El Paso Has Lost Her Nerve

May 2, 1895

El Paso is no Longer Bad Medicine as it Were

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Last night a quiet game was opened up in the Gem building and the game was moving along smoothly when a visitor to the city dropped into the game and commenced losing and was behind a nice little sum when a dispute arose between the dealer and the stranger. The stranger with the remark: “Since you are trying to be so cute, just hand over the money I have lost here,” placed the muzzle of a ferocious looking pistol in the dealer’s face. This created a stampede at the table which was promptly deserted by every one except the two principals in the little play. The dealer winked his other eye at the muzzle of the savage looking gun and remarked:

“Why, yes, sir, you can get just what you want.”

A venturesome bystander, who had remained on the scene, and who furnished the reporter with the particulars, said:

“And the dealer proceeded to count out money. When he had counted $95 the stranger raked it into his packet and strolled leisurely out of the room. I tell you El Paso has lost her nerve and she can’t try to play tough anymore. Two years ago no man on earth could have walked into a house in this city and held up a game in that style and got out of the house alive. No, sir, El Paso is no good any more. She is cornered, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the stranger hold up the entire police force. Why the other night he took charge of a jack pot in a social game of poker in the same manner, and there was not grit enough in the crowd to make a kick, and I guess if I had been there I would have broke the door down getting out.”

Comments

[Octavio Solis]

Trish,

You have to keep this going forever. These are a delight to read. The history of our town is as colorful as any I have ever read and you prove it every time you post a "new" entry.

I've been a playwright for the last twenty or so years, and most of my stories take place in El Paso. I feel I could write a thousand more because this area has so much history, and culture, and controversy embedded in it.

Keep it up.

Octavio

[Cheryl]

This was cute! I love reading old newspapers, it is quite an eye-opener.

Please do continue!

[Robert S. Burke]

Why, if ol' Charles Henry Fusselman woulda been there he sure woulda shot that varmit!

[A Hillbilly]

Since I first read this story yesterday I've been unable to get the theme song from the TV series "Maverick" out of my head.

[scott]

This must have been 1895's version of the "internet toughguy".

[divisas forex]

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