Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-28
A BOLD CLAlM.JUMPER.
HOY Il Skunk Took Possession of a Mine.

no" Skunk look Possession OF - Mine.
From the Salt Lake Tribuuel
On one December, the 29th, Ben
Hlnson and l went to our Fairy Belle
Inning ciiim to do our assessment
WORK fer the year We lad to do it by
Inc 3lst or the claim would be jump
able. We Rad found silver in this
claim, also gold, ard on that morning
discovered something else. We found
skunk.
We had tunneled in forty feet on
the vein, and upon the hillside had
sunk Il shaft which, at the depth of
twenty feet, connected with the end OF
the tunnel. On reaching the tunnel
Ben went in first, and returned as if he
had been shot out. I thought perhaps
he Lad found grizzly inside. Ee said
il was something worse.
We consulted rs to what we should
do. Neither OF rs had ever had a
hand-to-hand encounter with skunk.
We felt our inexperience. We consid-
cred the Fairy Belle valuable, and
were anxious to do our assessment
work. We thought if we threw stones
into the tunnel he would resent it with
all his might We concluded to fire
our pistols N his direction. Though
he was not "a sight, Il shot might Kill
him with sach sDddenness that lie could
not return the fire. Twelve shots were
fred, nervously. We feared a sally
from the enemy. Silence. Immense
volumes of dense quiet hung about the
place. He must have fallen. l sug-
gested to Ben that ne go in, as he knew
where the skunk was to be found. He
suggested that l go in, as l didn'tkn ow
where the skunk was to be found. We
deliberated. We wavered. Ben said
if I would clasp my hand in his and go
N he would. We started in thus, like
twin BROKERS. Ny heart was not full
ii that c:lnging affection for Ben that
one shoUld feel for twin brother. [
felt that might at any moment desert
him. He, too, doubtless, felt an alb
sence OF that undying brotherly love
which brooks no parting. He was
ready to s1iuder family ties. We adj
vanced. The suspense was burden
some. The situation was grave. Turn
ing point, we suddenly came upon the
enemv. His battle-fag was flung to the
breeze. Ben fed. l chided him for
his cowardice. [ stayed a moment.
Had fallen down over some rocks.
Chi9ed him while was getting up. I
reached the mouth of the tunnel but q
moment alter Ben, but could not see
him at first. He was in the top of
tree. [ wss angry, and cried:
Coward! What did you desert for?"
How could help you fight stink?
My nose couldn't Lave helped yours?'
But there was no odor yet. The
skunk was reserving his fire until the
fight grew close-until we clinched.
Our side didn't want to clinch.
We consulted for the remainder of
that day. On the 30th I proposed that
one of rs should let the other down
the shaft with rope, and the one let
down could start the skunk toward
the mouth of the tunnel. l told Ben
that, being heavier and stronger than
he, / would let him down. He said
he would rather let me down; that he
felt quite strong that day and unusu-
ally heavy. l twitted him with run
ming out of the tunnel prematurely
on the day before. Spoke of my dar-
ing in lingering after his flight. He
didn't know l had fallen down in the
tunnel. He concluded to descend the
shaft. AS lowered him his face was
pale and anxious. He disappeared in
the tunnel. l could hear "shoo, shoo,"
spoken in hesitating way. Then a
timid "scat, scat" l tied my end of
the rope to tree, and went toward
the mouth of the tunnel to see the
skunk go out. In moment l heard
a shrek of terror, and rushed back
to the shaft. Ben was half way up
the shaft, climbing the rope frantical
~. Something else had got all the
way up the shaft. It was an odor,
tough and thick, overbearing and DIS
gustingly familiar on a short acquain-
lance. The top of my head felt as il
it was being gradually but powerfully
pried of. ] spoke to Ben, who had
scrambled out of the shaft: Did it
hit you?" He did not answer imme-
diately. Hewas holding his nose with one
hand, while he waved the other in front
of his face as if parting something.
He answered:
Not-not-specially." He was gasp
ing. But-you-see- generaily-he's
hit everything about here"
Holding our noses we walked off
about a quarter of mile to consult.
Zen remarked as he let loose his nose:
He's thunderin' big
We went a quarter of mile further.
when Ben continued:
He's thunderin' big one."
How large?"
Bout the size of Newfoundland
dog. He must have barrel of it; he
amt stingy either"
We camped that night half mile
away from the Fairy Belle. On the 31st
Ben said.
Let's try it again; he must be dead
now"
"Deadl Did you hit him?"
No; but do you think he could
stand all that~
All what?"
That stink"
He's used to it."
Well, then, he must have strained
himself to death, anyhow, getting off
all that"
We yentured hook The shaft and