La Junta tribune., 1913-03-08

~ story than Hiram Woods
From the Atlantic TO the Pacific the
man is known. From ditch digger
he rose to wealth and power With
little education and burdencd some
what with a record as a gambler. he
promoted a small agricultural expert
ment into great industry Then,
one day. he asked his wife. with
whom he was attending a theatrical
performance In Chicago. to excuse hin
few minutes lie arose. walked out
with $500 600 In his pocket and enter,
cd the port Of missing men.
On farm near PattsburE Mo.
Hiram Woods was born about forty
years ago. Hc might never have
been heard from outside the Plais-
burg ueienbnrh0od but for the fact
that his lungs were weak and be- had
to 20 TO Colorado Leadyille Is
high aud dry and some one recon-
mendoI that city as % good place 20
live iu. He mad Illrur money and
could get uo other work. so he took
iob vita pick and shovel working
so the s'rrots II was friEnuully hard
for a youth who cuushcd good
deal aud aho weighed only i2o or 1870
pounds but what h" lacked iu
strength d. mad" up in dctrrmiua
uou. So hs stuck 10 d. did bis share
of the labor and when h" got bits pay
he held ou to O portion Of g.
II was H the early 'pos when
Woods noat,d into Denver Hr had
only about sig hundred dollars when
hc arrived. but within six months. lu
addition 10 uis fruit stand Dc had
au interest Boz keno game Woods
did not believe Boo backing b. He at-
tended 20 business Most ~ the
day b." was az his fruit stand cater.
ing TO his customers Iu the evening
he looked M, crowd over in the keno
room and made suro that everything
WIS all right tie made money He
made more Of h In the keno room
than he dii al the fruit stand but
he retained tine fruit stand and made
little parade Of his connection with
the keno room because he was not
anxious to be known as a tin horn
gambler
Mood L..lft 4
businesses prospercd and life was
getting 10 be- reasonably easy for
him when most distressing thing
happened Som" interfering persons
started an agitation TO put an end
10 open gambling in Colorado Nv.
crything had been wide open. gamb-
lcrs had been In clover and natural.
". the Keepers of the faro gamcs. the
stud establishments. the keno room.
and such were Mortified II meant a
serious curiailmcnt ~ their profits II
measure before the legislature hap
prncd 10 pass They made secret
canvass ot the legislator and found
that the vote was going 10 be- very
close n two or three LEGISLATORS who
were ON tho doubtful bench could be-
Influenced in their favor. tho Ramb
i"rs believed they could KIN the
bin
ON" of the doubtful members vas
farmer who had bi' oi land down
Ia lunia way Woods was In ~,
gamblers conference when This farm
ors name was mentioned The ke
no man, Nho 10 a. bundle of nerves
quick Of sp"eoh ani quick of thought
said he thought be- could handle tha
member
"lic'a cot bus ON % new Kind %
melon. he said "I'vr beau handling
som. ~ his melons I'm the oul'
one that has handled tho stuff !
you fellows vill stand tho expense
IN go down there and talk melon
90 him and when I've got him al
worked mp II Won't be- difficult d
Ert him 10 vote right on our bill
Woods went down To- Rocky Ford
one u the 'irst places extensively II
risatsd IN Colorado That vas IN
s.acc 'Ne melon man nailed from,
man named Ssink had been csperI
m"ntinE with various can,aloupe'
lie had crossed all sorts Of varicti.
IN an effort To r.t wha, ne called
Melted Gem He had succeeded. II
had sen, som. OF his melons 4
Woods In Denver 10 dispo~e oi
S~ink Was first class In experiment
Ing. bu, below par In merchandising 4
He sent his melons In dry Kood
box~. tubs. barrels. or any oil
thing
Woods talked cantAioupe In N
gentleman he visited and then adroi'
" brought In the other topic. bu
h" went away unsuccessful u M