Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-11-09
CALIFORNIA STORY.

y
In the early mining days Of California
there stood at the foot OF the NIL, not
,osnv miles from Nevada, one of those
ranCh-built gaming houses SO common
,Orouehout the mining sections of the
,nrritory. A description of this struc-
.urs and its surroundings will convey to
,Sn reader better idea of the incident |
about 10 relate. The building con-
,a;,ed but one room, the entrance to
'rhicb WAS situate at one end, with
,,rga adobe fireplace on the other end,
yearly opposite to the entrance. On the
iaras stone hearth burned wood fire,
ZINC TO the room cheerful appear
onca On the front, at the right of the
antropce. was a well,illed bar, around
ubich were congregated representatives
Of different nations, some. .specuiating on
the success of various mining operations,
,rb;le others were discussing the general
,onics Of the day. Along the rear side
s;da of the room extended row Of ia
Ls, around each of which was seated
compapy of miners playing poker and
stalking large sums of gold with as much
coolness and apparent unconcern as if
they were partaking of their evening
meal. A few rude seats occupied the
sn,ce around the fireplace, and in the
front portion of the room beyond the
h,r The cabins Of the settlers extend
ID some distance to the front of the spot,
while the unsettled portion of the coun-
try lay in the rear. . IA
The hill before mentioned rising ab-
rnptly from this position was thickly
interspersei with sagebrush and thick
bushes, affording temporary hiding
Mace for the fugitive. As the evening
wore on, the patrons of the saloon be-
came more numerous, while the chilli
ress Of the atmosphere caused those
most interested in the games at the table
TO Gather round the fire. The converse
tio1. which at this time was becoming
animated, was suddenly interrupted by
the entrance of tall, raw-boned Yankee,
bearing in his hand long rife; around
his waist he wore belt, from which was
suspended Il powder flask and bullet
pouch.
Advancing to the fire place, he depos-
tied his rifle in the corner, and after
accepting the seat courteously offered
him by one of the company, he seated
himself by the fire, resting one elbow on
lis knee, and dropping his chin into his
hand, he sat gloomily watching the fire,
as il some mighty grief were preying
upon him. He mumbled, incoherently
at times, and sat without changing his
position The attention Of the company
was soon drawn to the stranger, and all
occasional glance from those at the table
Was directed towards the place where he
sat. He at length broke out into such
lamentations as these
II am tired of life. My claim has
failed, and | am without friends or
money. have not even enough to pur-
chase supper. have been out ali day
hunting, and have killed nothing"
He addressed no one personally, and
no one seemed to sympathize with him
in his disturbed condition. He sat in
silence few minutes, then raising hi:
head he exclaimed
"A man may be dead as ont of luck
will take my own life.
Then taking from his side the flask
he unscrewed the cap from the top, ant
poured from it into his hand some ap
paren,ly fine Hazard powder, then pour
ing it carefully back, he replaced tn,
esp, and screwing it firmly on, yelled, -
"Yes, will die myself, and all arount
tue shall die also"
He then flung the flask on the burnin;
Goals. The tumult that followed was in
lescribable. The rush for the door wa
almost Simultaneous with the rash act o
the stranger. The windows served as
means Of escape to those who were un
able to press passage through the door
The Yankee sat a calm spectator till tn
last occupant of the room had made hi
exit, then with the rapidity Of lightnin
he spnng to the tables aud sc.aped iron
them the shining piles of gold which ha
been left by the gamblers and deposite
them in his hat, escaping through one c
the rear windows. With desperat
strides he ascended the hill, and jumpin
upon fallen tree, turned to survey th
multitude below. All were waitin
breathlessly, watching the building, e,
pecting every moment that the content
of the heated flask would blow it t
atoms, when the shrill voice Of our her
rnng out on the clear night air.
Don't be afraid, gentlemen. There
nothing but black sand in the can"
Then springing from his perch he di
appeared among the chaparral, cor
pletely eluding the pursuit Of the gam
lers, who returned to the saloon to fiji
the tables all cleared OF the last vesti,
of their treasure. =