Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-02-15
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THE MINERS FEARF Ill RESOLVE.
A TALE OF CALIFORNIA.
BY WILLIAM JARED HALL.


MIA, was the theater Of more startling
events than probably any other city OF
the American continent,
This was natural consequence at
tending the rapid increase of population
in that city, and the flooding of the ad
jacent country with eager fortune-hunt
ers. Every steamer that arrived, LANDED
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of adven
turers, who came from all parts of thu
globe and rushed into this land of pro
mise, like mighty invading army, com
prising among their number, men anC
women of every character, color and pro.
fession.
There was no friendly feeling or COM
mon sympathy expressed among them.
Righteousness was the prepondering dis
position which characterized all theil
movements. There appeared to be but
one desire, and that was Gold Gold i
To obtain which, principles, peace and
life were freely sacrificed.
If an authentic history of California,
during the period alluded to, could be
written, presenting in truthful colors, all
the dark deeds of atrocity--let them be
minutely detailed, and what book il
would make The most wild and imagi-
native fancy of the most prolific brain,
could not surpass the truth in pictures OF
thrilling incidents.
We now propose to rehearse one short
scene from the great Drawer of Life, as
it was enacted in that city; and in doing
so, we would take the reader back to a
dark stormy night in the month of Sep
TENDER, 1854.
At that period, there was q small frame
building, conveniently located, being but
short distance from the wharf, where
the steamers landed their passengers. -
The house was occupied as boarding
establishment, and, like many others OF
a similar character, the 6dr-room consti-
tuted the most prominent feature.
The tenement was one story and halt
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 stagnaut water
and the entrance Of the building was eff.
fected by means of an old ry-goods-box
turned down in the front, answering the
purpose of more convenient steps.
The lower portion of the structure
contained but two apartments--a bar
room and dining-hall. The latter wa'
also used for kitchen and larder. The
attic or loft was partitioned off into seye.
raj small dormitories, with fragments o.
old canvass, hanging at the entrance, a.
succedaneum for doors
The furniture of each apartment con.
sisted of two coarse dirty blankets, spread
on the bare floor, small tick filed witt
straw for pillow, and one wooden stool
These articles constituted the entire &C.
commodations Of each chamber and the
price for the luxury was one dollar q
night.
In one Of these attic rooms, on the
night to which we allude, was a man
who was walking to and fro with a sad
detected countenance. On the stool neal
the blanket-bed was a lamp which illeG
the little room With a pale Pickering
light; sufficient to reveal the expression
upon the mans features.
His arms were folded, his eyes fixed in
a steady gaze on the floor, and hii
thoughts seemed busy, wrapping bis
whole soul in silent, profound media
ton.
His habiliments were coarse, his hail
long and bis 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 re-
fnement, far above his present position
It was evident that something unusual
bad befallen the man-some sudden mis-
fortune, which had taken deep hold upon
his thoughts.
Having continued his walk for some
time, he halted abruptly, removed the
lamp from the stool, and placed it on the
floor. lie then seated himself bowed
bis face forward in his hands, rested an
elbow on either knee, and gave uttcrance
to the following strange soliloquy;
Fate has followed me since the days
Of my childhood. At eighteen years Of
age ] fell in love with a beautiful young
lady. She was poor in worldly goods,
but superlatiyeiy wealthy in goodness of
heart and disposition. She was seam
stress, and obtained her living by going
from house to house in the capacity OF
sewing girl. / loved her with all ny
youthful ardor-fondly and truly; but
my parents were rich, aristocratic, and
forbade our union, simply because She
was poor. Opposition only served to In
crease our love, and we were married. -
Father became desperate, and cast me
of. lie refused me to visit my former
home. Anticipating this, had prev;-
ously provided myself with place in a
store. And for year we lived in the
most perfect happiness. If | bad con
tinued there | might have avoided these
misfortunes; but the California gold fever
broke out about this time, and every
body was going to the land of promise,
where they could scrapo up "shoyels
full" Of the precious metal without an
effort. / caught the fattering contagion,
and pictured in the future, palace
home, with servants and all the luxuries