The Shasta courier., 1866-02-03
SHASTA COURIER

A TAKEoF ON AUSTIN, NEvADA.-The
following is an extract from\ what is called
an intercepted letter published in the Reese
RiverReyeille, and processes to be descrip-
tion of men and manners in Austin New
We clip from tie Sacramento Union:
The barkeeper then asked me what |
would take l told him | did not wish to
drink. He looked at me moment and then
insinuatingly asked: . Gin ~ | again as.
sured him | did not drink "Good God ~
said he. . You don't drink !" and he fell
back on his counter, and stared at me with
stony eyes, The attention of the whole
crowd was now attracted, and they gathered
around me with awe-stricken faces, while
subdued whisper went round" he don't
drink ~ Finally tall man in a freckled
shirt stepped for ward, and observed, Who
in hell are you?' ] thought he wanted an
answer, and so | told him my name and
residence. ''Ah ~ said he, you are the
New Yorker who came out last night to buy
mines ?" l acknowledged that this was the
case, and soon found had made valuable
friend. Stand back, gentlemen y he cried;
this is an old friend of mine. Now, what
will you drink ?" | feebly answered that |
would like little watered brandy, and as
soon as | had got it down, my deliverer
took me into a corner and demanded my
autobiography. Before | had told him all,
it appeared that his father used to 90 to
school with an aunt of ours (or an uncle, he
wasn't absolutely certain), and this fact de-
lighted my honest friend beyond description.
He swore he would stand by me until
segregated. He made me drink with him
three times and smoked two Of my choice
Havanas He made all the rest stand back,
and vociferated that | was his old and long
lost friend SO loudly, that | felt as if | had
strawberry marks all over me.
Finally he grew confidential, and inform
ed me that the Wiggleses, and the O 'Briens,
and the Smiths, and the men from Nye
county were all . bilks" Of the most aggra-
waited description, who wanted TO sell me
and some mines at one and the same time
He further said that he had about twenty
first. class mincs of his own, which he had
long and obstinately refused to part with
but with an old friend like me he might
you understand, do something | was very
mach pleased at having accidentally made
so valuable a friend, and after two more
drinks and four or five handshakings finally
got away. There is one drinking saloon tC
every five men in the Reese River District
but as several new ones will soon be started
there is reason to hope that the public viii
ultimately be accommodated. | suppose il
is nothing when one gets accustomed to it
but stranger is apt to get tired, especially
when the drinks are mixed. As | was walk
ing down the street. after leaving my tall
friend, | saw something which for moment
took me back to Central Park. 1t was moth
ing less than lady equestrian in gorgeous
raiment, with gold embroidery on her jack
ct. She wore ratty hat and altogether
made a stunning appearance. involuntari
ly looked for her footmen, but although the
street was full Of them they did not seem tC
belong to her. | was rather surprised al
seeing lady riding alone in the street, but
etiquette is not very strict in these frontier
towns, you know. Besides, was afterward
told that the lady owned one of the most re-
munerative mines in the whole District 1t
is worked by outside parties, but the profits
inure to her.
Your brother, WILLIAM
P. 81 have just heard that my tall
friend is a % blk