Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-09-08
TALES & SKETCHES.
THE DEAD lsAyIlsl.EIe.
BY JAMES REYNOLDS.

landed in Sacramento in the Summer OF
the year 1S49, on their way to the. placers
on the South, Middle and North forks of
the American river, was a prepossessing
looking gentleman by the name of Hardie.
His only companion was his son, a lad of
some fourteen years, but who, notwithstand-
ing his extreme youth, was sharp, shrewd and
intelligent. Mr.. Hardie was what might be
called, as the fashionable phrases 60, a
'reticent man. He had one time been
wealthy but his passion for gaming had
ruined him. He was not a professional.-
Indeed, he looked with contempt upon all
who KEEP. games of chance, but his personal
dislike for such characters did not prevent
him from risking his money upon the turn
of a card or the cast of the dies. His son,
fully aware of his fathers only failing,
sought by every possibly means to keep him
from the table, in the hope, vain thought it
was, that the passion would lose its hold
upon him, and that eventually he would he
thoroughly weancd from cards. ps..|
Hardie landed in Sacramento with about
one hundred dollars in money, the last of
bis once ample fortunes, and, without an
hours delay, pushed to the mines which
had just been discovered to the eastward
OF Coloma, where it was rumored very rich
veins had been discovered
BY a fortunate chance, Hardie and his son
made the acquaintance on the road of two
hOnest-hearted adventures, sailors. and they
determined to prospect the country to-
gether.
On the fourth day from their leaving
Sacramento, the little company entered a
gulch, which subsequently became famous
as the Oregon and there succeeded in
securing claim that amply repaid the ad-
vcnturers for their time and labor. At the
expiration of four months the company had
realized twenty thousand dollars. This was
equally divided, one half being handed to
Hardie and his son, while the other moiety
was retained by their co.laborcrs. When
the division had been satisfactorily made,
Hardie became suddenly reckless. He inti-
mated a desire to return to Sacramento,
there to engage in some mercantile pursuit
for which his early education had fitted him
and he offered to sell lis own and his sons
interest to the sailors. .fr I'D
These men were reluctant to part with
him. The lad was also adverse to the
proposition, but Hardie persisted in his
resolution, and finally disposed of his CLAIM,
for twenty thousand dollars. ,rl.s s..
On returning to Sacramento, father and
son, as the reader perceives had the snug
little capital of upwards of twelve thousand
dollars to begin with. Had Hardie, as he
had intended wheE he left the Oregon
canon at once embarked IN trade, could
nave III rev months uepied, II not quad
ruplcd his capital, and perhaps IN the course
Oh couple OF years returned 10 the Atiantic
States with a fortune quite as large as be
was master OF before the mania Tor gam
bling came upon him.
Unfortunately for him, however, before
he had fully arranged his mercantile pro
Jects he renewed his acquaintance with q
gentleman, who like himself, had been ad,
dicted to gambling, and was by him induced
to visit the Empire Saloon, az that time the
leading "hell" of the town, where faro
monte and other games OF chance were
openly played "helt' where miners after
months OF exposure, perhaps sickness, and
always hard labor, would loose In a single
night all they nad earned, ana pe compeiied
70 return to tho dlggings Win saddeneo
hearts TO win from the rivers and nils thost
smiles which fortune had denied them AZ u the
Hardie had barely entered the saloon
when MS thirst returned 10 nun anu even
before ne was iaiiy conscious OF MS ac,ion
ne iound himsell seated al faro taoie.I
oniortunate'y ior h,n,' ne losc Ho" ~ wv