Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-02
Stltttt0 storp.
ADVENTURE or A DIGGER IN
COLORADO.

anI a dweller in towns and lover oil
them. To me. meaningless are The raph-
sodies Oi those who delight ia the male site
solitude OF nature, and the Wild gorious
freedom oi The untrodicn desert. Cen
,ral Park, and that portion OF New York
iying within a mile OF il. WAS always
Wild enough for my taste the Jersey City
or Staten Island ferries were marine
enough for me. A. Tor tue tales OF al
venture from he frontier. only ,hudier
ed at them, and held the whole race OF
I gold miners. above all. in something like
terror. Yet il was lated that | shou Id
become a Gold.d'gger. by proxy at any
rate, and most successful one too. aud
'his Is how II came TO pass
1, Is lot many years back since my
wifes brother died in Colorado. lie had
always been a Wild sort OF fellow, III only
tor lite among miners. yet We liked him
much, tor he had many good qualities
tie was injured 10y the failing OF some
rock; and the nearest doc,or-Ihey had
one not muIe than sixty miles away
said that although be nigh; linger 4 good
while, even months. perhaps. he must die
from the accident. - D.ck got com
raLe, who was going eastward. 10 send
me telegram A. soon as be got where
telegraphs existed. detailing what had
happened. and begging me to 90 to him.
| need scarcely say how little this was TO
nv taste bat We did not hesitate 4 mo.
meni; We liked poor Dick. and thought
II very probable thai he was lying on
bel OF paia without friend aud without
q dollar My wife was naturally even
more Solicituus about him ihan myself.
The uip westward has been told TOO
often TO need any description irom me
journey cd through what seemed almost
iulerninah.e space. and at last reached
that gathering oi (then) mean habita-
tioRs, called Denver. Twas there az ain
asst year and found il slightly changed.
The place where Dick lay was. found.
about a hundred miles from Denver; and
found, also, that the best, il no; tie
only way to get there, was on horseback (;
lni now the real horrors OF my Journey
began. / travelled by myself, or if. by
chance. had companions for fsw miles,
these were so rongh. Wild aud uneoulh
that was always heartily glad 10 be rid
oi them and the same when the monotony
of the mountain track was broken by de.
scendisg teams OF parties OF horsemen
their presence frightened me great deal
more than their absence, yet ! cannot
recall single instance OF even rudeness
on heir part; but was scared generally.
bad. OF course. taken care 10 ascer-
tain. before starting on my lonely ride.
that there Was no fear Of Indians. who
had all, il seemed. temporarily lett the
district, so one great cause of lear was
removed. Briefly. then. | reached To-
auguraiion Town, so called because OF
The day when the first tent was pitched
there, and found il miserable place. A
dozen log huts, 1--WE Of them being saloons,
and about forty tents. formed The "city."
A. il not unlreQuently styled itself. In q
/ sretched room at the back OF the largest
saloon found poor Dick in q sad state.
lie was very glad to see me, but II was
very plain be was not long tor this world !;
he knew this we'll enough. and talked Of
his death IS asSalmly as though he had beea
speaking ol some one else. On one point
/ was quite surprised-so lar from need
I ing ans help in money matters. he was
really a rich man. and handed NE deposit
notes amounting TO some thousands oi
dollars, and made over 10 me The gold
and yalulbles which were lying 10 bis
credit a. The Bank" Everything was
done in the most informal way; but u
complete answer 10 all my doubts and
queries was given, by saying that such
was "mineis' law" and any how | had
The proceeds OF the gold duly handed 10
me the day alter Dicks death.
When the poor fellow was gone. l had
nothing 10 detain me at Inauguration
Town, anl SO lett it, as had approached
il. on horseback. could have had com
pany, as the landlord OF the saloon told
me there was an "ouiiI" starring ior
Denver on The next morning and taking
il fol granted that should embrace The
opportunity, be introduced several OF lhe
'boys" to me at once; bui snch wild,
.,ssnerafe. hooking get ! never saw. ald