The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-10-05

n Butte MINER:
me time in last July a couple Of indus-
miners, whom for convenience sake
fill call Bunyan and Handsome, were
ing some mining ground on shares at
City, about four miles above here. The
Id belongs to a gentleman living at pres
THE city by the name of-well, we will
~bossum-who was to receive one-fourth
gold which was taken out of the claim.
jrging a ditch in which to convey water
! head Of their s~luices, the boys struck
s boulder which they were unable to
S. Bunyan, in his pilgrimage for a sledge
.hich to break the rock into convenient
, to handle, met one of Ewes fair daugh-
resident Of this little burg, who, con-
TO the customs and traditions of her
broyed inquisitive and enquired of him
rand.
81 exacting from the young lady aprom-
Fscresy, BunyaD, with a gravity beft-
The author of Pilgrims Progress, but
a regard for the truth totally at variance
The teachings of that defunct writer, in
ID the damsel that he had found a mug
! huge golden nugget of immense value,
hat he was then on his way to procure
large box in which to secrete it, and he
ermore toldsher that if she would say
ug about it he would buy her a fine gold
and chain, and in addition thereto
/ make her a present of three hundred
IS in cash when he sold the treasure.
a with the splendid prospect the fair
tier of Christiana skipped home revel-
n delightful anticipations of soon becom-
ae envied possessor of wealth and heauti-
brnaments. But the secret rested too
" on such young shoulders. Again,
airy to the custom of the softer sex, she
1t to relieve herself OF the burden by i'm
g the momentous secret to her father,
he, soon experiencing the mental strain
b its keeping imposed, straightaway told
liter half. The secret was now comfor-
housed within the sacred precincts of
family circle, and would undoubtedly
dwelt there till doomsday had
the incorrigible Bunyan heard
the mater .familids that she
of "the great find" There being moth
hall about Bunyan, he generously Of
to give her a thousand dollars when he
lis half of the nugget, at the same time
ating that it would be wise to say moth
bout the great discovery, as it might
Possum's ears. Time sped on, but
hit either watch and chain O three
red dollars to the daughter. and strange
h the mother failed to receive the prom
bonus for her discreet silence. 1t was
hat a vague suspicion, which soon de-
ID into a well-defined fear that Bunyan
prove false to his promise, seized the
of the expectant females. ...D
latch was set upon his cabin. Night and
was subjected to the strlctest ~sIrveil-
to see that he did not surreptitlously
away with the treasure. In the mean
(he good dame. with a heart made sick
bpe deferred, informed Postum of the
facts as revealed to her by Bunyan.
bid that Bunyan had described his mug
being of the shape of Il beef's heart,
much larger, SO large, indeed, that it
scarcely be crowded into a five-gallon
fl can, and weighed at the least calcu-
three hundred pounds. Postum be-
very much interested, and Immediately
Bunyan for an explanation. 3unyan
pm he had found no nugget, nor seen
md that he was only having some fun
shing" the women folks q little. But
I'm couldn't see it. i'll that light, and
fened to get out a search warrant and
~Bunyan's cabin unless he made imme-
restitution by giving HIM, Postum, his
ptuth value of the nugget. Bunyan told
70 search without the warrant, which
I'M did most thoroughly, even taking up
pr and digging over the ground. Pos
pot satisfied with the search, and taking
ck in Bunyan's denial, swore out a war
and caused Bunyan's arrest, on the
of stealing a nugget of the value Of
Bunyaa was brought to the city last
" night and placed in Jail, from
however, he was soon released upon
bonds in the sum of five hundred dol
appear for an examination before his
Judge Hedges. This he did yesterday,
In the presence of a well filled cham
amused spectators, The foregoing facts
Filcited. Of course Bunyan was dis
., but with an appetite completely de-
Tor "joshing" that family again. Thus
opes Of being the favored locality in
The largest nugget in the world was
ed to be found, fades away, and the
Itself proves as unreal as the "baseless
Of a vlsioE." PORT.
|ssA, Sept. 2Sth, 1880.
rizinS u Branch OF n Bible S0ci-