The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-02-13
When "The Chicken
Got Religion


who was Shanghai" Browns chief
runner during the latter SOS. The
Chicken was an artist in evil, and his
imaginative villainies have made him
legendary hero of the fo'c'stle. The
Chicken, moreover, enjoys the unique
distinction of being the last man to
swing in the old Jail; for he rounded
out his career in Frisco with partic-
ularly brutal murder, which aroused
the city.
In view of his life and his manner
of dying, story which features the
Chickens spiritual awakening may
seem far fetched. Yet the most pop
ular dog watch yarn about The Chick
en-, and the one which perhaps best
illustrates the character of the man,
is the tale of how he got religion.
The incident occurred during peri
cd when sailors happened to be as
scarce in the Port of Adventure
as parakeets. Loaded ships were
clamoring for sailors and the board
ing houses were empty.
The clipper Red Jacket, particu-
larly hot Yankee packet, lay in the
stream, ready to go to sea with the
morning tide. Shanghai" Brown had
contracted to supply her with crew
in the proportion of three to one
which means three skilled seaman to
one ignorant "stiff''-and by prodi-
gious efforts he had nearly succeeded
in discharging these terms. The men
promised, with one exception, were
safely on board, holding wassail in
the forecastle, beneath the watchful
guard Of the clippers mates. The
missing man was sailorman.
Shanghai" had not been able to find
him in the port. He could, of course,
"crimp another stiff" and send him
on board to make up the promised
number. But he had given his word
that so many of the men he supplied
would be sailormen, and it was point
of honor with Shanghai" Brown new
er to go back on his word. The man
he must crimp before the tide turned
must have obtained his A. B. degree
by actual work, not by a crimp's ia
vor.
He called The Chicken to him and
explained the circumstances The
Chicken must put man on board the
Red Jacket before the ebb. Details
Shanghai" left to his subordinate.
"But no stiff; he's got to be real
shellback, he admonished.
The Chicken was an adept at this
eleventh hour work, and with con-
fdence bred of a knowledge set out
with his sandbag up his sleeve to
scour the coast for the missing sailor.
And here is where, in the dog
watch yarn, the narIator's voice be-
comes low and awesome. For it
seemed that Providence was sitting in
the game. The Chicken, as he stepped
out of Shanghai's groggery bound up
on his nefarious mission, found him
self confronted by a militant cru
sader of the Lord.
There was in the Port of Adventure
at this time widely known charae-
ter whom the water front dubbed
"Holy joe" He was self appointed
preacher of the gospel, street cor
ner evangelist. He had been sailor;
indeed he was an ex-packet rat; but
his nature had experienced revolu-
ton at some mission meeting and he
had embraced religion. For years he
front. He belonged to some Pente-
costal sect, but in his own evangeliz-
ing preferred to work alone. He went
through streets of Sailortown nightly,
man with flaming heart and boom
ing voice, pleading with the denizens
of the district to forsake the flesh.
1t was Holy Joe The Chicken saw
as he left the crimp's house-Holy
Joe, standing by the curb, the center
of knot of curious, engaged In pour
ing birthstone and sulphur upon the
heads of evil doors and promising ev-
erlasting delight to those who would |
purge their hearts of evil.
The Chicken had never been known
to listen to such words. He was
famed as an irreverent scoffer. But
this time, for some inexplicable rea-
son, he joined the group about Holy
Joe and proceeded to pay earnest at
tention to the evangelist's burning
words. Holy Joe, recognizing the no.
tor:ous flash man, redoubled his ex-
hortations; indeed, he began to preach
directly to The Chicken.
And to the establishment of the on
lockers, The Chicken was touched.
Holy Joe's words seemed to pierce the
hard crust of evil that incased the
tough's soul-seemed to fan into
flame the spark of decency which, 1T
is said, the most abandoned creature
possesses. The Chicken suddenly COM