The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-04-15

By ELIIAH cooDIN.

On suitfy hay III TUG hbousn VI ~AoS'.esi
1919, arrived dusty and foot weary at Nor
mon Camp, situated at the junction of Nor
mon Greek and Gulch, about mile from
Tuttletown. There is no camp there to-day
only two or three cabins remain, where hun
dreds of stalwart miners were won't to swing
their picks, only few old NANCY hogs root
for worms, flap their ears and swing their
tails. But in 40 hundreds of adventures
sought her placers, for the diggins were rich,
great many of the gold seekers made their
piles and returned to the loved ones whom
they had left in far off homes. When | ar
rived as said above and still stick to it.
the diggins were rich and the camp was un-
der the government of an Alcalde by the name
Of Mike Tubbs. No claim exceeding eight
feet was allowed, but shortly after my arri.
val an election was held, Judge Carlton. was
elected and new set of laws were framed by
which the claims were increased to sixteen
feet. You see am prtcular for fear some
old miner will doubt my facts and say that
was never there. The gay Of an Acalde con-
sisted in what he could get, sometimes that
was licking with the stealings thrown in.
Charley Shaw was the Sheriff, and here let
me remark, the terms Alcalde and Sheriff in
plain english, meant Justice Of the Peace aud
Constable. A fellow who has ever had his
case adjusted before one of those early adj
ministrators of justice knows what it costs,
in fact am free to state that even at this
those birds of prey, that invariably hold on
to my money as one of the flock goes by.
The Sheriff in those days collected the
fees, fines, &C., and saw that the laws were
respected and executed he also collected the
Poll Tax, which was pretty steep, eight dol
lars being the price Of a mans cocoanut, but
whether they had license to do so is yet an
open question with me. In those days it was
not considered quite the thing to enquire too
closely into the business Of either the Alcalde
or Sheriff to save trouble and time it was
considered best to shell and say no more
about it.
1t was no trouble to make money in those
days but there was heap in finding out a
way to save it. and | am one who has not
found ou. to this day, but the good Lord
knows that don't make much and don't
care if / never find out the secret. When
ever the diggins were rich the miners were
thick as bees, and they seemed to light down
as il by instinct on the richest placers. They
worked side by side and hardly ever had
any trouble. When they would knock off for
dinner they would leave their pans, some
times with hundreds of dollars in them, for
it was mob law in them days and if fellow
| was caught stealing he knew he had tc
swing for it and tell you it made all hands
mighty careful. Sometimes thief or muir.
derer would escape, that is the law would be
allowed to take its course, but it was all ow.
| ing to how much whisky was on hand, If the
camp got on drunk whilst the trial was go.
ing nm be was hung sure. Most every one
gambled, and a man was not considered good
company if he did not indulge in play Of
Monte, Poker, Seven-up and various other
| games had crowds of votaries, who drank,
| smoked and swore until the morning sun
streamed in at the windows. 1t was quite a
common occurrence for u miner to walk up
to Monte bank and pull out buckskin
| purse ask the dealer how much he had in
hank and then to turn down card and say
tap you, and f the card won. to rake all
| the money into his hat or handkerchief and
to walk off; or il he lost, to remark with an
| oath, ''Old fe you've won, take the bag and
weigh out your dust" They went it just as
| steep on Poker. ounce ante was generally the
rule, and Teller would chip four ounces on
most any kind of hand. There was very
| little cheating allowed ''you bet" for it was
as mucn as feller's life was worth to b.
caught raising hand, or taking any advan
tage that was not according to Hoyle. Drinks
| in forty-nine were four bits, but before the
year was out they fell to two bits which was
considered dog cheap.
| The first woman that came to the camp
was known as Dutch Mary, she and her mar
put up a restaurant and manufactured dried
apple pies, and the Soys for weeks after sh.
came used to congregate there of nights tt
eat pies and hear her sing
/ Oh Susanah don't ynu cry for me.
| I'm of to California with my wash bowl on my knee
The next one was a Flat Head squaw. wht
came with Frenchman from Oregon, they
TOO went into the pie business and the com
petition reduced board down to twenty dol
lars week. The boys always knew when .
woman was coming by the miners hollering
oh Jim The wimmen rode straidle in then
days and mostly always on mules and wal
so scarce that the sight of them made thu
boys feel so good tina. they had to holler.
/ In the Spring of so. the camp was invad
ed b, small army Of Mexicans and Basqu'
French, who without ever saying by you
leave, took possession of the claims and whsE
demonstrated with only shook their head