Evening journal., 1911-03-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story of a Gambler and a
Governor
BY Holland"

James W. Nye, appointed by Presi-
dent Lincoln as territorial governor of
Nevada, and elected one of the Sena-
tors from Nevada after It was admit
ted to the Union, was I'm his day ma
tionally renowned as a political speak
er. II was said of him that better than
any other man, Lincoln alone except
ed, Nye could tell story to illustrate
a point He was a man of much wit,
and like Lincoln, had very keen
sense OF humor. Il was in part because
Of Lincoln's admiration for Nye's abil-
ity as stump speaker that Lincoln
appointed him Governor of Nevada af-
ter that territory had been formed by
Congress-
Nye was a man of striking physical
appearance. Not quite so tall as Col
onel Bob" Ingersoll. in many other
respects, both physically and mentally.
he strongly resembled that famous OK
FOUNDER Of infidelism. Governor Nye
had many friends in the East, and es-
pecially in Central New York, where he
began his practice as a lawyer, and it
was TO a group of eastern friends that
be one day told the following anecdote,
Illustrative of the old saying that ones
ruling passion is strong in death
81 suppose" said Governor Nye. with
a reminiscent smle-he was then a
member of the United States Senate
the territory of Nevada, when / be-
came Governor of il, was about the
weirdest and most lawless community
then existing anywhere OH the face of
the earth. Every form of vice prevailed
openly there. and yet there was i'm ex-
iufannn "A hind nf = -
which served better than any written
law TO restrain the lawless from carry-.
ing things on with what might be call
ed a high hand.
Among this element when / arrived
In Nevada was desperado, a gam
bier, who practically ruled the ter
ritory. His passion for gambling was
so inveterate that he was willing to
wager bet upon any event He was
fond of betting upon the weather, and
he would even bet upon the course of
the wind as that might be developed
the next day at a certain fixed hour
He would take any conceivable chance
| got along very we'll with this man,
and he seemed to entertain some
friendship for me, so that when word
came from this gambler to me that he
was desperately I'LL think, with
pneumonia was genuinely sorry.
THE doctor attending the gambler
had told him that he could not live,
and, knowing his patients mode Of
life, the physician had supplemented
this information by limiting that II the
gambler wished TO make any state
ment or to leave any message with a
man of God. he had better send for one
Immediately. That the gambler had
done. but his messengers could find mol
clergyman anywhere. and when they
so reported the gambler had asked
that | be sent for. You're the Cover
nor explained tho messenger, and he
says that's the best thing to being a
clergyman, and besides. he likes YOU
Though not very experienced i'm
giving religious consolation, | deter
mined to do what could for the gam
bier Hurrying 10 his bedside saw at
a glance that he WAS very near death
He looked up at me and smiled faint
ly. Well jim, / said, you seem to be
pretty sick
"In reply. he told me that he knew
his time had come. and that he felt he
had something 10 say-he wanted to
leave the world squarely. / knew what
he meant, and as we'll as | could told
him that the Good Book said that if
anyone confessed his sins. even at the
last moment, and was really sorry for
them, there was no doubt of that mans
pardon.
with his eyes looking gratefully
into mine, and i'm a voice that was
faint i'm the presence of swiftly ap-
preaching death, the gambler and des-
perado said that he now recalled what
he had been told as a boy about God
and Heaven, but that he had forgot
ten II all after he had become a man.
I own up he whispered. I haven't
been good man. And then he ques-
toned plaintively: Yet you tell me
that If am sorry IT. will be all right?
Yes, jim I answered.
For a moment he lay still, with his
eyes closed. Then he looked earnestly
into my face again, And If am really
sorry, I will go TO HeavenY he asked
"'Yes, jim I said. I am sure sure
you will
DO you expect to go to Heaven p