The Portland daily press., 1872-10-19

From the San Francisco Morning Call.
Peruvian Bar reposed on the banks of
gently flowing stream, not wide or deep
enough to be designated a river, and con-
seauently called creek. 1t was a flourish
ing mining camp, having the reputation of
being the toughest bar in the southern
mines," and the abode of the worst charac-
tiers in that section of the country; place
where 81 man for breakfast was no uncom-
mon occurrence, and where the 'sweet note
of the pistoP' often resounded. Under these
circumstances, the expression Peruvian Bar
reposed' may appear an anomaly; but 1t
must be understood that the time was early
dawn, and that the ''roughs" had not yet re-
covered from the effects of the previous
nights debauch. The saloons, which are the
principal places OF business in towns OF this
description, were not yet open, and the milk
man, with his changing cans, was only just
driving back to his ranch on the arroyo. 1t
was the morning of the GLORIOUS Fourth"
however, and the wild inhabitants of Peru
Wan Bar cut their slumbers short. The
warm rays of the morning sun were only be-
ginning to shoot across Table Mountain into
the verdure-clad valley in which the camp
lay, when the main street begins to show
some signs of life. The doors of cabins on
the hill side opened, and tall, able-boded spec
luleuS Oh uuIudulty, WcdIiuS Icu SHTiS,
tramped through the dew along the narrow
paths of some Magnolia or ''Long Tom"
in the town, which had now opened for the
reception of all who might apply for the in
yigorating beverage dispensed across the
counter by the gentlemanly bar-keeper, who
appeared in a ''bran new" white linen coat,
cool and refreshing to those who possessed
the "wherewith," whether coin or credit,
with which to purchase the beverages afore
said, and decidedly cold to the very few who
were known as chronic ''bummers'' and sold
beats,' in Peruvian Bar parlance. The re-
sidents of this model camp turned out from
cabin, hovel and hotel-miners, gamblers,
desperadoes, and horsethieves, (the latter de-
cidedly sub rosa, for it was greater crime to
steal a horse in Peruvian Bar than to kill
man), all proceeding iu one direction aud for
one object-their matutinal drink.
"Give me a cocktail, Ned; and don't for
get the lightning-three fingers-no more,
no less-do you mind ?" was the greeting
which slight and rather good-looking young
man addressed to the bartender of the
''Rife" saloon as he entered the place on the
morning in question. %.
ttAt right, Jack; three fnSnrS, oh 2'
turned Ned, and he busted himself with the
mixture.
"Goin. to the races to-day, Ned?" asked
the young man.s .u7
'Can say, Jdck IL all uepoUuS OH Tile Olu
man you know, replied the bar-keeper.
''Oh! he'll let you off; l tell you what,
Ned, it's goin to be the wickedest run Peru
Wan Bar ever saw; you can bet your life on
that exclaimed Jack. .
care you going to ride ?" asked Ned.
'.Should say l was, slightly; and I'll kill
old MartePs horse or win the race, because.
between me and you, Ned, Pve got big mon
ey bet on Fam asd l can't afford to throw
of, you know; SO if you want to bet on
sure thing just pungle up pool in the Fam
claim"
"Oh, there's no doubt of your winning the
race, provided that mare from Petelson's
don't bother you," answered Ned.
''Never YOU mind that mare from Peter
sons, and don't forget that Fan jumps like
a RABBIT and runs like DEER" answered the
young man, as he drained his ''three fingers
and returned the glass to the counter.
''That's so: she makes point every time
on those three first Jumps of hers" replied
miner standing by; "and Pm going to bet
heavy OH your animal to-day"
'You can't do better, my friend; there's
nothing on the face of the globe, except a
Kentucky thoroughbred or an English racer,
that can distance Martel's Fam in square
two-miles rum" answered the young man,
with commendable pride for the prowess of
the animal that he was destined to ride that
afternoon.
ssWhat kind of horse is this that's going
to run against Fan {? - asked the miner
'Oh, some old plug from Peterston's ranch
that they call Flyer She's hardly more than
a foal, and never won a race before. Why,
she won't be nowhere after Fam shows her
those new shoes of hers.
And the young man left the saloon.
Jack, the marquis. as he was familiarity
called in Peruvian Bar, was genuine jockey,
with every trick in the profession,
and if at all familiar with the horse he rode,
could almost invariably prognosticate the re-
suit IF the race. He wa. light in his build
and quick in his motions, combining all the
qualities of a first-class jockey with the
;hrewdness of a Confidence man." He was
supposed to be q native Of England, where
he had pioba iy in his early boyhood learned
his profession on the Derby and at Ascot;
but like thousands of others, allured by gold
en- dreams of untold wealth, had wandered
across ocean and continent to the little camp
Of Peruvian Bar, where he led life of un-
alloyed enjoyment performing 10 manual la |
,or, unless shutting a pack of cards may be
erhed such. He had not given up horse |
.iding, and was always on hand at oook=fgbts, |
,ull-fights, or horse-race., entering as prin- |
,ipal or betting on the winning animal.
On the Fourth of July, upon which he was
o ride "MartePs Fam" he had been bdsily
ldvising all his friends to bet their money
IN the mare that Bumped like rabbit and
an like DEER" assuring them that she was
ure to win; at the same time taking all out
standing wagers that were to be obtained
himself.
The day wore on, with it usual patriotic
celebration. ''Misrule carnivar' was insti-
uted, in which every license was given to
he playful masqueraders, who rode through
he town on every description of animal
hey could beg, borrow or steal for miles
the half-bred mustang to the
liminutive jackass- handfuls of
Iour and egg-shes in every direction upon
he crowd that lined the street, as the Mexi-
ans are in the habit of celebrating st. Johns
ay, or the French the festival called Beuf
rrds An unusual number of fights took
lace, and two men were killed in an a6fay
t the Long Tom; another was badly cut
y drunken companions as the Magnolia;
Thile every mirror in the ''Riffle' was shat
cred by pistol balls, fired across a ronlette
able at heavy winner, whom his assailants
ailed to hit, and who escaped through side
WINDOW, alter emptying every barrel of his
evolver at the man who sought his life
loout noon, Mickey Dougherty gave a
chicken ssoiree' at his Castle, saloon.
Thich was attended by half the residents Of
'eruvlan Bar: and as the price of admission
yas placed at TWO dollars per head Mr.
'Dougherty realized very handsome profit
ON his exhibition.
During the afternoon the Mexican nort;o,
fthe population Witnessed bull-fqbt fol-
wed by bloody struggle between Snan- I
b steer and a half-grown grizzly bear, in ,,
hich the bear was gored to death in the
ring" and the steer so mangled and torn ,
lat he died soon after the fight. But the ;
ature of the days "pleasure" was the race; j
I'd the eutire white portion of the Bar, ac {
by few "Greasers," and large {
amber of Chinese, assembled upon the $
ack, which was in westerly direction from
g camp, upon sort of a plateau, out of {
sht OF any habitation whateve-. 1t was a t
track, having more of the qualities
a turf course than shell track, the nature a
the soil being more favorable to the former v
IAN. AN tae ne latter One side of the track. for D
sior or, srance n@raioD had been fenced in but the
I'd horses were not barred from oo;ng ont G.
ie' although prohibited from running in Il Il
ie the embankment. As the time for tbe " "