The Placer herald., 1871-09-23
THE FIRST AND LAST RECOUNT.

the precincts, Ctdrouch was TWO VOteS aDedu
Dunnam therefore demanded of the Board Of
Canvassers a re-count-not a recount Of
their own count, for at that time they had
made no count of the tickets, counting only
the votes disclosed by the certificates and
tally lists. The first count Of the tickets by
the Board of Canvassers was recount Of
the count made at the precincts.
The first precinct called was Aliens, where
Starbuck lost one. The next Rosevie,
where Dunnam gained one. This took of
Starbuck's two majority, and made tie
vote, leaving each man as be came into the
world, without anything, not even "white
splitter" A ten gallon keg of lager beer was
ordered and Immediately brought in, taxed
to the winning man, whose hope of winning
lay in the "draw," and the lager and the re-
count went on.
For the first hour heat thereafter Starbuck
kept pace with the lager, which went faster
than the recount, and at the end Of Ophir,
Gold Run and Dutch Flat, Starbuck was
found to be three votes ahead, having gained
one at each of .these latter way-stations, and
Dumam having lost one at Ophr. AT this
stage the Board halted (the lager went on),
the head horse was rubbed and blanketed--
5elkirk wiggled his left ear-Halc adjusted
his spectacles looked as if he was
looking for Jake Rittenger-Liniger said
formerly Billy Mullen discovered that
the lager was all gopc--Dennis McCarty
went to bed-Starbuck S ears stood straight,
pendicular-Dunnam ears stood straight
horizontal sung song, and away
dashed the racers upon the third heat.
The little dun pony started upon this heat
as if upon forlorn hope, and desperate
strides he made, but the large Angora buck !,
under the cheers of the darkcned multitude,
held well to time at every station as he pass
ed, until he reached Forest Hill, where, 10
the dsmay and discontinue of a host Of ad-
mirers he stumbled and fell three PAGES
backwards. Here was another tie. These
boods stood for the second time upon equal
ground, scanning the uncertainties of the dim
future, each floating along on the surface
of the occasion, trusting to the submity Of
luck" Of course another halt, another ten
gallon keg of lager the song of the L" Dog
ears cut short, and his tail cut long, and
The race again proceeded.
These celebrated pelters had now run the
gauntlet of twcniyfour precincts; seven more
were before them, and first Bath, which
being down hill from Forest Hill, the pony
had the best Of it by two votes. This wa
doubtless owing to the grade. Thence to
\ Michigan Bluff is up HILL wherefore il ie
that the pony fell one behind at that place,
and it is well known also that the Angora
displays his agility most on high attitudes
From the Bluff to Tahoe was dead heat
no gains, no losses. The course, thirty one
precincts, was run. Time, two days; re-
suit, Dunnnm ,507. Starbuck 1.506-
Dunnam one ahead. And this is the end
of the first recount.
Subsequently, to the terrible disgust Of
the little man and his friends, Republicans
and Democrats, second recount was or
dered. This was Tuesday evening, and the
Board adjourned to Thursday following,
when the second recount commenced. This
was conducted by reserying, for future ar
gument and inspection, certain tickets held
doubtful by counsel. This performance oc
cupied two days, aud disclosed no new fact,
except temporarily, at Iowa Hill, where it
was at first held that Dunnam had lost one
vote. Excitement at this point attained its
highest pitch. Silence reigned as i'll heaven
for near the space of half an hour, while a
critical re-rccounting of the votes of that pre-
cinct was being had. During this period
divers unofficial scribes, Pharisees, and pro-
baby hypocrites, with nk-hons, stands,
tables, pens, pencils and paper, were busted
marking, counting, tallying and figuring, in
the anxious hope that the Board had made
no mistake. But they had They had
omitted one vote for Dunnam. This being
corrected, the Board adjourned to the follow
ing day, Saturday, to consider the reserved
tickets, thirteen in number.
Punctually at A. NJ. Judge Hale began
his argument, and closed at II NJ, when All
adjournment was had till l. AT precisely
Judge Myres commenced, and finished at L.
Time, near six hours. Let no one think
that the attorneys were to blame for the
great length of their arguments, for it will
readily be perceived by a near inspection Of
the reserved tickets that the true intent of
the voter can only be definitely ascertained by
invoking not only the aid of powerful mag
nfying glasses, but also by submitting each
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