The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-24
WINE, WOMEN AND
SONG HIS UNDO|NG
Continued From Page y

America, but I spent it all in drtnk-
ing bouts and on ONE 1 have
made good money, and spent all
that, too.
But to start at the beginning. I
was a victim of child labor, in the
first place. Struggling to get a start
in the world, my parents allowed
me to go to work when a little chap,
pulling tobacco in d factory. 1
earned rs cents a week, working ten
hours a day. So 1 never got much
education in school, though 1
learned lots later on.
Not enough to keep me out of the
poorhouse, though, when I grew old.
Was A Drifter
Despite the work, however. I grew
up into a strong, chunky man, and
became an iron moulder. I drifted
from the East through the Middle
| West, and finally into the Far West,
following my trade. or doing all
sorts Of jobs.
In the Seventies I was working in
wyoming. 1 saved up S4tS in eleven
months work, never touching a drop.
1 decided to go back East, and got
into Cheyenne. Wyo., where things
we're wide open, and you were lone
some If you were sober. 1 have
seen bartenders sweep dimes and
nickels out with other trash. No
bcdy would have them.
Il believe I'll take one glass OF
beer" I told myself. AT the end of
nine days I aid not have q dime, I
had spent It all on liquor. which
was mighty high priced there in
those days.
[ was hard to down IN a drinking
ccrtest. l can tell you. I have
drunk many a pint of raw whisky
without stopping for breath. That's
the main reason I am here today.
Arrested as Deserter
Well, l was broke. with nothing
except some clothes I had bought
from a soldier at the fort three miles
out Of town. General Custer. who
was killed the next year, was IN
charge Of the troops.
They arrested mo as a d~eserter.
because of the clothes I wore, and
for sixteen days I vas in the guard
house. We had to turn out every
morning and stand In a line while
they went through some sort Of re-
view. I wasn't a soldier. but they
hit me with the fiat part OF a saber,
and I soon learned to stand still. l
will never forget how General Gus
ter looked. as he sat on n white
horse. He was killed next year.
I finally convinced the Army 7
was not a deserter. n they let me
loose. 7 took 10 the open road. and
had a good time. making a little
money and spending it. I worked
for an undertaken two years. Then
I returned to Indianapolis, where 7
married. My wife and baby are
buried ove there in the cemetery,
where I bought Il lot. That was
years ago
Second Fortune Spent
I inherited several thousand dol.
lars shortly after. and It all went
Ike the rest. : have been here
many years, excert one tiuAe when
I went on a visit to New York.
where my sister lived I had not
seen her in forty-nine years. They
had four automobiles, and lived IN
a fine house. I have this little oom
II IS all my fault though. She mar
rled a good man. who stayed Mt home
and worked, and they saved their
money and sem their children TO
church. with what she inherited
and what they saved It was the
foundation OF a fortune. Mine was
spent I'm barrel houses.
I am happy here though, I dream
at night about the iron rails curling
about the rollers. with Kissing
sparks flying. or the bugles playing
at that Army post. 7 liked that best,
and wish I was back there now. as
young az 7 was then. Or I think
OF he beautiful faces Of the girls
whose kisses I bought. I guess they
are all dead now. long ago.
That's all.