The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-04
PREACHER FULL OF STORIES
Pastor Mcfarland of Denver Tells
Thrilling Experiences.

Some of the preachers who came here
in the early days and penetrated to the
frontier bible in hand, can tell pretty
good stories. But it is doubtful If any
of them can equal Rev. James Mctar-
land the popular pastor of the HYDE
Park Presbyterian church Mr.. NC
FarIand was sent out here to look after
the interests of the Presbyterian nome
missionary board in this state, and
reached Durango nineteen years ago
last fall. Just when Durango was on
it's boom. and things were going with
ffzz that reminded one of bottle OF
soda poD and eating gun mixed to-
gether.
Probably Durango was a lHtle the
liveliest town that this world ever sa"
inst nineteen years ago situated 80
near the corners of four territories, u
was a favorite resort for thieves muir
darars and cattle rustlers of all the
surrounding states The bad men ran
ramDant until the vigilance committee
rose in its might and cleaned them out
v-barsat the town became quieter, al
I,eif less healthy. since the graveyard
! was observed to have grown in popula-
tfon very. rapidly. Mr.. Mcfarland can
snin stories by the hour about those
days.
u was born in the north Of Ireland,
saws he and had never gone further
4
I rode into Durango on the day OF my
arrival. ] saw a man gallOplng at
/ brea knock. speed down the main street,
a gun in each hand. and firing one OF
/ tf.ern AT every bound of the horse /
/ wondered what kind of a place mad
got into. But j got used 10 tilaI dl'sI
awhile"
; The CongregaUOnalists and the Meth
/ diets had both tried to start a church
/ there but had been driven away by
/ the disorder. which broke up their
. ToeatiDrs They came TO Mr.. McFar-
land and asked him to start union
'i' mo. not vel" replied the stanch
I r,roeb,yterian You fellows have had
I,o1IT-- chance. now let me try. If they
/ drive me out, then Wen try the union
+ scheme.
So before starting his meeting, being
wise as the serpent as well as harmless
es fbe dove. the preacher went around
{ ,r,ono- the gambling joints and asked
@ some Of the very toughest element TO
come and act as dOorkeepeTs IN the
bouse of the Lord He had way that
DIeased them, somehow. They went 60
'.b11rcb and acted as sergeants-at-arms.
/ Ne mt them on their honor To help him
J 1.7,r, the meeting. and the meeting was
Inn in nsace and quiet. After this sig
,.aI victory Mr.. Mcfarland became very
/ roDular. and could 90 anywhere among
the hills OF that Ie5ioh "itii1ut liiotSS-
teton though he was almost the only
{ r,1,,9 II, the region who was allowed the
privilege. HOldups were SO common
MAJ tbev lost the charm of novelty
Fourteen Hands In Air
"One day I was riding on horss back
/ from Irirango TO Animas CITY" SAID
he wien I came plump into The midst
M 4 group OF seven men. They were
Al, Ie9dine business men of the place
and the pest friends had there. Every
[ - 81 them had his hands raised 10
6oe,-en and one highwayman was go
iner through them, While another ha1
them covered with a gun. had t.
i,,,e-b well. boys said. J. shah ] get
in Iine2' where you going, Mr. McFaT-
iand9' asked one of the hishway men
Down 10 Animas, replica Wen car