Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-08-21
BY COVER & GOLDSMITH.

Whlie on the third, was a jolly set OF tht
sons of Bacehus seated around the conYiv.
ial board with fire III their eyes, and dev
il-may look spread all over the face
with their glasses poised far above thei
heads, displaying all the nonsensical ful
and frolic which is seen under the inspira
tions Of potations 'sdeep and strong.'
In the rear Of the house and opening in
to it, was the ball alley with its long, mar
row and smoothly Polished bed, running
down along low building, and bringin,
up against small Hrmy Of well battere1
.'pins, I presentla2, a sFesssa-shape appear
ance, ana arranged like the. small band .
a devoted captain in the time. of s'war's a
larums," to receive as little injury as posi-
bic from the attacks Of the enemy. Thes,
were under the immediate command Q
| one OF those nondescript specimens O
"Young America" without home, kindred
or friends, always found around similar in
stitutions, with. garments ''all tattered an,
torn," feet guiltless of shoes, and head
long time a stranger to even a Frenchman'
rejected cAapeau; and hair, pointing so un
errlngly to every point of the compass as t.
make even Fury sigh for the possession
of it.
At this western Mecca, the miners, s'il
all this region round about" particular
on Saturdays, Sundays and rainy days
would make a pious pilgrimage, and be SC
constant and punctual in their attendance
and deyout in their prisons, that they WOO
have forced from faithful Mussulrnan wit
Messing them, the reverent ejaculation from
the sincere depths of his soul, that "Allal
IS Allah, Mahomet is his prophet, an(
these devoted worshippers will sit within
the spiritual shadow Of the prophets hea
venly wings"
At these weekly gatherings, besides The
athletic sports Of wrestling, vaulting ans
throwing quoits, which the '|boys" as they
Familiarity style themselves, would earnest
" engage with an ardor and zest which
plainly told they enjoyed the fln. A few
quiet ones Of secluded habits and afraid O
the worlds earnest gaze, would retire to al
upper room where convenient seats and Ia
bic invite to social hand Of poker, or the
more enlivening game Of euchre.
Here and there would be grouped to
gether few companions on the shady side
OF the house, whose less excitable tempe
raTnents led them to trial of luck with {
pack, whose greasy appearance gave indu
b;table evidence Of hard service in many
sporting campaigns, merely for the purpose
Of having a little fun, killing time, and as
certainfng who should pay the "shot' fol
tie company aS tho r.
Not far from these, and still within The
outrageous influence Of the east side o
the saloon, other knots of men would ge
together and while away the hours Will
the recital Of marvellous tales of bordeI
life, startling adventures with the wild
beasts Of the forest, the sanguinary encoun
ters with the warlike tribes of red men @
the west, and the last brilliant discovery o
mineral, and the probable effect it woult
have upon the fortunes Of the lucky digger
Such We're some of the means resorteC
to by the miners to relieve the tedium o
their digging and mining life, and to com
of those higher and more rational social adj
yantages and pleasures which an older anC
more refined state of society always afford
ed, and which their isolated state rendered
almost impossible for them.
Sometimes these sports, for the purpose
Of producing pleasing variety, would b,
exchanged for the foot-race, the trial o
speed by horses, and similar more manly
pastlmes; and such mainly would be thei
character nearly the year round.
Not unlike this scene, was that present
ed on the afternoon of Saturday, Angus
10th 1888, at the time our first sketch 0
pens. 1t was about three o'clock in til,
afternoon Of that day, when the miner
who were as usual, congregated about tn,
Light House, were intent upon their seye
raj games, when, just as these occurred
quite a pause in the more noisy and vocif
erous part Of their pleasant pursuits, and
silence unusual on such occasions, ensued
a voice, upon a sudden, strong, piercing
and clear, rung out upon the still sky, from
distance, and penetrated every one as
sembled. The kinds of sport in which the,
were all most deeply absorbed, were in
stantly dropped, and each became an anx
ious listener, eager to catch the full mean
ing of the sound. This produced profoun,
silence over the entire assemblage, and en-
abled all to hear the voice with great dis
tinctness. 1t was soon ascertained to b
most earnest and vehement cries for assist
ance, and to proceed from man who wa
distant about 40 rods. All eyes soon res
ted upon the person shouting, who, the
soon learned was man who had been
resident Of the mines but a few months
and who, from certain peeuliarities, in hi
mode Of speech, the unnatural tone of hi
voice, at times a deep cultural, and the
a sharp, shrill soprano, with shakes an
trills intermixed frequently with the sud
den transitions from the high to the 10,
key--the singular manner of conveying hi
thoughts, in which the rapid changes q
his countenance, from the oomical bun
lesqueness to the most painful contortion
would act conspicuous part, accompanies
by grotesque gesticulations, odd and eccer
trio pastures, at one time placing his arm
akimbo, and as suddenly changing them t
positions at right angles with his bod,
then flinging them into thesair, describin
circles, and bringing them with a power
full jerk down to his sides as rigid as thos
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