The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-21
The California Miner

>'"o"S NaioAAiI 41lucTS uOr Is IL 10 Dc
wondered at, when they form their opinion
from the outlandish caricatures of human
beings, squallid and filthy looking, with
full cargoes of frying pans, picks and sho-
vels, ETC., to be found in the pictorials got
up in this State and sent home. The good
woman who sent her son to the gold mines,
looks at the picture, and fairly shudders
at the bare possibility of her boy being
such ragamuffin-looking creature. at the
same time looking apprehensively at the
nice, clean bed, prepared for him when he
returns, thinking that sundry ablutions
scrapings and combings will be necessary
before he could be permitted to have free
run of her house.
Our own ideas of California miners were
much the same before we came among
them, and it must be confessed when we
did, Tin l849) they were generally a hard
looking nation" Rags and patches were
no disgrace then, because they were fash
ionable; but now people dress respecta-
bly, though in plain clothes, adapted to
their vocation. Now and then one meets
with regular old brick :" coming from
the canons above the settlements, who
would make a respectable sign for paper
mill, provided, paper could be made from
rags so badly damaged.
Two years ago we met with miner,
whose daguerreotype would make the for
tune of the getters up of caricatures
Here was the real " live critter,' and a
more savage, ugly looking human being
could not be found in the mountains He
was returning from long prospecting
tour, driving a melancholy looking DON
key, covered with blankets, frying pans
tin cups and kettles, mining implements,
and the whole worldly estate of his master.
The man carried long, heavy rife, huge
Colts revolver, and bowie-knife about
fifteen inches long. His beard was long,
and his whole appearance was grotesque
in the extreme. His hat was set firmly on
his head, with an air of determination, and
as he Slowly climbed the hill, every now
and then applying stimulus to the donkey,
with long switch, we thought we could
distinguish an ar oi manly mail Independence
and selfconfidence which, some day or
other, would force the hills and streams
TO reward him for every step he had taken;
and we were not mistaken; he is one of
the wealthiest miners ia Sierra County,
always in advance of the crowd, and
about when new diggings are discov-
cred. Rough as he looked he was well
educated and well informed but mining
was his vocation, and he cared little for
appearances.
A jolly, independent fellow is the miner,
when the world goes we'll With him, and
the diggings pay. Seated on stool be-
fore roaring fire, he listens to the patter-
Ing of the rain on the roof, or watches the
snow piling up round his cabin, with the
utmost indifference, knowing that when
the storm is over, he can shovel away the
snow, and every day lay up something for
that mnch talked Of day-the day Of going
home. Not so with the unlucky one
e,sorthiGg he touches scents to wither and
tall to the ground like rotten branch.
He has teised long and faithfully, and the
asrdcr be asosked the less he had at the
end ef the gear. Others, apparently idle,
go&6rg about, doing nothing, seemed to
get possession ef whas he Was seeking
after, while he WIS working early and late,
gagged and perhaps with bat indifferent
food. The consciousness Of having tried
SO do right having patieptlysubmitted to
gke decree that man. should earn his
eeread 10y the sweat of his brow; having
sabored hopefully, until every bone aehed,
and at last when winter comes on and the
rain and sleet begins to dash against the
single pane Of glass in his window, and
whisk off the clapboards from his cabin
40 money, 40 provision; dealers in . mi
ners' stores" looking askance at him when
he enters, to ask credit for weeks proyi-
sion-then the miners life is different
thing. How dismally the wind means
through the tops of the fir trees. and how
it goes howiing down the canon, in very
mockery of his poverty! What wonder
then that he should grow desperate and
feel half inclined to shake hands with hon
esty, and say go thy way-at more
convenient season will call for thee" ;"
Then is the time when principle is sorely
tried, when he has to struggle with the
teachings of childhood and his inclination
to be avenged of a perverse fortune; and
chen be makes misstep which leads to
another, until he finds himself fugitive
and vagaboud.
Others there are, hopeful, persevering,
loko hot hot will fhoxy will