The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-08-13
Select Gale.
From the waverley Magazine.
THE DIGGER yQUlW.
a TALE OF CALIFORNIA
BY ANDREW JACKSON PLUMB.

Dl ANOhEN JhOhoON fbOMos
"ROU GH AND READ Y''
is the unique name of a small mining
town in Nevada County, California, three
miles south Of Grass Valley, possessing a
population of about five hundred SOULS
The town derived its name partly on ac-
count of the roughness of the craggy
mountain with which it is environed, and
partly ON account of General Taylor, who
was termed "Rough and Ready" for the
roughness of his physique and the readi-
ness with which he engaged the Mexicans
in our late conflict with that country.
Rough and Ready lies between two
huge mountains, the main and only street
of which bridges ravine, the stores and
dwellings fabking the stream under the
plank road. There are FIVE inferior ho-
tells three blacksmith shops, two banking.
houses, post Office and about sixty stores
in the place, constructed of native tim
Der of the crudest architectural mould
The ravines that thread this mountainous
section of California are studded with log
cabins, in which the weary miner par
takes of his coarse viands and rests his
fatigued limbs. Deer Greek threads its
meandering course through green known
as Kentucky Flat, within about a mile Of
Rough aud Ready; and close by the side
OF this gurgling stream, on this Flat, was
an isolated cabin, the home of a young
adventurous miner, whose euphonious
name was Philo Greenville had left the
Atlantic States in 40, on board the ship
"Clicker." which sailed from New York
on the first Of June of that year, and had,
after a perilous passage Of one hundred
and ninety days, via Cape Horn, arrived
at San Francisco. Immediately after his
arrival he started for the northern mines,
and shortly after located claim in
Nevada County, about ten miles above the
city of Nevada
Three years circled away, during which
time Greenyille had made fortunes and as
qucNly lost them; until, saddeued at
heart, he took to drinking and gambling
inveteratel y-so much so that his indif-
ferent acquaintance said that "he'd soon
measure his length in Death cabin"
So dissipated had young Greenvile be.
come that he lost employment and friends.
One day while ltborng under the effects
of ntoxcation, he wandered over the
mountains as far as Nevada City, at which
place he reveled the night through with
the most dissolute characters of the place
until daybreak, when he concluded TO go
as far as Grass Valley, three miles below
Nevada; but not finding things exactly
right for him there. he kept on until he
reached Rough and Ready, after drain.
ing the last drop of fre.huid from the
bottle.
When the next morning sun had rs-
en- above the mountain tops, Philo Green
vile had. slept away his inebriety, and
was once more sober man. AS he was
walking peusively along the bank of Deer
Greek, he espied something on the sur
face Of The rapid stream; and, as the OBJ
ject appropriated him. he saw that it was
a young pappoose, or Indian child. bound
up, mmy-like. in coarse blankets
GiSenville possessed considerable pres
Fence Of mind, and, as quick as electric
Thought. he dashed into the river, grasp
I'd the sinking infant and saved it froms
|imminent danger. After he had gained
the shore with his burden, Greenville sa
on rock, buried in deep cogtaton as to
elloy the infant could lave got into the
eam, when he was aroused from his
rie by the snatehng of the child from
IRis arms. by its mother, who said, rather
NmarticulFely, { Megican save Pee-kee-
PlMerican save Indian' at the same time
hlling on her knees at his feet. a
This young mother, whose name was
lOkewa, was the granddaughter of Mo.
Tam Kee, the late great chief Of the Dig1
Der tribe, who, in 1924, made such hay-
oD with his sboriginal enemies As the
tribe had, subsequently, to this chiefs
death. became divided and its unity lost
as an Indian, 0kewa, of course. had no
claims toespecial homage from the nom
adIc divisions Of her race. What was
anomalous OF her race. she had married
a Cherokee, whose chief characteristics
We're aziness, yindictiveness, low cunning
and 'subbornness. 0kewa had to earn
all the money, and this she did by wash
ing earth in Deer Creek, by which pro
cess she collected gold dust enough to
get what liltle necessaries she desired for
herself, child and husband.
Being on Deer Greek that morning
! Washing gold she had left her infant on
| tie margin of the stream, on its bank
A short distance from where the child
vas left, an estuary. or narrow arm,
b\anched off from the creek, across which
alree had fell forming a perfect dam,
casing the water to rise rapidly and OVER
Aadw, cutting a channel TO right where the
.lay, carrying the pappoose into the
stream, upon the bosom Of which
Alllv had found it. at peri
kets, in which it was en-
aspme saturated enough