New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-24

way Flats history. Nothing had ever oc
Cured before to disturb its uniform e0ua
nimity, excepting the shooting of Red Alicl
by Russian Bill in q moment Of frenzied ex.
element, produced in the heat of discus
sion as to the merits of the parties then en-
gagged in the Crimean war. His departure
| was the universal topic of conversation
around every freside and in every bar
! room in the camp. The speculations as to
the cause were as varied as they were i'm
probable.
The thermometer at Browns that eve
ming indicated fifteen degrees below zero,
but no fears were harbored in the minds of
any ono as to the safety of the one who had
so unceremoniOusly left the camp ''hOme-
ward bound"
Weeks passed on, and nothing had been
seen or heard of Shakes since the departure
| Norway Flat had almost forgotten him.
Brown, the LANDLORD Of the Occidental"
was standing i'm his doorway, gazing alb
stractedly at the windings Of the down
| country" trail. 1t was only the previous
| day that a prospecting party had passed
deserted mining camp of Diggers' Delight,
situated about ten miles distant. His
thoughts naturally turned to their departure
and prospects. Suddenly his quick eye de-
tected in tie distance group of men
slowly trudging toward the Flat, and was
somewhat astOnished to recognize in them
the prospectors of Diggers' Delight return
ing, bearing with them a heavy burden.
The news soon spread that Shakes had been
found dead at Diggers' Delight. 1t was
evident that night had Overtaken him there,
and that he had determined to spend it in
one OF the deserted shanties. The fireplace
had been filed by him with wood, ready
for the MATCH but it remained unkindled.
Why, no one could answer. The verdict Of
oil VIII no l. 4
fallen victim to the severity of the
weather on the evening of the day he lett
the Flat, or, as they expressed it, ''friz
dead
In an inside pocket of a vest worn under
meath the ragged overshirt, packet of let
tiers was found, all of which were written
in the same handwriting, and addressed to
Sundry photographs were also discovered
in the same pocket-one Of an aged lady,
another Of woman in the prime Of life,
and the rest Of three beautiful girls of from
ten to fifteen years of age. All the letters
bore the same post mark, So, Me-" Each |
envelop was Endorsed in pencil, "Rec'd |
date; J; W." One One of them was indorsed,
day that Shakes left Norway Flat. It's con-
tents explained the mystery Of his life and |
poverty and ruin, thus:
60, Maine, August 80, 1859.
"MY DEAR jamestown last remittance |
of $3.50 has been duly received, and the |
OF the farm has now been paid. |
Have you not impoverished your
self to keep us in comparative luxury We
have wanted for nothing.
Mother is ailing and rapidly declining.
Doctor says she can not possibly live through
The coming winter. She longs to see you,
James, before she dies o,
10 come home at once; if not, / shall sell
he place next spring, and come to Norway
Flat myself
Your affectiOnate wife,
ELLEN WILKINSON"
The bright side Of Shakes character,
which he had SO carefully concealed from
he sight of his fellow-me was here re-
'ealed. And he had now gone to another
ome to receive his reward