Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-23
Mongolian marine deity, burnt more Joss
sticks and terminated the ceremonies with
another outpouring of gin and opium.

another outpouring of gin and opium.
In the summer time California noun
tain river is an attenuated feeble stream,
that one may ford at every one hundred
yards; an alienation of rivulets, motion.
less pools, bouldered covered islands. and
great granite boulders rearing themselves
high out of the waters. But when swOOl-
len by the long continued rains OF winter,
or the melting SHOWS Of the Sierras in the
spring, its quiet, peaceful character van
lshes; it becomes turbulent, roaring.
treacherous monster; it sets death traps
in every direction. Here a whiriing ed
dy, smooth enough on its surface and
seemingly harmless, yet possessed OF; in-
visible arms, more powerful than those OF
the devil fish, 10 suck and carry men
down into its lowest depths there : fnael-
strom. raging, and roaring oyerrthe rocks
hidden beneath. During the freshet the
banks quivcr and tremble as the, immense
power whirls and foams past and your
voice is caught from your lips and hurled
into indistinctness. From "'49"upwards.
every one OF these mountain gold bearing
streams has claimed a long list Of VIC
Tins, and many a brave fellow has been
caught in their deadly embrace never to
be seen afterwards. #ef3 fl8as
The Stanislaus was booming one
spring afternoon at its highest water
mark, when five Cinnamon, encountered
with their blankets, bundles, rockers.
jacks, pans and shovels, came stripging
down the Park Hill trail. They stopped
and refreshed themselves for a, time at
the china store, and then, accompanied
by Wang Chu, placed themselves and
baggage in his boat to be ferried over.
A quarter of mile below their start
ing place was the Black Rock, a gigan-
tic boulder, which for centuries had pit
ted itself against the stream ltwas not
more than 100 yards from the shore,
and the Stanislaus at this point WAS not
more than double that distance In width.
Here the waters, suddenly narrowed to
this compass betwixt rocky walls, rushed
bursts, than regular current. This, in
fact, was the entrance Of the Big Canon.
two miles in length, and by reason OF
the rocky walls and raging current, no
mining could ever be successfully accom-.
plished here at the most favorable sea-
son. Directly opposite the Black Rock.
on little knoll. was the cabin of Timid
Sims. He in company with chance
partner, was working ON the bank near
by. 'asi laa
Sims was always picking up the waits.
stragglers and castaways drifting about
the country. His house and scanty lar
der were ever open to them. He took
them as partners, and trusted them As
freely as though they had come bur-
dened with trunks full of endorsements
and testimonials of good character.
Sometimes they robbed him; sometimes
they got drunk and made his house
pandemonium sometimes they effected
the same result without the aid of whis-
ky, by gradually developing sour. surly.
ferocious dispositions.
The best of the lot carried the gross re-
suit in gold dust of q weeks washing to
Columbia for the purpose ofturning II into
coin, and after many days waiting there
for. Sims received letter from tho de-
linquent, stating that he was overwhelmed
with shame and remorse, but he had given
away to his besetting sin for gambling.
and the dust had all gone into the maw OF
the ''tiger." He had not proved an able
workman either His hand seemed never
before to have grasped pick and shovel.
and after n mornings gasping labor. Sims
would often insist that he should remain
at home during the afternoon and make
himself comfortable, for it was sore dis
trcss to see man painting and struggling
with work to which it was very clear he
was unaccustomed. .a.{ss yDa
you'll get your throat cut one Of these
nights by some of those chaps you're
always picking up" was the rough and
condescendlng advice of Jim Freemantle
to Sims. Sims looked as ii the idea was
entirely new to him, but the next strag-
gler coming along was AS readily taken
in.
1t was about eleven o'clock. Sims and
his cooperative straggler had put through
their last run oftwenty-five buckets, and
were washing down" to see how it had
Welded. The seive and apron of the rock
ers were taken off. There was great deal
of blacks sand in the bottom ofthe appara-
tus. This Sims was running off by means
of successive streams of water poured from
his long handled dipper. aided by pc
culiar rapid rocking of the machine.
Slowly at the upper end, the black sand
deposit assumed the shape OF point. and
near the apex one after another came out
little run of golden yellow aakes.s
Takes good deal of dirt to make .
little gold, doesn't it ?" said the straggler
"When l was on the North Fork oi tho
Yuba, in 81, got six ounces once out OF
twenty-five buckets. Them was the times
though" .,ia :.
"There's about two bits here, | guess"
said Sims. "Well that's better than moth
ing, and we ain beholden to any one for
it either. like "a gold claim for one
thing. 1t pays you just the same whether
you're jew or Gentle. Catholic or Profess
tant. Republican or Democrat. Il say.
Tim. if those Cinnamon start to cross Aaie
river in that old boat OF Wang Chu'stheyW
drown. a& w tss%Sa
The boat had started and WAS gliding
up an eddy in direct Opposition 10 the
course of The stream. For The imrnense
mass Of water rushing down and striking
the rocks at the narrow entrance Of the
Big Canon, caused portion nearest
shore on either side TO be sent directly
back full three hundred yards. Fos lks
distance there were two smooth currents
running up, between them, fosmlng,
surging current, rushing down. ny TAX
ing advantage of those upward 6dtliesa
skilfu boatlnan could land his crait aa
either side nearly opposite the potnt from
which he had started. ss.sssas u.s. sv
Wang Chu and his passengers sailed
u -