The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-01-10

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gold the region Immediately abou
them.
Desiring to remain in the valley fo
some time, they concluded to put up
rude log-cabin, which would protec
their camp equipage, and, pierced will
loop-holes, fort-fashion, would serve a,
defense in case of an Indian attack.
"On the morning after their arrival
Henry began to cut timber, out O
which to construct the temporary home
and fortress; while James went forth
| gun in hand, to replenish their i'm
! poverished larder. About 10 o'clock ht
killed deer, which he shouldered, anG
started for camp. He reached the little
stream perspiring and thirsty, for the
day was warm, and threw his limI
burden down upon pebbly bar while
he stopped to get drink.
'No sooner had his lips touched the
water than his eye was arrested by the
| sparkle of certain small objects scatter
ed among the gravel at the bottom. A
miner is ever upon the alert; and So
plunging his hand into the pellucid
waters, he drew forth handful of the
| gravel for examination.
/" 1t was goldw
Yes, there it was, in coarse yellow
grains and lumps-richer than dream
He dropped suddenly to examine the
bar on which he stood; it, too, was
gorged with the glittering metal, and
he rose with hoop of joy that made
the woods echo and brought Henry
running to the spot-for he had heard
it and recognized his brothers voice, OF
the other side of the little valley. You
can imagine their ecstasy They had
known poverty all their lives, and there
| before them was wealth--sudden, splen-
did, exhaustless. But / must not lin
ger. Working together, they finished
! the cabin that day, and the next began
to gather the gold. The labor was not
great, and within two weeks time they
had heaped together marvellous guam
tity of it, and began to contemplate a
return.
"Life was now precious, and, after
thinking it over and weighing the
chances for and against the practical
bility of getting back unmolested, they
were convinced that it was best to re-
main where they were until the volun-
teer forces under General Lane, which
they knew were on the way, had reached
the hostile country and relieved the
hard paths of mountain travel from the
willy foe that lurked upon every step.
Having made an excavation i'll the cen
ter of their cabin floor, they lined it
carefully with rock, and, in the vault
thus formed, deposited their treasure,
tied up in bags of dried and undressed
deer skin This was done in case an
attack from the Indians should compel
them to flee, when, of course, it would
be impossible to carry the heavy metal
but no attack was made, and, after
the lapse of several weeks, they arose
one morning and agreed that it was
time to be upon the homeward trail
The sheeny forest leaves waved in the
soft winds of morning, and the fresh
air was musical with the songs of birds,
as, fully armed, they strobe forth spir-
itedly to bring in their horses, which
had grown fat and vigorous upon the
beautiful pasture.
"The cabin stood near the stream,
in the edge of the wood, and when they
had approached to within forty yards of
it, suddenly a score of rifles crushed
upon them from the bank, followed by
the terrible war-cry of the Shastas.
Henry, who it happened was in
front of James leading the two horses,
sank with a deadly groan, his horses
rearing and falling at the same time
The Indians burst from their cover and
sprang forward with all the echoes of
pandemonium. James emptied his rife
with fatal aim among them, and drew
his revolver. The Indians knew the
kind of music they had to face, and,
having neglected to reload, dashed
back to the cover of the bank. The
resolute miner saw his salvation in this
movement, and,hastily tossing a moose
halter over the head of the only horse
that remained uninjured, leaped upon
his back, and was out of immediate
| danger in an misunderstanding. down
the valley with the scattering shots of
the enemy singing over his head. The
war party being afoOt. he was not fol-
lowed, and finally reached the frontier
settlements after journey of incredible
hardship
Gas the Indian war continued with
| out abatement, he took passage to San
Francisco, in order to obtain medical
advice i'll regard to his health, which ex-
pOsure and privation had badly broken.
| Then it was that he began the cores
pOndence with me. 1 was in Chicago
at the time.
Unexpectedly receiving news of his
death, in the Fall of 1859, | hastened
to San Francisco, and received from the
hands of his landlord a little bundle of
papers, among which I found this.
Read it; no explanation is required"
He handed me a folded sheet of
paper, on which letter had been be-
gun, in a cramped ungainly, but still
legible hand. Here it is:
SAN Francisco, CAL. Oct 26, 1882
DEAR COUSIN: had hoped to see you here before
this, hut the end has come sooner than expected.
1 dreamed of that cabin, in the wilds of Oregon,
cowardly shots of those skulking Shastas; and l
think it is nearly L must write what 1 in
tended to have spoken, and endeavor to give you
such directions will enable you to find the cabin,
for you must find it, Theodore, and enjoy its hidden
gold. The first part of your is plain enough;
start from Jacksonville and keep the CalifornfR
Here the hand of death stayed the
revealing pen, and there remained only
n black and shapeless ink-blot, as a fit
emblem of the mystery that wrapped
the whereabouts of the lost cabin
turned from the paper and looked at
Harper-for such was the name by
which he introduced himself to me.
"That is all know about it." said
AACJ AlCAC 10 my HIOpOSIoIOL1s ISb
jointly purchase an outfit and spend the
Summer in the mountains of southern
Oregon. With the clew we have I verify
believe that we shall find the cabin.
'' l am with you;" and l gave him a
steadfast grip.
Harper flushed with pleasure at the
4~pfompt and hearty acquiescence, and
we sat talking over the details of our
expedition until the grey eye of dawn
looked in, and, with a cold and un-
sympathizing stare, admonished us that
our sitting had been unnaturally pro-
! tracted.
1t was the middle of May, when,
! deeming the Southern mountains clear
of snow and the rivers passable, our
| final preparations were completed, and
we were ready for the road.
Ny books-consisting of little law,
in calf, and much patent-office, in mus
lif-were consigned to common grave
in a dry-goods box, and the KEY of the
Office gracefully resigned to its owner
We had saddle-horse apiece, two
pack animals, and provisions for six