The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-09-07
THE FRIENDS OF '49.
THh Story OF THEfn BAsr STAMPEDE To
GETHER,
BY SAND BAR

of willow and alder that frihged thg banks
of a rapid mountain stream in Northern
Montana was log house. Its dirt-covefed
roof, green with grasses, evinced that it was
not of recent construction, and the faint
wreath Of smoke luzlly creeping from the
ride stohB chimney affirmed that it was at
last still worthy of habitation. From the
door on the southern exposure path led;
through the brush, to the purling stream
spoken Of, its crystal waters, teemng with
that most delicious of all fish, the "speckled
trout" afforded a vertable paradise for the
angler, and the most primitive tackle could
have here secured, in q short space of time,
an abundance Of that much-vaunted, BRAIN
inspiring food. Stretching back on its north
and rear, broad plateau, in grand, waving
undulations, lost itself in the forests that
grew to the snow-line of the mountains,
whose whitened peaks lowered in solemn,
stately grahaeur over the little valleys nest
ling at their feet. A nearer view of the hut
testified that its present octupants were of
that atnondescript class ofpioneers ofadvanced
civlizatiOh-the prospecting miners-and,
scattered here and there, with the proverbial
carelessness of the mountaineer, with the
usual paraphernalia of miners outfit.
Seated on fallen tree, Immediately Id
front of the door, busly engaged in cleaning
his rife, was o man probably 90 years of
age. His strong, sihewy FORM Was covered
with greasy buckskin suit, and the dark
brown hair that escaped through the rents
of his ragged sombrero was litteraly be-
sprinkled with gray. His face, rugged and
marked with care and exposure inevitable
to such a,life, was frank and open. His
keen, gray eyes would ever and anon glahce
froth his work to the door with an anxious,
expeetant look. Curled at his feet lay
large Newfoundland dog. Humming some
old mining song, he was fair representa-
tive of that class now rapidly passing away
the Forty miners. Placing hisrihe at last
against his leg, he reached down, and, gath
ering the head of the dog between his hands,
raised him up, and, drawing him beside
him, said ...
Jack, old man, Pard is wuss. I'm afeard
he's agwhe to pass in. He's jes layin' in
thar satisfied like, 'thout no pain, an it's
bad sign. If thar was show for q doctor
I'd git him. heF done all kould, give
him bottle of medicine that bought in
Heleny fur the cramps, en- he tuck it all,
The whisky is all gone, and he drinhed ali
the tea, en- !pears like he doesn't keer fur
bacon and bread no more. seed band of
antelope on the bar above yesterday. He
mout fancy rib Yes whine away. You
hain't been with him as longas me but he's
been a better marster then l hey to yer
Yes, I'll go after sum meat, though Pm al
most afeared, kase ef he shud die and me
gone I'd go crazy. het never, since we
met in Downieville, Kaliforney, twenty odd
years ago, bin away day from him, en- I'll
not take no chance now. DammeJ how time
flies Seems es eff it war only yesterday
that we met in Hanks Saloon, in Downie-
willie, in 80, and drinked together. He seed
l war pilgrim, en- 'yted me to cabling with
him, en- sense then We has been pards through
thick and thin hev been to Washoe, Carl
boo Boise Basin, Alder Gulch, everywhar
ther was stampede, an got allus good
grotihd: En- Jack, like dam fools, we jes'
chucked our money away, and now here we
is, so far from ennybody Kristofer Kolum-
bus couldn't find us Eff he wus only well,
Jack, we mout do we'll on the bar above. !
got fair prospects on the rim yesterday, and
thar is better little lower down. III bet
ennyhow we'd whipsaw box ur two en-
work out piece Shar there is pay. But it
can't be did now, en- that's sartin, fur feel
that he's a dying" And putting the dog
away ffoiii him he dropped his head in his
hands, and while the tears triGkled through
his fingers he sobbed out, as if his heart
would break, ga dying, Jack, dying-a
dying-a dying"
"Billl Billp a weak voice called from
the cabin, causing the miner to dash the
tears away With the sleeve of his coat and
with quick strides To pass into the house,
the interior of which is worthy of a brief
description. No more than ten feet square,
its low roof begfimed with SCOT and smoke,
was festoOned with spider webs. On its
large, open fre-plaee few enibers raked to-
gether threw fitlul gleam oflight over sur
rounding objects "A three legged stool and
table Of shakes constituted the only furni.
ture, and leaning against the wall were the
prospecting pan and spiders, the campers
.inseparable companioRs On a bed of will.
lows, over which few robes had been
thrown, lay the %astsa and ernaeiated form
of a man probably 60 years Of age, Ills suit
of buekskin was worni aud, from its tattered
appearance had seen much service, Tho
grizzled hair and unkempt beard were suf-
floienuy suggestive of the old timers and
his wrinkled face, distorted with pain now,
told plainly that his lines had not always