Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-06-21

OF course you can satisfactorily prove the
justice of your title"
Certainly can, and make it good too"
said the first speaker, with a coarse laugh
p" Come down here and I'll show you"
Frank followed him down the ravine, around
bend some distance below, to tree, the
base of which was hidden from the claim
above, upon which was nailed miners notice,
claiming the ground several hundred feet up
the rayine.
When was this notice placed here ?" said
Frank, with a sigh of regret, as he thought
OF the treasure about to be taken from him
did not see it this morning as / came
down here for wood"
'That is because you did not look" re-
turned the other { but read foryourself and
you will find out"
Frank stepped to the tree and read /:
Dated, May 18th.
That was four days ago ?n
Exactly"
T" How long did the rain last which ended
yesterday? 2" inquired Frank.
" Two days Of as hard raining as ever
was done," growled the man; "it carried
away dam for me that took me week to
build'
(Which way was the wind |" pursued
Frank.
" East" was the very laconic reply why
do you ask
" Because" replied Frank, with smile of
triumph, " that notice is on the east side of
the tree, and the sand is not washed from the
writing how do you explain thatr
don't know or care" replied the fellow,
in angry confusion "but this much do
know-'tis my ground and I'll have it
" Have you driven any stakes" asked
Frank.
"No-and don't intend to, until get
ready" he answered.
" Very well" said Frank, calmly, ait is
useless for me to talk with you-if this is
your ground you must establish legal claim
to it. shall not give it up, unless compelled
to do so by legal means"
"We'll see about that, old boy" said the
rough claimant; "you had better travel
without any trouble"
So saying, he departed, followed by his
gang.
Our friends, satisfied that this was an at
tempt to wrong them, quietly went back to
their work, confident that they could retain
possession of their claim by law
The next morning they had not been long
at work, when they were again visited by the
party of the previous evening, with the re
ncwed demand that they should leave.
" You had better shoulder your traps and
be off as quick as God will let you; I've
called a miners meeting, and they will give
me my claim, sure as I'LL"
= | shall object to decision Of this dispute
by miners meeting" said Harry ave are
strangers here, and strangers cannot receive
justice when opposed to old residents of O
place but if you will go with us before q
Justice, we will each state our title and abide
by his decision"
" III be id if / do" was the answer
" the miners are coming to settle it, aud they
shall do it,"
"Bll," he continued, to one of his party,
"you go and bring the boys down here"
The fellow departed. presently returning
with about twenty men, between whom and
the party already on the ground, existed a
striking resemblance, in dress and appearance.
They Immediately organized their meeting,
chose president, and requested the disput.
ants to state their claims The opponent OF
our friends came forward and told his story,
the substance of which is already before the
reader At his close the president called
upon Frank for his defence. Frank stated,
in few words, that the meeting was called
without the customary notice being given,
and with the consent of but one party, to
abide by its decision and was therefore,
in reality n mob, instead of chosen tri-
bunal Of justice. He informed them that
no stakes had been set, no prospecting done
on the ground he also stated that the
notice purported to have been on the tree
for five days through severe rain, which
was not possible, or the sand would have
been washed from the writing. With this
statement he left them, and joined Harry in
the claim.
Gentlemen" said the president ''youye
heard the evidence, and it remains for you to
decide. by vote which party is entitled to this
ground"
The vote was Immediately put and deci-
ded in favor of the last claimant, with but
one or two dissenting voices; the owners of
these probably instructed for the occasion, in
order to give to the proceedings some slight
show of justice.
"And / move,' exclaimed one, chat we
put Mike Henley in possession of his ground
This was also carried, and committee,
headed by Mike Henley himself, entered the
claim, and commenced throwing out the tools
The brothers did not resist, for they were
greatly outnumbered; but the flashing eyes
of each showed how keenly they felt the in
Justice done them. Having removed the mi
ming implements Mike Henley approached
Frank with smile Of malignant triumph up