The Nevada Democrat., 1858-02-17
NEVADA DEMOCRAT.
correspondence OF the Democrat.
WASHINGTON CREEK, Feb. IL, 1858

WASHINGTON CREEK Feb. IL, 1858.
Editors Democrat This is mining locality
Of no great extent, the gold being confined en-
tirsly to the bed of the stream which is narrow
and OF ne great length. It is situated about
one mile south west Of the fourishing little
town of Washington, and about twenty miles
north Of Nevada city. Gold has been taken
out Of this creek in large quantities for the last
few years. and to passer by it looks as though
It had all been worked over and over again un-
ill it could not possibly contain any more gold
yet it continues to yield up the precious metal
in quantities sufficient to remunerate the honest
miner for his laber. was thrown into this vi
cinity some years ago by circumstances which
shall not stop to relate, aud although l al
ways had an utter contempt for hard labor,
stern necessity, my daily companion, and |,
have waded, hand in hand through many trying
scenes, and turned with our cold shoulder many
heavy stone during my stay at this place; nor
was my companion, though = tyrant he had
been, willing to allow me few days for recre-
Atien even at the expiration Of four years. A
few days ago however we we're hard at work
and the old fellow was driving me up q little
tighter than usual if possible, when fortunately
for US both picked up lump OF gold of no
small dimen sions and we Immediately dissolved
partnership, taking the lump Of gold, and he
the tools, cabin and diggings After every
thing was settled told him thought he was
the hardest customer had ever met with; he
Id Iuo Al -.
morning, drove me around with his iron rod all
day, and worse than all, he neither clothed, nor
fed me well. To which he made no reply bat
gave his old withered head shake which in
terpreted to mean, "be cautious young man
lest we meet again" l then bid adieu to old
Necessity with his iron rod and we started in
different directions, he in search of another sub
ject and in search OF the fashions. hope
shall never see his face again!
| tied on my old striped cravat which like
myself, had seen better days, and off started
for Washington with my lump in my hand and
my hand in my pocket. And although my
pants were torn until they would scarcely hang
on me the pockets were as sound as they ever
were for they had never had any thing in them
before. not even jack knife. l arrived in
Washington just in time to witness a law suit
known here as tue celebrated stove case. l
crowded into the court room without hesitation
for / had been ia such places before. The
Judge Was rather good looking young man
and presided with all the dignity of country
justice; tue attorneys, some three or four in
number looked rather knowing, and from whom
considerable gas wonld escape at Intervals. Ia
king the plug hats and all into consideration
the Bench aud Bar presented rather an impo-
sing aspect. Ny next business was to look
round for the prisoner, and all being strange to
me. of course would saddle the crime upon the
worst looking man in sight. So selected my
man, but greatly 10 my surprise, in few mo-
ments found that the man who had already
condemned, turned 0ut to be the prosecuting
witness, or as the jury afterwards decided it
the persecuting witness. The trial went ON regu-
larly aud was soon over; the jury brought in
verdict Of not guilty and recommended the
court TO tax up the cost against the prosecuting
witness, which the court done aud discharged
the jury. But in the mean time tAe aforesaid
witness had abandoned his case and took up
quarters in a private house near by. Knowing
that the Washingtonites had peculiar mode Of
Furnishing gross Offenders by plunging them in
TO a large trough or pool OF freezing water,
something after the fashion Of the old Saxon
water ordeal, he watched the movements Of the
indignant crowd with fear aud trembling. In
few moments however sOme lve or six dar.
kies walked in at the front door without cere-
mony. The aforesaid witness with hat in hand
broke out at the back door, and was too much
hurried to run down the steps, SO he let all holts
go and rolled part way sdown and fell the bal
Ance, for being rather heavy man and tun-
bling dowu at such rapid rate, the steps gave
way aud they all come down together. dis
tanoe Of some ten or twelve feet but by this
fall and breaking the steps he escaped this much
dreaded water Ordeal. as the darkies had no
means Of pursueing him after the steps were
broken down. The darkies ran out at the front
door and round the house but the witness had
disappeared.
still keep my lump in my pocket rcmcm-
bering what old Grim Necessity meant when he
shook bis head l will write to you as loug rs
my meney lasts. &c.
DrD no EoI 4