Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-16
The First Piano in a Mining Camp
BY SAM DAVIS.

In 1888, IL might have been FIVE years earlier
or later, this is not a history for the public
schools-there was a little camp about ten
miles from Phoebe, occupied by upward OF 8]s
miners, every one CT whom might have packed
bis prospecting implements and left for more
Inviting fields any time before sunset. When
the day was over the men did not rest from
their laboTs, Ike the honest New England agri-
CultuTiSt, but sang, danced, gamDled and s1ot
each other, as the mood seiZ6d them.
OEe evening the report spread along the main
street (Which was the only street) that three
men had been killed at Silver Reef, and that
the bodies were coming IN.
Presently lumberipg old conveyance la
bored up the hill, drawn by couple OF horses
wen worn out with their pun. The cart con-
tained good sized box, and no sooner did It's
outlines become visible through the glimrner OF
stray light here and there, than IL began to
affect the idIers. Death always enforces re-
spect, and even though no one had caught sight
OF the remains, the crowd gradually became
suhdued, and when the horses came TO stand
however. was not in the least impressed with
the sOlemnity OF his commission
=" all Jhere2" asked one.
Haven't examined. Guess 30. p"
inc driver hlled bis pipe and LIT IT, as he con-
tinueC:
"Wish the bones and load had gone over the
grade
a man who had been looking on stepped up
10 the man at once.
al don't know VINO you've got In that bcx
tut IL tneJ happen 10 De any friends or mine
I'll lay you alongside"
1--WE can mighty soon see." said the team
ster cooliy. just burst the lid OF, and II they
happen TO be the men you want, I'm here"
The two looked ar each other for moment,
aud the crowd gather a iitt.e closer, anticipa-
ting trouble.
81 b lleYe that dead men are entitled tn pood
treatment, and when you talk ABOUT wishing
to see corpse go over bank. all have to
say Is, that 1t VIII be better for you IL the late
lamented amt any OF my friends"
'WeH open the box. / don't sake back what
I've said, and IL my language don't suit your
ways OF thinking, i guess can stand It,"
WIN THESE words The teamster began to pry
pulled out some old rags. strip OF some Thing
dark. Ike rosewood, pre- .entej Itself.
Eastern coffins by thunder!' said several,
ana the crowd looked quite aStOunded.
Some more boards flew up and The man who
was ready to defend his friends memory,
shifted bus weapon little: the cool manner
OF the teamster had so Initiated him that he
made up his mind 20 pull his weapon at the
first sign OF the dead, even ii the deceased was
his worst and oldest enemy. Presently the
Whole OF the box cover was off, and the team
stef, clearing away the packing, revealed to
t6e astonished group the top VI something
which puzzled all alike.
.BOys," said he, this Is pianner."
general shout OF laughter went up and the
man who had been soanXiouS to enforce respect
for the dead, multered something about feeling
dry, and the Keeper OF the nearest bar was seye-
raj ounces better of by the time the boys had
given the joke all the attention called for.
Had dozen dead men been IN the box, their
presence In the camp could not nave occa5ioned
MALI the excitement that the arrival of that
lonely piano caused. BY the next mornt az IL
was known that the Instrument was TO grace a
hurdy -gUrdy saloon. owned by Tom Goskin, the
leading gambler in the place. 1t took nearly
week TO get this WONDER On its legs. aud the
owner was the pTOudes5 man 10 the state IU
rose gradually from recumoen5 to an Upright
position, amid confusion OF tongues alter Jne
manner or the town or Babel.
Ot course everybody knew just how such an
instrument should be put up One knew where
the on hind leg" should go. and another was
posted on the front piece"
Scores OF men came to the place every day to
assist.
"ill put the bones IL good order"
"If you want the WIFE tuned. I'm the boy"
ave got music 60 feed it for a month";
Another bought pair OF blankets for q cover
and all took the liveliest interest In it. 1t was
at last In condition for business.
"lt's been showing It's teeth all the week
Wed like 10 have it spit out something"
Alas! there waS0'E a man to be found who
could play upon the instrument. Goskln began
to realize that he had losing speculation on
his hands. He had fiddler and a Mexican
who thrunmed tie guitar. pianist would
have maue bis orchestra complete.
one day three-card monte player told
friend confidentially that he could KNOCK any
amount or music out OF piano Ii he only had
IL alone Few hours to get his hand In" The
questioned he vowed that he didn't know u
Iote OF music. 1t was noted, however, as
suspicious circumstance, that he often hung
tsCouG tue aiiu upon IL l0utT
ingly, like hungry man gloaGiDg over beef
steak aG restaurant WINDOW. There was no
doubt that this man had music 10 his soul, per-
haps In his fingers ends, but did not dare to
make 6 trial or his strength after the rules OF
harmony had suffered SO many years of neglect.
SO the nddleT kept On With his jgs. and the
greasy Mexican paved his discordant guitar
but no man had the nerve TO touch that piano.
There were doubtless scores OF men 10 the
camp who would have given ten ounces OF gold
gust 10 have been half an hour alone with IT,
but every mans nerve shrank from the jeafS
which the crowd would shower up On MIN
should his first attempt prove failure. 1t got
10 be generally UNDERSTOOD that the hand which
hrSt essay ed TO Draw music from the keys must
not SLOUGH its work.
1t was Christmas Eve, and Goskin, accordinq-
TO his custom, had decorated his gambling
house with sprig OF mountain cedar and d
shrub whose crimson berries did not seem a
bad imitation Of English holly. The piano
was covered with evergreens and all that was
wanted TO completely NIL the cup OF Go5kfn's
happiness was man to play that piano.
christmas night and no plano FOUNDER he
said: This is nice country for Christian 10
live in.'
Getting a piece OF paper he scrawled the
words:
$50 Reward.