The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-11

scribe it, nor chemist enough to fully /
understand the amalgamating process
by which quicksilver gathers the pre-
cious ore from the rock that has been
ground to powder, and piles it up in
globules, and then forms it into
molten-looking mass, which is after
ward separated from the mercury and
formed into the bullion of commerce,
but we were deeply interested, and
would be glad of opportunity for a more
thorough investigation of the whole
curious and scientific process.
The miners of Silver City are at pres
ent in great trouble. Mr.. Leonard's
mill was the only one in operation dur
ing our visit, and it was only partly en-
ployed. 1t seems that corporation of
capitalists, residing in San Francisco,
have lately shut down the quartz mills,
and stopped business, and after having
gotten away with the ''clean up' of
many months labor, refused to pay the
miners for their toll. AS corporations
are known to possess neither soul nor
head, nobody is punishable, under the
very imperfect laws of the superior sex,
and there is talk of burning the town
and the mills by the miners, to get re-
venge upon the robbers who are living
in princely homes in the distant city of
rogues. 1t is hoped by the citizens of
Silver City that this catastrophe will be
averted, as the calamity would be
frightful, and the innocent would be the
greater sufferers.
A subscription to feed the distressed
miners, amounting to some $500, was
taken the day of our departure. Poor
fellows. In their desperation they have
siezed upon the last superintendent sent
them from San Francisco, and are hold
ing him as hostage till they get their
money, which from the present outlook
may never be.
At six o'clock P. NJ. on Tuesday, we
again mounted the stage-coach, bade a
bevy of lady friends goodbye, and
started for Winnemucca. The long
night ride was not half as tedious as we
had feared. The quiet starlight that
beamed everywhere alike upon ancient
ocean bed and primeval sea-rim was our
welcome company. The evening star
first lit her gorgeous lamp and hung it,
all dazzling with splendor, in the deep
blue ether of the sky. By and by King
Charles constellation pointed out to us
the mighty Northern Sun whose "fixed
immovableness" inspired us with un-
speakable joy. The same grand illumi-
nation was shedding its briIliance upon
our distant loved ones, and the thought
was consolation inexpressible.
We crossed the Idaho line and were
again in Oregon. 1t seemed like going
"around Robin Hoods barn" to takt
this course, but the excessive heat o
the East, accounts of which were daily
reaching US by telegraph, had changed
our course, and soon we were in the Laws
beds of the Modocs. Then the drive
found his tongue. Here was the Ion,
l grave of some departed traveller whom
the treacherous red mans bullet haC
sent, unwarned, into eternity. Their
was the scene of a general massacre
Yonder horse was killed, and so on
Of all the God-forsaken countries w
ever saw or dreamed of, none certainl,
3 could equal this. And yet the Indial
thought it land worthy to be tough
for, and the white man deemed
worthy to possess.
Breakfast at daylight, and then
. change of coach and drivers. How loni
and hot the day was, and how dry an,
dreary and dusty. The roads all looke
alike. What mighty sea-room tn
monsters of the ocean must have her
enjoyed in eras pliocene.
Noon, and dinner. Too warm an
y weary to eat. The air is like an over
: Another change of coach and driver an
. on we go again. By this time we ar
. tired enough to sleep, despite the dus
- and heat and joltIng; but we wake afte
. a while almost suffocated Will nigh
:, ever come?
Nlu0 U ClOCh1 anu u LlOLI0 SIdIlOu.
Here we rested our bruised bones ii
= morning. The lady of the house wa
i away, visiting a sick neighbor. He
husband, a polite, soft-fngered, ease
loving gentleman, stood at the receiI
of customs, and a Chinaman did til
. cooking. But the house showed ev
dences of the handiwork of the abser
wife. Everything, from the patchwOr
.r quilt to the chair tides, betokened
# woman's thrift.
v Morning came, and when we went
a settle our bill we asked the landlord
/ subscribe for the Peoples Paper.
10 "Can't afford it," said he.
le "But I see you have patronized a
" the gentlemen in the newspaper bus
le ness who have paid you VISIT" v
said, pointing to dozen papers that Ia
lie on the table.
Of "But they have women to supper
ID and so do l." said the host.
lie doesn't your wife work? ?" we aske'
r earnestly.
a "Oh, yes"
le "Do you work ?'
70 "Well, now
f,,r,