The Placer herald., 1857-01-03
From the Sierra Citizen.
OLD TIMES.
BY YOUTH.

lankee by the Company with whom he came
across the Plains in 80, who were western
men, and who called everybody Yankee
that was from the East of them.
'4ank," as we used to call him, was
short, square-bui!t, rawboned man, with
cadaverous countenance, shaggy, light hair,
and altogether Just such man as is often
mistaken for a sucker by the knowing ones.
He was indisputably one Of the "rutf's," that
is, fellow that, by both habits and dispo-
siton, was calculated to trough his way
through the world" able to receive, and al
ways unlucl>y enough to catch majority Of
all the hard thumps that came anywhere in
his way. He was one of our company of
four that wintered together in 80 in soil
tary little log cabin, on little bar remote
from any other miners. We had it all our
own way then-our dggings paid well, and
we were undisturbed by neghbors, until one
day company Of Missourans came along
prospecting, and one Of their number having
met with an accident by which he was un-
able to travel with ease, and were desirous
Of leaving him, in company with another Of
their companions, until such a time as he
might be able to resume his journey, or until
ing so comfortable, with wood and water
handy, he was desrous Of remaining there.
One OF the company came to us, stating the
circumstances, asked us if there was any place
where the two men might work and make
something for a while. This request was
sanctioned, when Yankee very generously
showed them portion of our ground that we
would not want to work for some time, and
gave them the privilege of working there
until such time as we would want it. They
were very thankful, and the next morning
set to work with zeal, the lame man filling
the buckets for the other to carry and wash.
The remainder of the company left.
Thus things went on for several weeks.
ed, when one day the others returned; and
the next morning, to our surprise, all hands
were at work with the other two. We
then thought that, as they must be either
hogs or fools, we would not let them work
any more at all; so that evening, "Yank"
went to their tent and told them that the
company did not want them to work out any
more of our ground, when they came out,
as the saying is at-footed,n and said they
would work there or anywhere else on the
bar as much as they pleased. In return,
Yankee assured them that he would whip
the first one Of them he caught on the ground
in the morning; he then came home and in
formed us of the success of his mission, and
his determination that we all resolved that
we would drive off that crowd or perish in
the attempt.
Early the next morning, while we were
eating our breakfast, the Mssourians were
seen at work; out rushed Yank without his
hat, and commenced to fire volley Of rocks
down into the hole among the crowd, each
stone accompanied by an oath; and out of
the hole and up the bank they come-three
to one of us in number-but we were armed,
as the poet says, with just cause, and he
that is, is trebly armed. When they got
upon the bank there was general cessation
OF hostties for few moments, when one
OF their company-a stalwart, far-ooking
fellow, of both pleasing manners and address,
whom they called "Bob"-stepped forward
and said that he believed that they had as
much right to that ground as we had, and
that he would always fghtfor his rights; but
that as his crowd was so much larger than
our own that it would be one-sided affair."
he had come forward to propose settling it
by single contest, and if we felt 50 inclined
he would fight any man in our crowd for
the claims; if he was whipped, he and his
company would leave the ground and give
us no more trouble; but if he whipped his
man we were to do the same
This we would have protested against as
untair-they having no shadow Of right to
the claims-but Iank left us no time for
remonstance or parley and as the spokes-
man, Bob, was through, he pulled off his
coat and said that was fair, and all that any
honorable man could ask, and that he was
the man that would fight the devil and all
Missouri for his rights Both parties in
moment declared their readiness, each one
enjoining upon his friends to not interfere
until he should call upon them and at it
they went with will.
Yank soon found that his superiority lay
in striking; being possessed of considerable
skill and great strength, his blows told thick
and fast upon his antagonist, who rushed in
and then closed, both falling and fighting;
they would then rise as if by mutual consent,
and another round Of blows would succeed
ending each time by cinch, until, at last,
wel,directed blow from Yank's huge fist,
felled his antagonist, who by falling head
down hill, fell in such position that his head
and shoulders were completely wedged be-
tween two large boulders; Yank Immediately
sprang upon him and punished him severely.
The fellow made some almost superhuman
efforts to release himself, but finding that
he could not, neither could he in any man
ner defend himself, or resist his opponent,
he was compelled by force Of circumstances
to yield, after enduring punishment that
would have almost killed an OK. He and
Yank were Immediately cared for. Both
were taken to our cabin, and their wounds
fixed up as we'll as possible; but some of the
| Missourians still manifested signs of reuc-