The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1874-01-20

surface gold. Very often an individ.
ual thus habited could quote Coke and
Blackstone with startling accuracy,
and it was no certainty that, in addi-
ton he did not understand the prac-
tice Of Galen and Sir John Hunter.
Where men made their own laws,
blacksmith with muscle was consider
ed better man than a lawyer with in
tellect, and hundred dollars day
were not unfrcquen.ly paid for the ser.
vices OF a scion OF rubal Cain. The
Herald and the Tribune of New York
city sold Tor dollar copy, even tho
that copy was always at least month
old; for good news from home"
reached the mining districts like an
gels visits, quoted in the proverb as
flew and FAR between"
Our hero thoroughly understood his
business, and found no difficulty in Sc
curing work at his trade, for every
kind of manuel labor was in demand.
Under his care, the tent known as
Washington Market did q thriving
trade; and as ships came in from a
round the Horn. and travellers arrived
from across the ISthmus, many for
mer comrade was welcomed to the
golden shore with the friendly grip OF
Parson Dan. One night, a conhagra-
ton swept over the canvas city like a
whirl-wind, and It was deemed imDer-
alive to re-organize the Fire Depart
ment. By surplus Of votes, ParSon
Sloshgrip was elected foreman OF one
OF the crack engines ofthe city. Could
he have been contented to settle down
permanently, in the course Of a few
years he would have acquired a large
fortune; for the trade that ne followed
was, through restaurant patronage,
one Of the best in the city. But his
journey across the plains had, in spite
of the terrible fate of his comrades.
filled his mind with ideas of rowing
adventure; and although he eSchewed
the arena, he said he "hankered arter
hardships and dan ger as strong as a
Piegan Indian ever hankered arter
hair" The wonderful report Of 4 fif-
ty thousaud-dollar chunk having been
found at Starvation Gulch-famous for
grizzly bears, famine Of water, and
bacon and beans at fifty dollars a plate
reused Daniels spirit. He longcd to
encounter any amount Of the evils OF
outrageous fortune; and, throwing
down the knife and the steel with the
remark, "them's my sentiments per-
zacktly," he plastered on the door OF
the establishment, "of for the dig
gings," and in less than half an hour,
armed with a rife, 4 seven-shooter,
and that equivocal weapon denomina-
ted an Arkansas toothpick (hefty
enough to suit the giant Blunderbore
for that purpose,) he set out Cor the
mines. He arrived safely at his new
destination, and, with pick crowbar,
went to work bravely to delvc out .
fortune. Day after day he toiled, ear
ly and late, in the vicinity Of the spot
where the fifty .thousand-dollar chunk
had delighted the eyes OF the fortunate
finder, but that superb specimen seem
ed to have absorbed all the precious
metal fer miles around. He worked
with such 4 vim as seemed to threaten
that ultimately he would break into
the she'll OF a young earthquake, or
dislocate some Of the underpinnings of
China; and he induced the Sutler who
supplied the camp with provisions at
fancy prices to remain week longer
after every other man in the company
had left in disgust. What inducement
he held out to Mr.. Mordaici Nathan,
the sutler, to secure his valuable socie,
ty during the time mentioned was new
err clearly ascertained; but probably it
was the few ounces Of dust he had
collected by weeks OF patient toll.
There was at last a parting shaking Of
hands and then they separated, the SUIT
Ter taking the shortest route to Frisco
to recruit his stock, while Daniel start
ed of into the wilderness, saying
she had been bucking against hard
work long enough, and he was go
ing to have play-spell with the griz-
lilies"
The chronicles OF Stockton relate
that ParSon Dan made his advent into
that lively town 4 week later, and in
his appearance looked like the break
ing Up Of q hard winter. There was
conclusive evidence, so old pioneers
said, that he had "waded through the
hettiest kind Of a tussle with Indians
or varmints of the pizenest sort ago
ing" Of hair or shirt, he had nonc
r. -