The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-12-21
From tho Clerelasd Plain Dealer.
The Miners Fearful Resolve.
BY WM. JARED BALI.

BY wM. JARED BALI, @
During the period of twelve years. sub,
sequent to lS4S. San Francisco California
was the theatre of more startlino events
than probably any other city on the Amer
ican continent.
This was natural consequence, attend
ing the rapid increase of population in
that city, and thefooding Of the adjacent
country with eager fortune hunters. Fv.
cry steamer that arrived, landed hundreds
perhaps thousands, of adventurers. who
came from all parts of the globe. and
rushed into this land of nrnr,:-~, IN :
mighty invading amy, comprising among
their number men and women of every
character, color and profession.
There was no friendly feeling, or com
mon sympathy expressed among them
Avariciousness was the preponderating
disposition which characterized all their
movements. There appeared to be but
one desire, and that was Gold. Gold =
To obtain which, principles-peace, and
life were freely sacrificed.
If authentic history of California-dur-
ing the period alluded to, could be writ
ten, presenting in truthful colors, all the
dark deeds Of atrocity,--let them be min
utey detailed, and what book it would
make! The most wild and imaginary fancy
of the most prolific brain could not sur
pass the truth in pictures of thrilling Incl
dents.
We now propose to rehearse ore short
scene from the great Drama Of Life, as
was enacted in that city and in doing so,
we would take the reader back 10 dark
stormy night in the month of September,
1854.
At that period, there was small frame
building, conveniently located, being but
short distance from the wharf, where the
steamers landed their passengers. The
house was occupied as boarding estab
lishment, and like many others Of SINH
lar character, the bar room constituted the
most prominent feature.
The tenement was one story and half
high, and about eighteen by twenty -four
feet on the ground. 1t stood upon four
large blocks of wood, one at each corner,
which raised the first floor about three
feet above pool of stagnant water, and
the entrance to the building was effected
by means of an old dry goods box, turned
down in front, answering the purpose Of
more convenient steps.
The lower portion of the structure, con-
tanned but two apartments-a bar room
and dining hall. The latter was also used
for kitchen and larder. The attic or loft,
was partitioned off into several small dor
mitories, with fragments of old canvass,
hanging at the entrance, as succedareum
for doors.
The furniture Of each apartment, con-
sisted of two coarse dirty blankets, spread
on the bare floor, a small tick filled with
straw for a pillow, aud one wooden stool.
Th ese articles constituted the entire ac-
commodations of each chamber; and the
price for the luxury, was one dollar a
night.
Iu one Of these attic rooms, on the
night to which we alude, was man, who
was walking slowly to and fro with sad
detected countensnce. On the stool near
u TIE bianket-bed was lamp, which filled
the little room with pale tlickering light;
yet sufficient to reveal the expression upon
the mans features.
dis arms were folded, his eyes fixed in
steady gaze on the floor, and his thoughts
seemed busy, wrapping his whole soul IN
silent, profound meditation.
His habiliments we're coarse, his hail
long, and his beard thick and heavy; but
his high brow, keen black eye, and finely
cut lips denoted man of intelligence
and his movements evinced an air of Ie-
fnement, far above his present position.
1t was evident that something unusual
had befallen the man-some sudden mis-
fortune, which had taken deep hold upoI
bis thoughts.
Having continued his walk for some tim
he halted abruptly, removed the LAM
from the stool, and placed it on the floor
lie then seated himself, bowed his face for
ward in his hands, rested an elbow oil
either knee, and gave utterance to the fol
lowing soliloquy:
Fate has followed me since the day
of my childhood. At eighteen years o
age, | fell in love with beautiful youn.
lady. She was poor in worldly goods, bu
superlatively wealthy in goodness of hear
and disposition. She was a seamstress
and obtained her living by going fror
house to house in the capacity of sewing
girl. loved her with all my youthful
ardor-fondly and truly; but my parent
were rich, aristoeratic, and forbade ou
union, simply because she was poor. Or
position only served to increase our love
and we were married. Father becam
desperate and cast me off. lie refused m
to visit my former home. Anticipatin
this, had previously provided myse
with a situation as clerk in a store. An
for year we lived in the most perfeo
happiness. If | bad continued there,
might have avoided these misfortunes
but the California gold fever broke OF
about this time, and everybody was goin
, to the land of promise, where they coul
scrape up shovel fulls of the preciot
: metal without scarce an effort l caugl
the flattering contagion, and pictured
! the future, a palace home, with servan
! and all the luxuries of wealth, opulent
, and ease. Mary would sometimes lea
: over my shoulder and whisper in my e;
; - better let peH enough alone , but
, wanted to be rich, and imagined tha,
3 could only 60 and remain few month
I sLonld be worth even more than M