HAD THE DROP ON 'EM.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3576, 12 June 1880, Page 4

HAD THE DROP ON 'EM.

Black, Run, as any map may fail to show, is situated in the Colorado mining district, and the Baptist Church is presided over by an able and athletic preacher. On the fourth Sunday in February last, a collection was taken for the Franz Josef land mission, and the plate was passed around by one of the deacons. There was present a miner from Bed Gulch, who was anxious, as he phrased it, to * put up' for the Franz Josef heathen, but who had no coin smaller than a twenty-dollar gold piece. When the plate reached him, he inquired in a low tone: " How much is the ante?" The deacon told him he could contribute whatever be chose. " Then," replied the ingenious miner, " I'll chip fy-dollar gold piece, and undertook to withdraw $19. This the deacon objected, on the ground that no change was given at that establishment. A struggle ensued, in the course of which the plate was upset, and the entire congregation rushed to pick up the scattered money. *• Had it not been for the^presence of mind of the presiding minister the .entire.ajn.pnnt already collected would have beenJ|b»lribed-by reckless persons eager tdtoiz&'jmnp the deacon's claim "—as the local papers subsequently expressed i\f. rThe minister, fortunately, happened to bo an old Californian who thoroughly understood the true way of dealing with a Colorado assembly. Drawing a heavy revolver ajid leaning it on the edge of the pulpit, he demanded ''order," in a stentorian voice. " The brethern," he remarked, " will please take notice that I've got the drop on them, and brother who' declines to go to his seat, or who touches any of that money, will have a funeral at his house tomorrow at 2 o'clock p.m. Our mining friend from Bed Gulch will please let go the deacon's necktie, or he is a dead man." Tbis address, together with the minister's known reputation as a pistol shot, instantly restored order, and the deacon picked up the scattered money, including the twenty-dollar gold piece resumed the collection, and the service proceeded without further interruption.—New York Times.

Tailora—