Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09

scription II was in the spring Of Isl"
that ! started from Fort Myer, where
was employed In experiments by the Sig
nal service. for Phoenix. Ariz. Phoenix
Wasoat that time a small mining town.
full of the most varied collection or
human beings l ever saw gathered to-
gether in one place. The same observa-
ton applied to Yuma, the town which
then the terminal of the railway
line. and from which / set out for
journey across the plains in blackboard
stage coach that formed the only means
of CONVEYANCE The stage coach driver
was a MeXican--or 'greaser. as persons
Of that nationality were locally called
and was picturesque in appearance and
conversation. He held forth upon the
dangers of the road and displayed con-
tinually a whole arnnor1- of weapons
from a repeating Winchester to huge
and MISUNDERSTANDING Spanish knife. He
was continually on the alert night and
day for highwaymen and Indians who.
he said. infested the trail. and rendered
the journey extremely precarioue to the
lives and pocketbooks of travellers. To
illustrate the point, and carry further
conviction to his hearers, he proudly dis
played his Sombrero. which was punctured
with bullet holes in the crown just above
the place where the top Of his head
reached. He told US that this puncture in
his headgear was the result of his en-
counter but few days previously. with
some Indians who had endeavored to
with some travellers whose wallets were
rich with the results of their mining
ventures.
."rhe Mexican refused the mandate Of
the savages to halt and then dashed his
horses in a desperate squirt to escape.
Several shots rang out, and one of the
horses fell. He quickly cut the wounded
animal from the traces with the aid of
his huge knife, and made his escape with
the remaining three animals. 1t was if
true notable feat. involving no little
skill. and / think his hearers were in
clined to doubt the veracity Of the narra-
tive. The man was evidently an expert
driver. and 1 subsequently learned that
his story was perfectly true.
1--WE We're not molested In the journey
to Phoenix. the nighwaymen evidently
devoting their attention to the coaches
returning east with their possible load
OF successful miners. l found the mining
fever in full heat in Phoenix but what
struck me most forcibly were the open
gambling saloons packed with eager
the majority Of the population essayed to
get rich over the green DaiZe rather than
by delving III the rocky ground. The pa
irons OF these gambling. establishments
comprised soldiers, officers AS we'll as
men: MeNicans. cowboys and Chinamen
and never did l see such Intense interest
as was manifested by the players The
games. l understood. We're generally con.
Quoted fairly. and for the sufficient rea-
son that any one caught cheating would
A:iEe been PROMPTLY shot, whether he was
the proprietor of the establishment or
not. ! witnessed in progress what was
perhaps. the longest game of poker on
record. The players entered into a part
nershlp agreement, and played in relays
the game occupying an entire week. night
and day. and never ceasing for an in
slant. The play started on Christmas
eve, and was continued until the follow
inc a. 4
observe the gamblers almost exhausted
by the want of sleep, yet maintaining A
f;verish interest in the progress and for
tine of the game.
II seated in my little Office one
night, bending over the instrument, when