Here rowdyism has
taken its most aggravated form, and was it not for the exceedingly
stringent ordinances (some of which are unconstitutional) and a fair
attempt to enforce them, the town would be suddenly depopulated and very
much in the same manner as Ireland got rid of her snakes. Seventeen
saloons furnish inspiration, and many people become inspired—not to say
drunk. Every facility is afforded for the exercise of conviviality, and no
restriction is placed on licentiousness. The town is full of prostitutes
and every other house is a brothel.
Dodge by day and
Dodge by night are different
towns. Gazing up the principal street, at high noon, nothing may be seen
but a few sleepy looking barkeepers sunning themselves in front of their
respective saloons, a few cow-boys who spent the night in debauchery and
who are trying to “sober up” enough to ride, and Marshal Deiger [Deger]
with his ubiquitous police force. But with the coming of darkness all is
changed. Gamblers crawl from no one knows and man innumerable gambling
devices; the city street is brilliantly lighted and thronged with gaudily
dressed women, and men whose garb betokens the cow-boy; from every saloon
proceed rollicking strains of music (and good music it is, too) that go
floating out into the darkness to repeat the tale of degradation; the
dance halls are crowded with lewd women and rough men who plunge into the
intricacies of the dance with a reckless abandon, and inflamed by drink,
make the night hideous with their boisterous revelries, and so through the
night it goes.
But I do not wish to be understood to say
Dodge has no respectable
citizens. She has many very highly respectable people, but I would also
remark in this connection that rowdyism elsewhere would pass as a modified
form of respectability in this benighted city.
There are many good citizens who earn a living in an honorable way, and
very agreeable we found them too; but the bad are in the majority.
A shrill scream was heard and a moment later a woman with a battered
visage appears on the street and informs Marshal Deger that a “feller” had
performed an operation upon her, known as “slugology” in police court
idiom. Marshal Deger gave his pistol a slight hitch, and in ten minutes
appeared at police headquarters, puffing and blowing like a tug-boat, but
with the “feller” in tow. A few lazy loafers gather around Frost, with a
dignity, born of long practice, ridiculous in its conception and absurd in
its execution, arraigns the prisoner and elicits a sullen “Not Guilty!”
Attorney Colborn produces his evidence and in a masterly speech
demonstrates the guilt of the woman beater, and the total unreliability of
his legal opponent. The legal opponent is riled and proceeds to annihilate
Mr. Colborn after the most approved and long established custom. From one
thing to another they pass and human carnage is imminent; but the
lacerated feelings are amicably poulticed, and the Judge finds the
prisoner guilty. Then the woman pays her “feller’s” fine, and goes out
with the proud consciousness of having been revenged. Such is life, and
this is an every day occurrence in
Dodge.
Dodge has a live little
newspaper, and I have often wondered how the editors escaped the wrath of
the many “hard cases” written up in its columns. But now all is clear. The
said editors are the “hardest” of them all.'
If the editor of the Sentinel, in his afterlife, ever has occasion
to travel, or visit any other large city like
Dodge, he will there find the
naughty as well as the good, and he is at liberty to choose his crowd.
During his stay here, the poor boy, was carried away by the giddy
creatures of whom he has so much to say, and at times the lewd desire
seized him and his fondest hope and highest ambition was to “cut him out a
girl”, lay down the quill, and earn his bread “gulping gilleys.” But we
advise him to seek better society, be virtuous and be happy."
October 6, 1877 - Russell, Kansas
Record, commenting upon the article in the Hays Sentinel
"We are of opinion that Montgomery’s indignation was only assumed, and
that it was an alarm sounded to detract attention from the frailties of
his own town, as when the curtains of night are drawn, Hays falls into the
hands of the saloon keepers and the Bacchanalian revel begins which throws
Dodge City in the shade. So
Brother Montgomery, before you proceed to hunt for a “smote” in the eye of
Dodge, you had better pull the
“beam” from your eye. "
November
24, 1877 - Hays City, Kansas Sentinel
"It is not the absence of good society, culture, and refinement that is
depopulating Dodge; it is the
exorbitant price of beer."
December
8, 1877 - Dodge City Times
"There is an evident purpose to malign and create false impressions that a
person here is insecure in life, and that the citizens of
Dodge City are walking
howitzers. This is a bad impression that should by all means be corrected.
Having but a short residence in this town, it is our deliberate opinion,
from a careful observation, that Dodge City
is as quiet and orderly as any town of its size in Kansas. We have been
treated with the utmost cordiality. We have observed officers prompt and
efficient in the discharge of their duties. There is an ordinance
prohibiting the carrying of firearms, which is rigidly enforced. The
citizens are cordial, industrious, and display a business alacrity
characteristic of the frontier tradesman.
We are surprised to note the difference of character of this town and the
impression aimed to be made upon us before coming here. There is a lurking
jealousy somewhere, that gives rise to false rumors, and we trust every
citizen of Dodge City will
correct these false impressions as far as lies in his power.
Time alone would efface bad impressions and false rumors, but forbearance
ceases to be a virtue, and we kindly protest."
December
29, 1877 - Dodge City Times
"Every blackguard that comes to
Dodge City, after being filled
with cheap whisky, generously and gratuitously given, goes home and writes
and talks about the bad character of this town. We observe that these
fellows like “to do the city of
Dodge by gaslight.” The dance houses, in which they lug and hug the
frail creatures, are the special scenes of attraction, and in which they
weary away the dull hours until midnight “train time.”
Continued
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