The Newtown bee., 1899-02-10

Oaths. he claimed ownership of the prop
erty and gave as argument that he had
recently purchased lot, upon the corner
Of which, according to accurate survey,
the tent stood. He declared with great
gusto that he would not have his owner
ship questioned, and ii valued nv per-
sonal safety I had better leave the store
and never return. When he had finished
[ informed him that the tent was the
property Of the Home Missionary Soci-
ETY., that we would like to settle with
him peacefully, but if he refused to do so
we would let the law take it's course with
him for taking and holding as his own
the property Of another, After some diff
ficulty the Missionary Society succeeded
in settling the matter.
A minister is usually received with re-
spect and courtesy among miners. I
have always found the miners respec full
of the church and it's ministers. They are
often very valuable friends in time of
need.
The newspapers were kindly disposed
toward religious work. An editorial
clipped from one OF the daily newspapers
upon my entrance into the camp contains
in mining camp language some whole
some advise. L read as follows: Nov
as Creede has got a minister who is going
to reside here permanently and erect q
church, the ungodly should lose no time
in getting into the Gospel tent and giving
the Lord an even break with the game
of chance"
found band of faithful Christians
! at Creede, good nucleus for religious
| work. Ii was hard struggle for the
chu!c en- with much against us, but |
found hearty response, good congre.
| cations were maintained, reading room
was opened and good work done in try
ing to better the spiritual condition of
the town. While was at Creede the de-
yelopment Of the new mines at Bachelor
had attracted large, numbers Of people to
the place. found upon investigation a
town of four Or five hundred people, with
/ no religious service of any kind. We
| gathered a faithful few together and Or
ganized Sunday school and religious
service one Sunday afternoon. The first
| service was held in small building erect
ed Of rough boards. During the first SER
vice fight toog place in front of the
place OF worship, large crowd gathered
causing much disturbance and confusion.
/ The next Sabbath we met In variety
| theatre. AS entered the town I found
o force OF men drunk on the street, an
ticipated trouble and it seon came. Two
] men were soon In quarrel. revolvers
were used and had it not been for the
unsettled condition of their nerves
caused by drinking, several people might
have been seriously injured AS 1t hap
| pened, however, a few cuts and bruises
was the extent of the injury done. Dis
coarsging as were the environments,
nevertheless Sunday school was organ
lied and has since grown into a church
was invited to visit another new camp
at Spar city. To reach. this place walked
sixteen miles in the afternoon and came
into the town just at dusk. found the
people living in log cabins, their only
light In many cases the tailow candle of
cur foEefathers. The night was intense
ly.cold rs we were over II, 900 feet owe
the sea level. We builta fire of stray
/ wood to keep out the cold, and slept in a
tent upon blankets thrown upon the
/ ground. Some Of the men slept with
guns and reviewers under their heads.
The next morning it was crisp and cold
and we were all ready for an early break
fast, which consisted OF bacon, baked
potatoes and coffee. Our table was dry
goods Eox, our plates were OF tin, put
never did breakfast meet with better rel
ish, than did this breakfast OF bacon and
/ potatoes on midsummer morning among
che mountains.
/ Thus the summer wore away. People
came and went. Some succeeded In the
mining enterprises, many failed, but |
have no regrets. went there for the
gold nuggets OF human souls. i found
| them setrled in profusion over the noun
tain aide and In the valleys, so sheep
without shepherd. The fire on Gods
altar has been started at Creole and
through the grace Of God it will never 60
ont,