The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-03-06
4 CALIFORNIA STORY.

In the early mining days in California
there stood on the foot of the hin, not
many miles from Nevada, one of those
rough built gaming houses so common
throughout the mining sections of the to--
ritory. A description OF this structure
and its surroundings will convey to the
reader better idea of the incident I am
about to relate. The building contained
but one room. the entrance to which was
situated at one end, with large adobe
fire place on the other end, nearly oppo-
site to the entrance. On the large stone
hearth burned wood fire, giving to the
room cheerful appearance. On the front,
at the right of the entrance, was a well
filed bar, around which was consregated
representatives of different nations, some
Speculating on the success of various min
ing operations, while others were discuss
ing the general topics Of the day. Along
the rear side of the room extended row
of tables, around each of which was settled
a company of miners playing poker and
stalking large sums of gold with as much
GOODNESS and apparent unconceru as if
they were partaking of their evening meal.
A rude seat occupied the space around the
fire place, and in the front portion of the
room beyond the bar. The cabias Of the
settlers extended some distance to the
front of the spot, while the unsettled por-
ton of the country lay in the rear.
The.hill before mentioned, rising abrupt
ly from this, thickly inteIspersed with sage
bush and thick bushes, affording a tempo
rary hiding place for fugitives. AS the
evening wore on, the patrons Of the saloon
became more numerous, while the chilli
ness Of the atmosphere caused those most
interested in the games at the tables to
gather round the fire. The conversation,
which at this time was becoming animated,
was suddenly interrupted by the entrance
Of a tall, raw boned Yankee, bearing in his
hand long rife, around his waist he wore
belt from which was suspended powder
flask and a bullet pouch.
Advancing to tie fire place, he deposited
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 his knee, and drop
| ping his chin into his hand, he sa. gloom
! ily watching the fire as if some mighty
| grief was preying upon him. He mumbled
! ircoherently at times, and sat without
/ changing his position. The attention of
! the company was soon drawn to the stran-
! ger, and all occasional glances from those
| at the table we're directed to where he sat.
He at length broke out into such lamenta-
| tiOns as these
Il am tired of life. My claim has failed
and am without friends or money. | have
been out all day hunting and have killed
nothing"
lie addressed no one personally, and no
one seemed TO symPathize with him in his
disturbed condition. He sat in silence a
few minutes, then raising his head he ex-
claimed:
"A man may as well be dead as out of
luck. l will take my own life
! Then taking the flask from the belt at
his side he unscrewed the cap from the top
and poured from it into his hand some ap-
parsntly fine Hazard powder then pouring
it carefully back, he replaced the cap, and
SSlC"iHS II ~ my OiiJ gCilSb-
eyes, will die myself, and all about me
shall die also"
He thon flung the flask on the burning
Goals. The tumult that followed was in
dcscribable. The rush for the door was
almost simultaneous with the rash act of
the stranger. The windows served as
means of escape to those who were unable
| to press a passage through the door. The
Yankee sat calm spectator till the last
occupant of the room had made his exit ;
then with the rapidity of thought he spTang
to the tables and scraped from them the
shining piles of gold which had been left
by the gamblers and deposited them III his
hat, escaping through one Of tie rear win
dows. With desperate strides he ascend
ed to the hill, and jumping upon a fallen
tree, turned to survey the multitude be
/ low. All were waiting breathlessly, watch
| ing the building, expecting every moment
that the contents of the heated flask would
blow it to atoms, when the shriI voice of
our hero rang out on the clear night air
Don't be afraid, gentlemen there is
nothing but black sand in the cam
Then spiiuging from his perch he disap-
peared among the chaparral, completely
eluding the pursuit Of the gamblers, who
returned to the saloon to find the tables all
cleared of the last Testige Of their treasure.
y CHICAGO poet, who was recently in
formed that Madame Nilsson had Il EouGht-