The copper era., 1901-12-26
.,...n
] 0LD-TIME SKETCHES
t.IIIItEitti
1GfltItItIii


 1uuii'tru ur,,II.rir
 In Leadville last week 5000 worth of gambling tools were destroyed by the sherifT. The tools were piled up in front of the court house, saturated with coal oil and then burned. This would seem to indicate that gambling nas gone out of style in Leadyilie. This is in startling contrast to the good old days of the 70's and the sos when Lead vile boasted of being the most wide open town in the west. h those days, if you wanted to meet anybody who was anybody, you would be almost sure to find him at Pap" Wyman's gamt- ling hall, which magnificence, and gen eral git-up-and-9it, had no equal at that time on the continent. At one time an excursion party from New England were in Leadvilie. and they expressed a desire to- see gcnuin gambling hall. The city marshal took about one hundred of them, including many ladies, to Pap's place. Pap, had been previously notified, aud when they arrived they found aboat fifty games of various kind in full blast, and every table covered with gold and green backs, while two fine bands furnished music for the occasion. The men wer. so interested in their games Of chance that apparently they were not aware of the arrival of the customers. Money was changing hands by the thousands amazed. They never knew that tn bets didn't go." In the center of tn, great room was a sort of an altar upon which Pap always kept q large and handsome bible. Many quotations from the bible were printed, framed and hung about the hall. Pap was a character, but not bad sort of man. He had eleven sons, and of the whole ing. Pap finally went broke, and long since "cashed in his checks" Lead vile has evidently changed some since "those good old days" of which old timers love to talk.
 The most crooked man whom the writer ever met was named Straight. He was an English man by birth, but intensely American, and he was walk ing encyclopedia. He was hump back ed, cross-eyed and bald headed; one Of bis legs was longer than it really ought to have been, and his left arm hung Imply at his side. He was d man of letters and was entitled to sign several initials after his name, but he was too modest to do so. He was an attorney at law, a hale fellow well met and not withstanding his many infirmities he was an honest man. He was a singular contradiction of the truth, and his brother attorneys had many Il joke at his expense, but he laughingly enjoy ed them all. He was one Of the best natured men that ever lived, and once when stray bullet struck his good arm, he merely remarked that it was just his luck. Nothing seemed to sur prise him and he was won't to remark that when-ver the grim reaper came along he'd find him ready to go. Some few of the oldtimers in the south west may recall the old gentleman, who crossed the range many years ago, mourned by all who ever know him. Requiscat in pace.
 A party of government surveyors coming up from the line of Old Mexico, in 1872. caught up with an old pros pector who was wearily plodding along and punching two burros which were weaving from one side of the road to the other. The three were well nigh tuckered out, and as the surveyors came alone ''old whiskers" hailed them. They stopped and told the old timer that they were going into camp right away, and they invited him to hang up with them for the night Nothing could have bcen more opportune, as all three of the travellers were iaded and nearly famisbed for water. After mak- ing camp, feeding and watering him. self and iong-eared friends, the old timer unlimbered, and in answer to numerus questions, he replied: "Eee: Pm prospector; I came from Tucson I'm going to Tubac, from there to Tu- macacori-and from thence Co hell, or some other place where I can find water. I've got all the Arizona want; Pm no hog"
 In crossing the northern rim Of Death Valley in 1S6S the writer encountered a grim reminder of the terror and des- olation of what was then considered the drearicst and most God-forsakcn spot on earth. A mound, apparently quite recently made, attracted atten- tion, and the sand which had drifted and partly covered the boards set up. being scraped aside, the following rec ord was found on the head d-board:
 .....-...-... .............
 Hic Jacet Corpus
 -Etat NXVII
 -+-.--.-.- .-....--..... .........------..t...