El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-25


-nstslmelt closing with an account Of two
raids made by horse thieves on the place.
The series Wiu be concluded next week.
T DO NOT want the reader 10 think
for a moment that my object is
TO paint only the IawIess side Of
the history Of silver City-fsr from
it, For no matter what danger be-
set the old timer, either from within
or without. they steadily kept the
wheels Of progress on the move Sub
stsutial buildings for all purposes
were being erected steadily. and the
mines were producing regularly. and
the mills turning out the pure STUFF
bullion The old guard were able 10
control the lawless element at home.
and everybody was about 20 make ID
his mind that the town would settle
down 10 a quiet. conservative mining
camp. This was early in 1874
It might have been. but fac
switched the cut and dealt the little
burg a hand that placed her in the
limelght as one Of the toughest holes
in the west And this is how 1t was
done.
Some time in the years mentioned
above, miners working IN the rs
mine, owned 0y N. W. Bremen, struck
a large Fody Of rich silver ore. The
like was never heard OF before. and
when the news Of the strike became
generally known. Fate began 10 deal
the cards and the result was that the
news Of the strike brought TO the lit
re town the toughest Of the tough
from every tough town in the west
9BRd Man. W. bad Man.
As rule they would land into town
with yell-a yell that would put a
COmanche Indian TO sleep. But Of
course, like all such critters" jeaI- .
ousy ran high among them especially I
the bad man from Bitter creek" and Z
the bowling wolf Of the lone prair- 7
ee' and the grizzly bear from Inc T.
C1mmaron." Now the consequences !
were that the little town was too I
small for the whole bunch TO monop-
ollZe the esteemed" privilege for
which they seemed TO think they were /
born. so al times they would meet on
common ground in front Of the saloon
bar, and, under the same conditions,
fuu OF tarantula juice, thus To- D
Gated and valiantly equipped-they ]
would proceed TO let daylight I
through one another" which was a
Godsend. not only TO the public, but I
10 themselves as well. In most cases. /
lf ray Of pure light ever followed ]
The entry Of a As bullet through their 4
carcass. it was the only way IL could I
have been accomplished in a thousand f.
ears DE course when such gun plays ]
took place and the results gave the
coroner the satisfaction or writing
his verdict 'ante-mortem, no matter I
how many fell IN the -brawL" the
general opinion was that they shore I
done a good job for one and 'Jother" /
and they did These gun plays took
place quite often, but they were not
confined TO this class alone. A great
many occurred from disputes over
Gambling tables and business affairs.
such as mining claims, etc. But this
bad element that began TO flock
into the little town ultimately gave it
a reputation that II did not really
crave
Early silver City.
The town, like all mining towns.
had one principal street and Of course
II was named Main street" Here, for
about the length Of two blocks on
each side Of the street the mercantile
tered. built Of adobe and pine
There were five general stores
Porter and Crawford. Morrill, & Co r
g. Highly, NJ ". Bremen, Shyrock &
Hise; all sold general merchandise
from a pin 70 a stamp mill in the
hardware line, and everything in gro
ceries and clothing, boots and shoes,
and, Of course, liquor On the side.
There was one drug store, owned by
Dr. Bailey; there were two adobe no
tells which gave sufficient sccommo-
dations for the travelling public-as
most OF the visitors had their camp
outfit with them. and hung their
hats were night overlook them; one
Chinese laundry, owned by Charley
sun. in which eBflly-the-Kid" started
his career. Besides these there were
between 10 and Is saloons and three
dance halls scattered from hell 10
breakfast AL over town or course,
the dance halls were attached 10 the
saloons.
Chureh In q Dance HALL.
First there was BIZ McGssry's
dance hall, where the first court was
held, and, let me redeem its wicked
ness II I can, by mentioning the fact
that IL was also used for the first
church, and afterwards went 10
school there So you see old Bill
place" turned out good after all even
n Charley Bishop did pin Mexican
hand 10 q monte table with a poNte
knife for trying to steal bet trlE no
where the pulpit afterwards stood D I
Then there was Dick HOwletr's and,
last but not least that OF Don Juan
Ward AS this particular dance nan
played a conspicuous part IN Lhe via
life that followed I viii describe 10
more infinitely than the others. al
though they were all generally built
alike The building was at this time
Of adobe. one story and close onto 200
feet in length and SO feet wide lIhe
whole space Of ground is now occu-
pied by the Emporium dry goods store
on the corner Of Billiard and Broad
wayl The front part Of the building
AZ that time was gambling depart
meut- The next was the wet goods
and the cashiers department (the bar
room annex Both Of these depart
ments covered about one third Of the
building while the other. with huge
barn doors leading from the street
into a capacious hail. was the bale
room " where the denizens Of the little
town. made Up Of almost every coior
and creed. gathered Mondays, We'd I
nesdays. Saturdays and Sunday nights
10 dance and carouse- Tt cost 80 cents
q set for one TO dance in those dave, T
. cents went for the lady" and IS
cents went over the bar. and these 4
dances fthat IL. each dance did not
last lonE-just long enough for a F.
couple 10 get acquainted, when the
sonorous voice OF the caller would f.
yell. "Balauce-alL salute your part I
nsrs. Granddaughter swing
your lady once around and prOmena de 3
all. 10 the bar-r-r-r.' The dance lasted f.
until everybody was -doE-tired" and /
done to a fraZzles' OF until broad day
light in the morning. Considering the /
money spent over the bar and he
rambling tables, not only that Of Jonn ]
Wards but the others also. one can
Judge that as far as money was con-
csrned. Il was sure the best business I
Days Noisy, Too.
II the nights were wild and bolster I
Gus. the days were none the less so, Z
for an was hustle and confusion. with I
the drunken brawls and surgiug [