
similar taste and character as himself.
The desperado, Bob Ford, kept saloon
and dance hall al Creole. Bob Ford will
be remembered for his relations to the
James band and the treacherous manner
in which he murdered jesse James, his
| companion in crime. After a notorious
life of viilainy and dissipation at Creede,
he met at the hands of friend of the
James brothers. the same end he had de-
termined for Jesse James. While at
Creede Ford was always fully armed but
he was taken unawares and shot dead. /
visited his grave; it was marked by sim
ply q piece of board at the head. The
identity OF the grave was made known by
marking upon this board in lead pencil,
This Ia Bob Ford's grave age 90 years. p
His saloon was closed during the day out
OF respect for it's late proprietor, but at
night was opened again and business re-
sumed as before. 20
| The early efforts to establish religious
services at Creole were made under try.
ing circumstances. The first sermon was
preached in saloon and gambling hall.
/ A clergyman asked Watrous, the propri-
| etor Of the most notorious gambling den
in the place, for. the privilege of holding
religious services In his hall on Sunday
evenings. Watrous consented, but as the
profits Of the house were about $500 an
hour, stipulated that the service should
not exceed one half hour of time. When
| the time for the service came Watrous
mounted upon chair and said, ''BoYs,
I this gentleman wants to make a few re-
marks to you of a religious nature. Let
the games stop, and you want to keep
| still.n The clergyman stood on the plat.
| form and the men aat around it, toying
with their cards, while along the bar
stood men looking at this strange pro-
ceeding with curious faces. At the back
of the room the roulette wheel clicked
aid the ball rolled. The men in this part
Of the room lowered their voices, bat
above the voice of the preacher could be
heard the climbing of silver and the chips
and the voice OF the boy at the wheel
AS soon as the sermon was ended the
drinking and gambling was resumed.
A lady residing In Massachusetts, had
given tent for missionary purposes in
Colorado. This tent was erected at
Creole and called 1.-THE Peoples Taber-
nacle." A fire broke out at Creede and
totally destroyed a large section Of the
city. A prominent hardware merchant,
whose store had been burned, took pos
session OF the Tabernacle, and forthwith
began business there, and the missionary
who claimed ownership vas ordered .out
OF the place.
Thus matters stood when came to
Creole. was instructed, if possible, 10
make some arrangement regarding the
tent with shis merchant, 20 accordingly
entered the store and asked for the pro.
prietor. was soon confronted by large
man with high boots, aOmbreEo hat and
corduroy clothes, told hin the purpose