Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-13
Sketches OF the Potcsi Mines.
BY A CARPET-BAaaER.

Nothing is more interesting to the
ordinary reader than sketches of
characters and early times in the
settlement of country. Especially
: are they 50 to those who have figured
: as act in these scenes, or those
who knew them during their lives
I and now occupy the site of their
r once famous exploits. The mines
especially, arc prolific in character
and many one, now "out Of sight
and out OF mind" would have az.
!. forded subject worthy OF q pro.
. fessional biographer. The sudden
!. attainment of wealth which some
succeeded in gaining, and which
draws all within these mad whirl-
pools of folly and excitement. brings
also together and affords MANY rare
! examples OF the genus homo and
. their fate, after being made the foot
ball of fortune for many years, if
written out would afford an in terest-
ing lesson to those who seeK to
eschew the old methods of honest
labor and hasten TO become rich. It
would bring the old mans "gray
hairs down in sorrow to the graven
If ne knew the wild, frenzled life of
dissipation TO which these places
have brought their once pure-minded
ooys when once under the delirium
OF success or the despair of defeat
which 10 ever the sad condition of
majority of those who dwell in min
ing camps. The name of those who
have been wrecked and lost sight of
IN these mad adventures is legion.
Even the writer, who knows but little
OF real mining life, mas seen many
victim OF this unhailowed vocation.
whose cultivated min and noble
bearing gave ample proof of the
respectability of their birth and early
education, gradually descend from
poverty TO want and Woe and death.
Well do | remember two old bacbc.
Tor triends-More l. Watson-whoI
were among the early settlers of |
Potosi. They were the occupants of |
solitary cabin at the Head of Hol |
low"-as Potosi was then called
near the outlet of ravine, leading
to the east of the present village,
environed by grand old oaks and
close to spring where swelled up q
fountain of pure and living water,
and where they dwelt for many
years, blind to each others faults
and follies, and cemented by friend
ship that Damon and Pithias might
have envied. The spot is marked
still by green plot and few de.
caying logs; but the old tenants
have long since gene and reposs
side by side in their marrow beds"
with no monuments but the memory
of their lives. More was the first to
yield to the stern decree of earthly
separation. | was young man
then, and out of common curiosity
as we'll as respect for the dead whom
L had known and honored, / was led
to visit tho naOuov vc tiIour 0l0g.' |
There, in his straw bunk, stretched
in the icy arms of death, poor Tom
my More, wearied and worn and all
but friendless, had land him down
and entered npon that long repose
that knows no ending A deal table,
few broken articles Of furniture,
and few worn garments of the de.
ceased, now hanging reverently
aside bepoke at once the poverty
and wants of the aged friends. Here
they dwelt-here they had shared
each others sorro VS. and wepL each
others tears" through many chang
ing years, and NJ they were about
TO be separated-forever Tears
coursed down the cheeks of the
venerable survivor and 81 too wept,
though not to weeping given" 1t
was indeed the house OF mourning
and never will l forget the feeling
manner of the old man who was lief.
| to perform the last sad rites TO his
bosom friend as he sat on his wood
en- stool by the cabin door, and in
language of heartfelt grief repeated
the virtues of him who Nad gone be-
fore. He requested nae to make
few remarks upon the occasion and
gave some points of his life that |
mig bit repeat them ere we consigned
his body to the earth, that Master
More" as he expressed it, might |
not be buried like dog" 1t was a
Sabbath day in early spring; the |
SHOWS were melting from the bill
sides and the raw winds from the |
east neutralized the warmth OF the |
suns bright rays, and Nature, stript |
of her foliage and vordure, seemed |
to speak of the vanity and hollow
ness of earthly things. A little
company of associates and friends
gathered at the cabin-the compan-
ions of his life-beneath whose rough
exteriors throbbed the warm i'm
pulses of tender hearts. and supplied
the place of the gantler sex who are
ever last at the cross and first at the
tomb.
Few and short were the prayers We said
And we spoke not word OF sorrow.
as silently and reverently we moved
from the rude cabin in the mines,
along the deserted fields and brown,
shaft. drilled hills, to the narrow
house prepared for ell the living, in
the city of the dead. A few brief
words of respect closed the ceremon-
| les at the grave and the earth and
the sod closed from mortal sight all
that was left of the quiet, gentle,
trusting heart that beat within the
breast of Thomas More. Poor old
man Watson, having seen all things
done decently and in order fo- his
friend, returned to his cherries
cabin where he spent few more
years, lamenting the death OF "Mss-
ter More" till he, too, wearied of
/, this lonely life, laid down upon his
pallet of worn straw and his noble,
generous spirit fed to the Mansions
of Rest. These men, the last days
, of whose lives / have briefysketched,
were at one time the possessors OF
. many valuable lodes of mineral and
) could coun. their soverigns by the
thousands. They were also the own.
ers of some of the most valuable real
estate in the Po.osi mines-the fields
h;oh ,hay mazda and the diQgiuQs