A Saloon Shootout Averted
A Montana man faces justice after drawing a pistol in a Mill Street saloon over a gambling dispute.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Yesterday afternoon a stranger from Butte, Montana, named Chas. Herber, while playing pigeon-hole in Wolff’s saloon, on Mill street, with several persons, had reason to believe that Michael Brink, the game keeper, was swindling him. Herber lost his temper and followed it up by drawing his pistol, but, before it was raised, the proprietor had hold of the man and threw him out. Brink went at once to Chief Woolery and lodged complaint against the gentleman from Montana. He was arrested, and an examination had before Justice Cann, which resulted in a fine of $40 and costs, amounting in all to $49. Shifting open his coat, the stranger drew forth a fifty dollar bill, settled up, and left.
“Shifting open his coat, the stranger drew forth a fifty dollar bill, settled up, and left.”
Mill Street, known today as Yesler Way, was the pulsing, sometimes dangerous heart of pioneer Seattle. Disputes over gambling and honor in the city's saloons were standard, often ending in police intervention or informal justice.
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