Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-06
LOGGERHEAD GULCH.
A Tale of q California Mining Cam

Some incident in its early career had given
Loggerheaded Gulch its name. Just what
thar INCIDENT was did not live in the tradi-
tons of the rough miners who dug and
delved in the gulch, Certain it was, how
ever, that the name was no misnomer; for
no other mining C mp in he territory was
50 rough, qusrreisome and pugilistic in the
nature of its inhabitants. EVERYBODY SEEM
ed at loggerheads with everybody else, aud
ready, upon the slightest provocatioD, to
lynch everybody else.
The digging bad not, of late, been very
productive of profit, and that fact did not
add to the kindly spirits Of the miners, who
vera disposed to revenge their luck upon
anytbirg that presented itself as possible
scapegrsce.
No mining camp can exist, or at least eV-
er has existed, without a drinking saloon,
and Logg arhead Gulch had its shsnty de-
voted to the retailing of drink. Its proprie-
tor was Jack JepLha, and his dress and de-
meanor indicated that he had seen better
days-ha1 been faro dealer or
barkeeper ir big Eastern
hotel, or something of that fashy
nature. Even now some traces OF loud
dressing hung about him; but the brim OF
the felt hat was battered, and there was
something the matter with its crown; the
flaming red tie failed to havmOnize with
the almost equally flaming and shaggy red
beard immediately above i; the shirt collar
was wofully time-stained; the velVeteen
| coat was much smirched, and had grown
white at the seams, AMI at least three but
| tons were lacking to the vest.
The only other occupant of Jack Jepths's
sbanty at the moment that the reader is in
| troduced to il, excepting the Gus omers,
| was a Young Woman-Jack's wife and
! MolIie by name And, with her really del
| icate beauty, she seemed wonderfully ont
of place in LoggerGead Gulch. She was
! aSout the middle height, between twenty
three and twenty-four years of age, slim
and elegant as TO her figure, fair as an
| angel is pairted, with soft blue eyes
| aud dropping ashes; her mouth was
small, her lips full and rosy, her teeth
| white as pearls. When animated or talking
to any, one, a pleasant, fascinating smile
would play around her mouth; bui at times
| when she flHCied 10 one was looking at her,
! the corners of htr mouth were drawn down
| with a hard, carewOrn expires ion. Her
rounded s. oulders and voluptuous bosom,
white 8 alabasteT, were revealed by low
dress. She shared the honors of the bar
with Jack, aud dispensed bad whisky and
smiles to the Loggerheaos with a dash and
grace that largely augmented the aggre2 late
sses.
Among the drinkers was one upon whom
liberal rotations had told considerably. His
companions called him Towhesd, from the
color of his hair, and that was the only
name he bad in camp. In his pocket be
had fair sized bag of gold dust, which be
had incautiously displayed several times
during the evening.
Attwelve O'Clock Towhead rose to 60
but first he called Jack JePtha outside thu
door, and placed the bag Of dust i'll biz
! hands.
"Thar's my pile, jack" be said, "and
, want yer to keep it till tomorrow. Pm
little too drunk ter take it along with me