The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-10-13
John Overman.
AN OLD wAsHoE PRosPEcToR ExP,.
TIATEs on EARLY DAYS"

Yesterday John Overman. the origi-
Hal locator and swner of the Overman
mine. filed his testimony in the Distric.
Court. As he was trundling along over
the Divide. on his return to Gold Hill.
Ne'es reporter overhauled him, and
was soon engaged in talking with the
old pioneer about the ups and downs of
life. He is good nstured old fellow,
and is delighted to talk about the ex-
periences Of early days.
We'll, yer see," said he, as he sum-
bled along the down grade of the Di-
vide. 1T was in the spring of SO 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 chicken hearted fellers who were
goin' back home, sick of the Colorado
mines. They kept sdvisin' me to turn
round and go back too; sez l to em.
no. sir, John Overman never takes a
back track; if yer'll show me another
road back. I'll 60, but never'll l go
back the same one l came Sez I to
myself, I'll try CslerforDy. l drove
my cattle ! had with me till l came
down here to Chinatown, when I heard
of the excitement up here at Mount
Davidson. / found u tent or two In
Gold Hill. and a few men workin' their
claims on Cedar Hill, in Virginia. l
could have traded my cattle for an in
terest in what is now the Calerforny
mine. but my pard said I would be
swindled. The rock had nothing in it
but pyrites ef ir n. and didn't want
any Of it. Down in Gold Hill there
was no claims started out south of the
Belcher, SO stuck up my stakes with
notice making claim to mine"
Don't you regret selling your mines"
the reporter asked.
We'll, 1 reckon not got IS 600 for
it, and it has cost them . damn sight
more, continued the venerable pioneer,
with u chuckle. "Yer see. didn't have
nothing but tunnel run in the side of
a hill. and was glad t" get that much
money for the thing. 1 don't like min
in nohow. I've got q farm back in
Iowa, nicely stocked with COWS, hogs,
horses. q wife and children. and all my
minin' hereafter is going to be for per-
taters."
By this time Ovsrmsn and the re-
porter had reached the steep trail by
the Imperial. and the former stumbled
along with difficulty. This hill is
cussed steep. amt itr Yer see. I an
used to walkin' on flats but many's
the time I've tramped up and down this
hill. l remember that in SO we miners
used to scrape our twenty dollar pieces
ON . boulder that used to DO here some
where. Then the emigrants would see
dust 10 the rock and think this was the
richest country in the world. I'll never
forget that rock if l was to see it
Guess it's not here no more. Why,
bless me, l believe that it's there Just
stickin' up out Of the dirt Well,
many's the laugh I've had over it
The old man was very talkativc. and
had an endless stock Of stories about his
"roughing it," The reporter asked him
into neighboring saloon to take a
drink to cheer him up on his journey.
"Well. never refuse an offer of this
kind" as he leaned up against the bar.
"Barkeeper, give me a whisky straight.
| never deviate. Gosh. what big glasses.
Well, just fill her up full. and here's to
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 o-m brow.
You see, left my old woman bellerin'
at the depot when l left, and must be
getting back to her. l testified today
for the mines, and now they are through
with me. Ifthey1l just give me kick
III 90. think I'll walk down to Car
son. Just TO make mc think of old times
in Washoe."