The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-11-04
PAiD IN HIS OWN COIN.
A TnIc .af the Gold Seekers.
NJ RosrKTr. sREErT.

suddenly uprooted all the old social land.
rparks, ard. IN ;se', reversed the des,inies o.
the world--the desert wastes oil Californis |
were all al o-ce transformed from an almost !
BnFelleved wilderness to q land Of enohAnt-
-sseut, which needed no provisional story
teller to enchauce its attractions or improve
upon its wo1ders. Nearly every plain bill |
side. or hollow, Was thickly spriukled with !
auri'srous dust or scales, and every ravine /
and sand bar inshrined deposit OF the gilt !
ssring treasure.
Tks characters OF the psople--who arri- |
we'd in multitudes ficm every part Of the
world, for the purpose Of testing the capaci.
ties OF that golden soil OF which they had
heard so any incredible stories-were as
diversified ss the features OF her scenery
Many were persons who had lost both means
and reputation in other clrees, and were re
solved upon ore last desperate venture to re
iieve their broken fortunes. Some vera un.
successful merchants, politicians, aud profess
sonal men OF various grades, who had moth
ing to lose and everything to make by this
change IN their circumstances a great
snaay were gamblers. Not a Few were
youthful adventurers, in liies first spr,n-time
whose practical views were blended with a
tinge of romancs that cast halo about them
wherever they W mt and relieved the con-
gruouS suciety Of the mining camps Of ITS
more repulsive features
As q consequence oi this peculiarity, min
ing lie assumed species Of acination which
coon promoted distaste for the conventions
ali,ie3 Of civilized countries, AMI the jingiing
of cola Was everywhere accompanied BY
the strains OF music and the sounds Of hiiar
Ivy
The place known as Angels Camp was
one Of the earliest settled ofali these &rriler-
ous regions. Situated in the very heart OF
the original belt ofgold bearing soll, its sur
face presented little else than a series oil
broken sandy plains, rugged valleys and
desolate gorges, AMID which the grizzly bear,
the untamsble Indian, and horde's OF hostile
Nexicans with whom to rob and murder
Americans was almost an act Of religious
duty.
As a consequence, the whole surface Of
Calaveres in this wild region is dotted with
the graves OF the victims OF asssssination-
The mere fac OF being possessed OF guam
tity Of dust was sufficient TO imperil the life
OF the fortunate miner, and it seemed that
rot q lucky strike could be made that the
Enarauders vera not instantly aware OF 1t:
while the actual value Of every mans pile IN
she diggings seemed known to them al il by
instinct.
At first, these outTsges were confined to
the remoter d'stricts-the victims being
commonly struggling prospectors or solitary
parties Of miners ith regard TO whose late
nothing was known until their bones were
founl bleaching alone in the almost untrod
den wilderness. Then the camps were in
fest,d; and, finally men Of mork became the
victims.
Out Of this state OF affairs arose the first
'vlgilant movement" in Calaveres.
Angels had become place OF considerable
note. The riches otits soil seemed exhaust.
less. 1t was Utterly one vast treasure house
Of gold. Then by degrees, as its fame spread
persons from other sections t1ocked into tfe
district, with host OF adventurers from dis
Eentclimss, and the hghwsyneu had plenty
of business on their hands
In narrow and precipitous gorge, formed
by two projecting spurs from Bear noun
tain, AnGreas Sanchez had built him q hut
and staked out claim. His dwelling was
mere corral or barrie do o. unhswn legs,
built up in half circle against a cavity
bedroom, q number Of shelves being built ul
against the side for that purpose, like ths
births OF ship. The open ayr answered toI
kitchen and dining room. Ruds accommo
dasions, but quite equal to those enjoyed by
many OF the pioneers in those times OF gen
eral prVations.
The claim opened by Sanchez did not ap
pear At ell remarkable for its riches. 9th
ess had tested it side by side with Sanchez
and not found >ufficient to award them lc
their pains. Gradually all competitor
dropped away, and the Mexican was Left 8
lune in his ravne, which, in accordance
with the classical habit Of the day, receiv
cd the romance appellation oil Humbul
6ulch.
In spite OF bis spparant i'll luck, Sanche
Was never known to DO without money snt
plenty OF it, Angels and ts vicinity q
we'll as San Andreks, Lancha Plata, and oil
or camps, was infested by numbers OF tn
gambling fraternity, whose invitations t
walk up and try the hazzsids OF "monte
we're heard on every side. The person {
Sanchez was well known at all these estab
Iisbments, where his heavy betting and th
epparant rscklessness with which he los
miner in those parts -sttracsed conslderabi
attention.. That lucky dog, San hez!' be
came very soon by woid throughout tn
country; and the significant gesture wit
which the aliusion was accompanied, in I'M
tation OF the drawing OF knife across til
throat, showed that the general opinio
oi Bis honesty was not o! very high stan
dard. ..
A handsome yours fellow was loitsrin
one morning, at the gaming tables at AT
gels watching with that air OF liStlessnes
which denotes the uutimdstsd spectator, th
progress OF the play. IL was raining ant. tt
stranger had stopped in for the sole purpos
of obtaining shelter.
A rudely contrived bar occupied the col
ner Of the den in which the priests OF fol
tune held their court, and one eyed criE
pie, who had been blown up by blast in a
adjacent tunnel, and forced into other puI
suits for a livelihood, was saving away {
the Arkansas Traveller, as luriously as If b
life depended upon bis eXertions.
In the midst OF the clamor and din, q hors
man galloped furiously up to the den, an
springing to the ground almost ere the ms
tang had come to halt, dashed open tt
door and entered.
The Hew conner was short, thick 81
man with swarthy countenance henme
round by patches OF coarse black beard. IL
jacket and trowsers were OF blue velye
siashed and ornamented with silver button:
a bright crimson scarf confined his wais
and from the leathern belt peered the har
dies of whole armory OF death dealn
weapons. Lis long blue black hair WI
compressed within the meshes OF q net =
Leggings ofundressed leather, gay banhar
handkerchief and heavy Chilean hat. con