The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-07-31
ROMANCE OF THE
MINES.
The Reward That Came After Eight
fears' Work.

Especial Correspondence OF the Times.I
SILVER CLIFF, July 2, 1879.
1thas occurred to me that a few
Instances exemplifying the wayward
mes OF fortune in mining camps ma,
be OF interest to your readers.
Here Is one strange but true
Twenty-Five years ago three mer
toiled across the plains from the Mis-
souri, River. aud up into the noun.
tain Of Nevada. High up among the
cliffs they found Que day fioat-rocL
showing free gold. and going to the
foot OF the mountain began drifting
or tunneiing 10 toward the hidden
source OF surface wealth. They
blasted and cut tlieir way through
solid rock inch by inch, day after
day, gaining but two feet each week
and at the close OF the first year they
had a tunnel 100 feet In length. bu,
no mineral, no provisions aud no
money to buy them.
Que OF the partners said he would
work there no longer, decided his in
terest to his friends. and left them In
search OF employment that would
sustain life. The two in possession
viewed the prospect Ger" and one
volunteered to return to their old
home end procure means to prosecute
their work. This he did, a ID in due
time gratified his friend by bringing
as they supposed. an ample store OF
supplies aud sufficient ready cash to
enable them To complete their tunnel.
For three years more these two
hewed their way into the mountain,
gaining but one hundred feet each
year, and still no elittering gold re-
lieved the sonber gray Ut cold gran
ite walls and roof of the passage they
had carved out with four years OF
toll. Again their supply Ut money
and provisions was exhausted.
The patient courage OF one was ex-
bausted also, but the faith of his
partner was yet equal to moving that
particular mountain. and he resisted
the entrea,.es Of his friend to aban-
don the undertaking. Accepting the
preferred gift OF that iriend's interest.
the now sole possessor OF what should
have been q mine sat down to think
it over. He recalled a rumor heard
some time before Of an old time
friend who had STRUCK Ii rich" a
year or two earlier about fifty miles
away. 1T Is worth a trial." he said.
He may refuse to aid me here, but
he will not deny me shelter and food,
which l must have. I'll try" And
he did.
His old friend gave him some good
advice. and loaned him, 5000 In
money. He accepted the first cheer
fully-the last thankfully and re-
turned to his work. Employing an
assistant the tunnel was driven
into the mountain nearly four
hundred feet further in the ensuing
four years. They used the tile pow
der and fuse remaining 10 firing a
last shot. and with the last candle,
sought diligently along every inch OF
wall aud roof throughout the eight
hundred feet, but did not find trace
OF gold.
With nothing left to eat bat a
single quart OF beans, no money OF
credit to procure more. the future
must have looked as dark and gloomy
to the owner and his hungry assistant
as did the yawnfng tunnel behind
them.
Forgiving his employer the balance
OF unpaid wages the assistant sought
employment and food elsewhere
Left In solitude at the entrance oil
the dark cavern. within which he had
spent eight years OF his life, the
lonely owner was tempted to do wha,
his confreres had all done 10 turn, bu,
the vision which had enthralled him
so often appeared again, fascinated
and held him spell bound.
He walked to the Office of q
mining company some distance away
asked the superintendent to take 8
light, go with him, and examine his
property.
The kind-hearted official accom-.
panied him, scanning the barrer
walls as he passed slowly along FOL
about 400 hundred feet, halted a mo-
ment, moved on a little way, came
back. and looked again.
Here said he. sis the crevice
You have passed 1t. Put shot ol
two In here and you will uncover
gold"
haua ffhov p..vIo.