The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-18
PAID IN HIS OWN COIN.
A Tale of sYae <sogd Seekers.
BY ROBERT F. GREELEY.

In the memorable days Of the first gold
fever-that remarkable delusion which
30 suddenly uprooted all the old social
landmarks, and in fact, reversed Che des-
TIMES of the world-she desert wastes
of California were all at once transformed
from an almost unrefieved wifderpess to
a land of enchantment, which needed no
professional story teller to enhance its
attractions or improve upon its wonders.
Nearly every plain, hillside or hollow,
Was thickly sprinkled with suferous dust
or scales, and every ravine and sand bar
enshrined a deposite Of the glitterins
treasure.
The characters. of the poople-who ar
rived in muititudes from every part OF the
world, for the purpose of testing the ca-
had heard SO many incredible stories
were as diversified as the featares of her
scenery. Many were persons who had
lost both means aud reputation in other
chimes, and were resolved upon one last
desperate venture TO relieve their broken
fortunes. Some were unsuccessful mer-
chants, politicians, aud prolessional men
of various grades, who had nothing to lose
/ ~ d erything to make by this change in
/ their circumstances. a great many were
gamblers. Not few were youthful adj
venturers, in life 5 first spring. time, whose
iprnctical views were Blended with a tinge
i of romance that cast halo about them
wherever they went. ona relieved the in
congruous society ofthe mining camps of
its more IepMSiye features.
As a consequence Of this popularity,
mining life assumed species Of iacina-
! tion which soon promoted disttste for
the conventionalities OF civilized coun-
tries, and the jingling Of coin was every
where accGln paniei by the stains of
music and the sounds OF hilarity.
The place known as Angels Camp was
one Of the earliest settled of all these au-
| riferous regions Situated in the very
heart Of the original belt OF gold bearing
soil. its surface presented little else than
d series of broken sandy plains, rugged
valleys. and desolate gorges. amid which
! the grizzly bear, the qntamnbfe Indian,
and hordes of hostile Mexicans, with
whom to rob and murder A merieans was
almost an act Of religious duty
1 As consequence the whole surface of
| Caldvere5 in this Wild region is dotted
With the graves of the victims of assassi-
nation. The mere fact Of being possess
ed of a quantity of dust was sufficient to
ilpperil the life os the fortunate. miner;
and it. seemed that not a lucky strike
tcould be made that the, marauders were
not instantly aware of it; whilst the actual
value of. every mans pile, in the disgngs
seemed known to, them, assif by instinct.
la3 at first these ourages were confined
to the remoter districts--tbe victims be-
Iingicomlnonly struggling prospectors or
solitary parties Of miners, with regard TO
whose fate nothing was known until their
bones were found bleaching alone in the
almost unbroken wilderness. Then the
camps were infested, aud, finally, men OF
mark became the victims. .
Out of this state of affairs arose the
4 first s'yigilant movement, in Galaveles.
Angels had become place. of ccnsid-
erable note. The riches of its soil seemed
iexhaustIess. 1t was literally one vast
treasure house Of gold. Then by degrees.
as it's fame spread abroad, persons from
other sections focked into the district.
with host OF adventurers from distant
chmes. and the highwaymen had plenty
of business on their hands.
| In narrow and pfecipitous gorge,