The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-02
The Miners Curse.

A CORRESPONDENT of the st. Louis
Republican writing from the mining dis
tricts relates the following incident:
Just across the way from the frail board
shanty where I've found the smooth side
Of California red wood goods-box on
which to indite this epistle, there is a
place where the miners gold is being
banked. can hear the rumble of the
little balls as they circle round and round
the table. 1t is rouge ct NOR they play at
and lose at, too. Then there are the
dirty cards and groups of four sitting
around rude tables, playing for stakes
they never win. can hear the curses
and the loud, boisterous talk of the win
ncrs and the losers. Only few minutes
ago fair-haired but sun-imbrowned
miner, with hands thrust deep in his
pockets and dry attempt at whistle,
came out of that tent over the way CON-
pletely cleaned out-the labor Of months
in the mines all gone. He seemed to
take it philosophically enough, but after
all he was not at ease. l heard him say,
well, boys, it's all out; guess I'll be off
to the mines again"
Purity hard case, Bob, but can't help,
you know" was the word of sympathy
the youthful adventurer received for all
his gold from the idle lounger whose
business it was to change the gold dust
from the pockets of the toilcr into his
own.
Purity hard case"
So it was. pitied the loser. Couldn't
help it. He came across and paused near
where sat. l asked him, "Well, my
friend, did you lose?"
you bet lost-every atom. Cleaned
completely up"
and don't you feel bad?'
Guess not Leastways shan't hang
myself. Sorter rough on me, howsom-
ever"
$50 should say"
wouldn't ha' minded it much, but
then, you see, stranger, Phinic-that's MY
girls name-away over in Pennsylvania,
won't see me back next Christmas,
guess. We were going to be married
about that time. Purity heavy. One
hundred and eighty clean ounccs-been
some time in taking in that dust; but it's
gone now, hang it, and Phinie IL have to
wait. Must have clear two hundred
before can see her face"
Bad-too bad, my man." I said.
Hang it, stranger, she's just the
sweetest girl in old Wyoming-purty as
pink and true as steel. You'd oughter
see her. Like to see her myself, hanged
if wouldn't"
Truly sorry that you seem to have
placed it out of your power to go back
to the girl you've left behind YOU"
"Got my eye-teeth cut; if l hain't my
name amt Bob Sanderson, which it is.
Them fellows over there are mighty cute,
but I'll not be caught up with him-dog-
goned if will! I'll steer off and scratch
dirt for Pennsylvania before the like of
them chaps ever gets me down any
more-you bet"
And Bob Sanderson, the Pennsylvania
Strephon, stalked away, singing: FOL
de la, fol dc la-off for the mines"
Phinie will have to wait till Bob Sander
son makes good strike, or maybe she'll
weary and take another fellow. l
thought how great the distance between
Bob and his ladye love. N4
And this is only specimen case out of
hundreds of similar instances which
occur out here nearly every day. Young
men come out here to get start in life,
and the gamblers pluck them. Perhaps
in few years the fellows who run the
" shebang' over the way will retire from
that line of business, shake the dust of
Yuma from their feet, and turn up as
solid men of the avenues in New York.