The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-23

latter, nor the latter to the former; each
appears to dismiss from his mind the idea that
the other is near, and steadily works away at
that which his hands 6ndeth to do. Hard by
can be heard a gentleman of African descent,
exhortiDg his brethren to turn from the error
of their ways, and follow the path of Christ,
which leadeth to life eternal The sledge of
the blacksmith, the hammer of the cobbler
and tinker, add their mite to the general con-
fusion and commingling of discordant sounds
Anon can be seen long train of animals de-
scending into the valley from the mountain
top, led on 10y stately old bell mule. Chin
ing in with the rafting of this bell are
the stentorian voices of the drivers-some in
English some in Spanish and others in the
Indian tongue. From another direction is
approaching a drove of fat bulloclSs or a flock
OF thrifty sheep. The animals and men appear
equally careless of all around. Every man
here carries about with him certain air of
Independence that | have never witnessed in
any other community, by any other class of
persons,
ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITrERs.
l have spoken OF some claims that have
rendered reasonable rewards to all engaged in
them and others which have given no COM
pensatiOn. ! must now refer to one or two
others of the latter class. There is an abau-
doned claim known as the Welsh Mine,
located by q company of Welshmeu in 1862
adjoining some Of the richest claims on the
creek, and it was one in which the Oldest
most experienced miners, as well as novoes
had confidence. Shares changed hands at
most eXtravgantly high prices. There were
quick sales at SIS, 600 and $40 600, but
no lead was found. Many a mau,
who by hard toll and good luck had
aCqui ed handsome fortune, here lost it, and
was compelled to return to daily labor for
support. In the spring of 1863 another un-
Welsh wa
the captaincy OF an old Australian miner.
They located on Lightning creek, and after
working for nearly two years in prospecting,
cutting bitches, sinking shafts, erecting water
wheels and fumes, and expending over
$l00, ,0GG finally found that all their labor and
expenditure of money had been in vain.
Weary and disheartened, The company wound
up its affairs, and the individual members
sought employment in neighbOrng claims.
1hls Is not the only Company whose hopes
have been blighted on the Lightning. Much
work has been doue here. Numerous fumes,
water-wheels, etc., are to be seen in every
"1,,.""@.CCttion now standing idle, rotting away,
soon to tumble down and be carried along by
the current of the stream, until they lodge
with the remains Of other fumes and water
wheels that have wound up the fortunes and
bright hopes of many an unfortunate gold
miner. could 60 on almost 0d injfaitum re-
citing such instances, where men have squan-
dered fortunes and destroyed their cOnstitu-
tioHs in prospecting, and finally left the cOun-
try bankrupt i'll purse and health.
Mining, however, is not the only business
in which men meet with good and bad fortune.
They meet it in all the diversified undertakings
of life. But it is felt the sooner here, as they
come with the confident expectation of max ing
large fortunes in short periods that gold is
scattered about in profuse abundance, and all
that is lett them to do, is to fill their long
leathern bags, adjust them over mules back,
and wend their way homeward to admiring,
loving friends, and spend the balance of their
days in the enjoyment OF all the lusSuries thot
money can buy. But, alas ! on their arrival,
and finding that the valued treasure, so far
from lying loose about the surface, is buried
far down in the bowels of the earth, and that
not only much labor, but powerful modern
machinery is necessary to eXhume it, and that
a sort of dark mystery, terrible uncertainty,
envelopes the whole scheme, they are tOrci-
bly, reminded that CAN is not gold that gilt
ters."
PIONEER MINERS.
Rose and Johnson were among the earliest
and most valuable of the mountain pioneers.
They made many discoveries through which
others gathered fortunes but they realized
nothing. Fate had treasured up the gold for
those who followed, and marked them as vic
Tins for the cruel assassin's hand Now they
| sleep far down the rugged banks of the Bear
| river, by whose distant graves neither friend
nor stranger has passed, save once, since they
| fell asleep to awake no more, until the morn
| ing they shall be called up to confront their
murderers before the great Judge of all men.
In the spring of 1862 they started on an ex-
| ploIing expedition down the Antler, in the di-
| rection Of the Bear, which they reached, and it
| has since been ascertained from some friendly
natives that, while sleeping, a band of strag-
| Cling hostile Indians stole upon them, but
| chered and robbed them, burned their bodies,
| and buried their bones under the camp fire.
| How sad to reflect that such noble pioneers, so
| valuable to their country and their fellow
men, should thus fall a prey to such cowardly
| fends Yet thus it was, and to it the most
unwilling must bow. Neither can human arm
restore nor human eye pierce the veil which
| hangs about the mystery of birth, nor the ap-
| pointed time and circumstances OF death. "The
| heart of man deviseth his way, but God alone
| directeth his footsteps The murdered and
| their murderers are in the hands of their
| Maker and He will do with them precisely
what is right.
/. On my way up fell in with a Scotchman
| of iron constitution. ''Three years ago"
said he, 81 found my way to Williams creek,
| with $500 in my pocket. l have worked
! hard ever since, and my luck has been to
| lose my old stoke; three years of incessant
| toll and scores of grey hairs in my head.
| But ! came here to make a fortune in the
| mines, and I'll either succeed or leave my
! bones in these lonely mountains" mention
this circumstance to show the infatuation OF
| even strong-minded men. They cling with
1 1, F,ls ngdNw