Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-01-31

VI I'll Paso, Cripple Creek. Leadvllle Gold
Aeld, Butte, the Occur dAlene, and many
other sections The practice prevailed to a
greater or less extent in the larger towns.
Everybody has money in the early days Of aN,
4 mining camp wv
Il was an era Of speculation. The coun- ~
Try had not been proven" and hence a
"hnd" In new section resulted in a great 7
rush 70 that locality Property changed
hands at fabulous prices overnight The
ragged prospector Of today might be roll
ing 10 wealth tomorrow 1t has happened
20 many times
When there is money to throw at the
birds, the gamblers, like so many vuItures,
assemble at the point to which 1t is being cast
by the thoughtless and improvident possessors
Games were played where the stakes ran into
the millions A man wealthy In the morning
sometimes had to borrow money to avoid going
70 bed hungry at night
stockman in Colorado sat into" a poker
game in Denver and by midnight had not only
lost all the cash he had with him, but had ex-
hauBted large bank balance
He owned, on the range in Colorado, the neu-
trail strip Ono Mans Land" now extreme west
eFh Oklahoma and in Texas ten thousand head
Of cattle, worth twenty dollars head, or total
Of 100000
He possessed land in three states and hand
some residence in Denver. He made a bet Of
thousand steers--worth twenty thousand dollars
land lost. He continued this until the herd Of
ten thousand head Of stock belonged to another
man Day dawned, and he was still playing.
Breakfast WAS sent in from a restaurant main
tanned at the end OF the gambling hall for just
such people
Nov" he said to the men who had won his
cattle you have the critters. but no place to
AlA T-I..
He lost that Then followed the Colorado
ranch finally the residence in Denver, together
with the furniture, his horses, his watch and
chain. AT eight o'clock at night-twenty-four
hours later-he was penniless, and started for
the Rio Grande country Of Texas, where he found
employment hauling logs to a sawmill He had
lost more than a quarter Of million dollars in
twentyfour hours!
"WiII you oblige me by taking off your shoes?"
asked road agent politely while he held re-
volver menacingly in the face Of passenger
who stood up In line with others.
The hold-up man had stopped the stage going
into Leadville to collect toll" He had just pur-
chased the road he said, and needed the money.
He passed down the line and, by means of
passenger whom he forced into service gathered
Up all the money and jewelry until he came to
t1e last man in the line Then he asked the man
20 take off his shoes. He found four thousand
dollars under the inner soles!
Several nights later the man who had been out
Witted by the hod-up man was sitting in the
Dealers chair of faro game In the CLOUD City"
90 Leadville 10 called. Before him sat man
who lost money steadily The gambler "raked
ID" the money carelessly and with the utmost I'M
COncern The player lost something like five
thousand dollars and then pushed back his chair.
"Ali in?" asked the gambler. arching his
hrows.
"Yep-you've cleaned me out"
Then we are even for that little incident the
ether night when you collected your road tax
from me-"
f."
eyes, youl"
Tie hold-up man knocked down half dozen
AOlterers In his rush to reach the door and escape
weli-kncwn mining man. who was noted for
hls Judgment in knowing hole in the ground"
when he looked into 1t. had Just made purchase
II Cripple Creek He had money. and he was will
Eng TO spend 1t for anything that looked good
After having tramped over the hills all Of one
day. he sat into" a poker game in the lobby
Of the principal hotel that night, and engaged In
q friendly game with number Of acquaintances.
They were playing for twenty-five cents a cor
Aer While the game was in progress ragged
pfOBpector appeared and attempted to inject him
eeIf into the company. The mining man explain
ed that It was simply private game between
friends outsiders, and particularly strangers.
we're not wanted.
Il have money that has never been spent"
eve don't know you"
"Oh, that's it! Then let me introduce my
eelf'
There was no way to get rid Of him appar-
ently Then. like an inspiration, and In an an
aOyed manner. the operator said:
How much money have your"
sEight hundred dollars"
"sit down. and II show you how to play
poker
In less than fifteen minutes the prospector
withdrew.
Shortly after he returned with thousand dol
Iars more. This was interesting. He lost it.
Then he lost diamond pin. following It With a
watch and his "cayuse,"
When be pushed back his chair the operator
asked:
pAre you broke now"
4 have claim over on the HILL
what do you value It at?'
zone hundred thousand dollars
This STAGGERED the mining man fer moment.