, 1876-09-29
MY FIRST NUGGET.
the PUGET socSp WEEKLY ARGus.l

In May, 1891, was mining on Dry
Creek, Yuba county, California, not
far from the since celebrated No. 3
Flat. 1t was lovely Sabbath morn
ing, and my partners with the rest of
the miners had gone to the Indiana
ranch where the stores and whisky
mills were located for a supply Of
provisions and tangle-leg, leaving me,
then boy, to take care of camp and
cook the beans which had been got
ready before leaving, with strict in
junction not to burn them. How
proud felt to be left in charge of
camp and chief de cuisine! When
the last sound of their footsteps had
died away | began to realize my lone
ly position: alone in q vast forest, the
only sound the rustling of the leaves
in the morning breeze and the rip
pling sound of the creek as it mean,
dered its way to the Yuba river where
hundreds of long toms and rockers
lay motiOnless, their motive power
having gone, like my partners, to the
trading posts for their supply of pro-
visions and other Injuries.
After fixing the fire under the beans
and spreading the blankets to the
sun, l amused myself with the COM
pany purse, which contained about
$5OOin coarse gold-spreading it out
on the table, shaping imaginary watch
chains and other designs for jewelry,
always having an eye centered on the
bean-pOt and an ear open for Indians
who we're very plentiful at that time.
After amusing myself in that way for
sometime thought would go down
to the diggings and prospect little
while, so taking the pan and pick /
went to the creek. Our claim open
ed from it, running into a fiat which
extended many feet back before the
hill rose abruptly where the bed rock
was bare. We had about four feet
of stripping to the pay gravel, which
was about a foot thick, mixed with
tough blue clay, with an occasional
crevasse which often panned out sew
eral ounces, and making up for
poor weeks work. The diggings were
in the mining phrase spotted, and
often we went to camp with. poor
days work with big hopes for the
morrow.
After panning out a few pans and
occasionally running up to look at
the beans, l became tired and laid
down under the shade of dog wood
tree and soon fell asleep, lullsd by
the gentle murmur of the creek and
the monotonous croakings of the bull.
frogs. Soon, gold, beans, Indians
and partners were forgotten. Queen
Nab had taken charge Of me, and had
hurried me back home again, where
l saw many endearing faces smiling a
welcome return from that then dis
tant land, where all we're mad in the
search for gold. Home, friends, and
their endearing influences we're for
gotten. Gold, gold; that was the
shrine of the many weary pilgrims
who sought the Pacific slope in 40.
In my dream felt disappointed, for
when the congratulations were over
l felt for my gold dust, but lol had
none; was poorer than when l left
home, months ago. The spirit of my
dream changed. I thought l was
again on Dry Creek, and working in
the upper corner of the claim, which
seemed very rich. l could see gold
everywhere, and in my eagerness to
picl; it up l rolled over and awoke.
My first thoughts were the beans. 1
rushed to camp, found the fire out,
but luckily the beans we're not burn
ed. After fixing them all right again
my dream flashed through my mind.
thought l would go down to the
diggings and try a pan from the
place had dreamed about. 1t want
ed about two hours of sundown. l
expected my partners home soon, so
put the tea to steep. went down,
stripped off few inches of top dirt
and tried few pans which discour-
aged me. was going back to camp,
but looking at the place where l had
taken the last pan of dirt saw a
small piece of gold glittering in the
blue clay. STOPPING down, l tried
to pick it up with my fingers, but to
my astonishment it would not come
out. Invent down on my knees and
began scratching around it; it in
creased in size wonderfully. Oh how
nv heart beat. had struck my pile;
l would scratch little more dirt; it
still increased in size. / would go
away some distance and gaze at it,
then back and scratch a little more