Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-03
HONEST MINERS;
or . Brave Struggle for Life.
BY W. H. WHITE.

BY W. H. WHITE.
:, was a bright Sunday morning in
Month of FEBRUARY, such rs is only
n nsn , in California during the dry inter
e e. ofthe rainy season. The month of
1anusry had been unusually wet, but
rain had fallen for ten days before
Ill., FG ma narticular morning, consequently
[ha s roads we're in good condition.
The air was soft and full of fragrance;
,ra.s flowers and foliage were displayed
+ I ,be most lavish abundance, and of
lhs brightest hues. Nature beamed
tbroad in her gayest and most attractive
IN the road leading from Suffers
h(Il. to Coloma, to the historic town
! observation-disclosures Hangtown-
kour miners we're making their way, on
Foot toward the latter place. Their
ksmes were Richard Jones. John
Boomer, Stephen Pyne and Joseph
Kicks Grazing upon the luxuriant
(srdrre ringing the bank of the river
[-,hp south fork of the American-near
Which ran the road, were two plump
mules-loose and untethered. Jones
kndR cks, who were somewhat footsore,
eyed these animals enviously, and
pujckly determined to take advantage
1.-THE situation.
"Shanks mare is played out, and a
kbOrt trip on mule back will do me q
kesp of good" said Jones.
"And wont hurt the beasts bit. was
3he remark of Kicks. otlegi "a
Against the remonstrances Of Bloom
Ier and Pyne, who We're too conscien-
ious even to steal a ride, the mules were
secured. The nose ropes of the n.y.
birds served as bride reins; some pieces
pi an old lariat, found under a tree,
we're fashioned into stirrups. Jones
Ind Kicks mounted the animals, and
he four miners pressed forward again
bpon their Journey.
At the junction of a bride path with
he Sacramento road stood a log cabin,
(he property of Mr.. Samuel Philips, or
Old Buckeye"-as he was Familiarity
ermed-one Of the pioneers of that
lection. The sun was midway between
horizon and Zenith when u solitary
pedestrian young man named Will
liam Prince, stopped at this cabin, and
asked for drink Of water, which was
gven him by comely damsel, the
daughter of Mr.. Phillips.
The sweetest face / have seen since
! lei left Baltlmore!" Said Prince to him
"A real gentleman! The hkeliest
looking man that ever passed this
house, was the mental comment of
Miss Mary Phillips. The young man
turned away, with. look Of longing in
his bright brown eyes, and again took
uPhE line of march toward Hangtown.
shortly afterward, Prince, who was a
vigorous walker, overlook, the miners
|0eore mentioned. Being socially In.
Cilned, he accommodated his pace to
.,1ers, and trudged cheerfully with
tnem along the dusty road. He, of
course knew nothing about the taking
q q The mules, but supposed them to be
sne legal property Of the miners. They
a .au reached APPOINT some five miles fur
Aef On, when q fine looking horse, bear
ius handsome youth, clad in the
.oOse,httlng garments of miner, can
. .leu past. Prince thought that the
. II pore wonderful resemblance ia
log cabin. w
Her brother, no doubt, the likeness
r 100 close for chance resemblance
Rternnaps he and she are, twins. But l
Ina. never see her more, in all proba.
UNIV. 0li,!' How her face clings to me!p he
S nla 70 himself, with a sigh of regret, as
b;, u'eu TO dismiss the fair vision from
d is memory. and entered again into a
uscusslon OF mining matters with his
new companions. =
VINE me sun had passed the meridian
H Hn,cn the outstretching suburbs Of
,as. gown were reached. Here the
pa.! matted for rest in the shade of q
sihe.'y little grove of live oaks, through
Thu rn,'n meandered the rust-colored road
=. .ae TWO mules We're turned loose. and
VAR ,1l.ed back in the direction of the sno1
'I p they were taken.
.ba ne l the animals were out of sigh,
and cia''er of ealloping hoofs was heard
,n now a score of mounted men came
. .EHlly into view from the dust cloud,
be . up by their mustangs. driyine
's Two Two mules before them.
lera nu ,.rs The doggoned thieves arc
pr n;,oomer, Jones, Kicks, Pyne and
,acn ee We're Immediately surrounded
o o.ufed and taken to the centre of The
NM; 4 call for a meeting of "hones,
.naa es was made, which met with ,
ase,;s s and cheerful response. Tn,
conn was held upon Preachers Hill
ash ianuing eminence, whereon oc
ern -Onal itinerants delivered Sunda,
an. 'oris TO such as would lend then
md IN mn was studded with shady oak