The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-10-19
JOHN ovEaMAN.
An Old Washoe Prospector Expatiates en-
Early Days"

Yesterday John Overman, the original
locator and owner of the Overman mine,
filed his testimony in the District Court.
AS he was trundling along over the Divide,
on his return to Gold Hill, Nesos reporter
oyerhauled him, and was soon engaged in
talking with the old pioneer about his ups
and downs of life. He is good natured
old fellow, and is delighted to talk about
the experiences of early days.
"Well, yer see,'' said he, as he stumbled
along down the grade of the Divide, s 1t
was in the spring of '59 when pulled up
stakes in Indiana, and started for Pixies
Peak to try my luck in that new camp.
On the road met lots of ehicken-hearted
fellers who were goin' back home, sick Of
the Colorado mines. They kept advisin'
me to turn around and go back too sez !
TO 'em, no, sir, John Overm an never takes
back track ; if yer'n show me another
road back, I'll go, but never'll go back
the same one came Sez I to myself, I'll
try Calerforny. I drove my cattle / had
with me till came down here to China
town. when heard of the excitement up
here at Mount Davidson. I found tent
or two in Gold Hill, and few men workin'
their claims on Cedar Hill, in Virginia. I
could have traded my cattle for an interest
in what is now the Calerforny mine, but
my pard said would be swindled. The
rock had nothing in it but pyrites of iron,
and didn't want any of it. Down in
Gold Hill there was no claims started ont
south of the Belcher, SO I stuck up my
stakes with notice making a claim to my
mine."
"Don't you regret selling your mine ?"
the reporter asked.
"Well, l reckon not. | got $5, 900 for it,
and it has cost them damn sight more, "
continued the venerable pioneer, with a
chuckle. Yer see, didn't have nothing
but tunnel run in the side of hill, and I
was glad TO get that much money for the
thing. | don't like minin' nohow. Tve
got farm back in Iowa, nicely stocked
with cows, hogs, horses, a wife and children
and all my mimi hereafter is goin' to be
for pertaters
By this time Overman and the reporter
had reached the steep trail by the Imperial,
and the former stumbled along with diff
Guilty. "This hill is cussed steep, amt it ?
Yer see, am used to walkin' Oh flats but
many's the time I've tramped up and down
this hill remember that in $50 we miners
used to scrape our twenty dollar pieces on
a bowlder that used to be round here some
where. Then the emigrants would see the
dust in the rock and think this was the
richest country in the world. I'll never
forget that rock if Twas to see it. Guess
it's not here no more, Why, bless me,
believe that's it there just stickin' up out
of the dirt! Well, many's the laugh I've
had over that"
The old man was very talkative, and had
an endless stock of stories about his
"roughing it, The reporter asked him
into neighboring saloon to take drink
to cheer him up on his journey. "Well,
never refuse an offer of that kind" said he
as he leaned up against the bar. i" Bar.
keeper, give me a whisky straight.
never deviate. Gosh, what big glasses.
Well, just fill her up full, and here's tc
your health )" and he gulped down the
contents without quiver.
"How would you like to live on the
Comstock again )" the reporter ventured
to ask.
"Well, you are good people here, but
can't stay any longer than to morrow
You see, left my old woman bellerin' al
the depot when left, and must be get
tin back to her. testified to-day for the
mine, and now they are through with me
If they'll just give me kick I'll 60.
think I'll walk down to Carson, just tt
make me think of old times in Washoe. -
Gold HiH Nesos.