The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1906-06-16
The Real Sage Brush Parson"
A Story Which Centers in Eureka, Nevada, in the Early sos
Taken from Experiences of George Wharton James.
Then a Resident of This Mining Camp.

The following comment on the "Sage
Brush Parson," . book presenting q
strong Western story. Is reproduced. as
it brings to light that the hero Of the
book, drawn from life. is in reality
George Wharton James. o former resi-.
dent Of Eureka:
As the story runs, Rev. Clement
Vaughan. tine parson." . Methodist
minister from Eogland (where he has
left his wife) settles down as . mis-
sionary in the mining to xn Of Eureka
IL the early sos. Eureka was known
It that time as the toughest and most
God for -saken mining camp in Nevada.
Vaughan. the striking hero. with his
dual nature made mp Of religion fervor
and human passion. discovers that the
miners demanded that their religion.
as their whisky, 60 down like albuzz
saw, aud this Nevada sky pilot gives
them what they want. An attachment
between Vaughan and Kate Chisholm.
a charming young widow. is ripening
when Vaughan's wife arrives on the
scene from England. There 10 q scene.
a tragic announcement. and-well. the
books ends happily.
While 1t is impossible for the ordinary
reader to segregate fact from fiction in
1.-THE Sage Brush Parson," there still
live many old Nevada miners who
will recognize the truthful descriptions
of the third chapter of the book, en-.
titled IA Service at Lou Pugh's."
Drinking. gambling. and dancing were
suspended to give the parson full swing
for an hour" to quote Lou Pugh.
vaughan's best friend was Jack Perry,
q saloon keeper. who. strange to say,
becomes one Of the staunch supporters
Of the parsons ''hanky -pank shop" as
the mission is called. Jack Perry. as
well as Pere Hyacinthe and Matt Kyle,
who appear in the story. are we'll
known characters who lived in Eureka,
Nevada. 25 years ago. and ir will not be
at all difficult for people who lived there
at that time t~osrecognize the original of
Haverford, the E~piscopalian minister of
the place-the very antithesis Of
Vaughan.
The funeral Of Charlie Davenport. the
gambler. is also a true picture. Charles
record was not an enviable one, and
Vaughan. who was requested to hold
the funeral ceremony aud "do the job
way up in G." was at q loss to know
what to say. To quote from the book:
AFTER the usual funeral services,
when all the religious rites had been
observed at the church and the grave.
the crowd still fingered. The funeral
committee. Bill and Jim, made their
way t the spot where the parson stood.
"'Why don't you shoot of your
MOUTH demanded Bill in a low whis-
per. The boys expect you to give 'em
hell. They won't 90 home without it,
"'Give 'em hel p replied Vaughan.
bewildered what do you mean?'
"'Mean? Why give 'em some chin
music hot ON both sides and sulphur be-
tween. Give 'em hell. and be damn
quick about it. The crowds getting
nervous.
$50 that was what they wanted,
thought the young tendrfoot clergy
man; judgment. not eulogy. They
wanted fire. They wanted their re.
ligion to go down like a buzz saw as
the cowboy demanded Of his dram.
Very well. they should have it."
The funeral address. as given in the
book. probably has no parallel in history.