The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-29
i STORY OF CAMP LIFE.


4 STORY OF CAMP LIFE.
"Bill, said Jack Harding, "who'.
: the chap that's $ taken Slingsby's ole
4 elain?u s ss sa
"Dunno,' laconically responded the
4 bar-keeper. as he struck match to lioht
astump of a cigar; ''s'pose (puff) he's
some ones (puf) got more money (puf1
i tban sense, or he'd "a let that thino
acsef' {Puf, puff So EH87
Thets what I kealkilate,'' went on
Jack. - Slingsby got busted thar, an
Jones afore him, al I dunno as ennv
man II ever make grub in such hole. =
8 The two men having apparently ex-
hausted the subject, Jack gazed out of
3iheopen door, while the bar-keeper spent
U hhtime catching flies and throwing them
8 3aoldP Pete Farley who, although sitsWas
Y only twelve o clock in the, day,was ap-
arently in his usual drunken sleep In
4 lhecorner. In every mining town there
generally one or more men who have
pne ito the dogs'' fromthe use of drink.
s. bow they live is mystery, for they no
poaer get a few cents than they spend
henfor liquor. Sleeping ifnbarsroonns,
rtting their meals as chance dictates,
md often not getting them at all, they
rsdnally sink lower and lower, until
Hddenly one hears that so-and-so is dead /;
cad in the gutter or in some tumble
own shed in which he has crept to die.
Possibly some man may say, ii a half
ftying and wholly contemptuous tone:
SO that old drunken beast has gone.
Good radiance to such rubbish;' and this
srves as the drunkard's requiem. Old
Pete Farley was known in the camp as
ssot He lived by the chance contribu-
ions Of men who would give him meal
fa drink out of charity; and quite an
BENIN bis incomewere the small sums
Ae was able to borrow. from strangers.
Miners are exceedingly generous men,
Ind hte's requests for che loan of swo
aak ltwenty-fY eentsl were rarely re-
used at tirst. The news that q stranger
had arrived was, tlhefefofe, to HIM some
Thing ofthe nature q informasion Of 81
Unexpected legacy. Whild old Pete was
apparently asleep he had carefully mo-
iced what was said, and he soon after
sandsgot w, Left the saloon and made
hs way to Slingsby's old claim up the
gulch. .~..-. : -
Arriving there be found a. Young fell
10y Of about stwenty-two. sYerking as.
only gold miners do work. : Pete sat
DOWN on the edge of the bank and watch
g MN. As he did SO he was conscious
acurieus feeling of admiration, and
equally curious reluctance to broach
ne object of his visit, ) a. reluctance he
aa not remember having felt for many
leaEs The workerin the claim at length
paused and noticing the old man, hailed
4m Win: aM. gW
Hello, stranger! It's nice day.
ioure bout right. I see you're
soIslng on Slingsby' old grounds
les | boughtit the other day. Gin
en ounces" (S160.)
shaal, you gin all twas wuth. What
aoagnt your name be, stranger?' ~
Fetef Philips.,, 2a 9Ee9Ss II
rniips! Phillips! Pears to me I've
1saln taat ar name afore. ~ 8 81 ssassss
yulte possible. Theresa good sight |
lnlillpses going round. It's about /
sulef ume, stranger, an my cabins
II. ~ up there. Won't You step in an
~ ION :, : care if | do, twas the answer
,aaa. sum 'ne old man; and the two walked
esslher to the cabin. y
lallllps made old Pete thoroughly well
ssas' led him web, and talked to him
i ossf ~ e az IS hour o When they got up to
ss,,; = sus =, q the door he gave him most
psss go invitation to come again, and old /
r;s n sctaally found himself walking off
soaas t;s .ne two bits necessary il he
A. esa arlnk that afternoon. and, more
a.: aas' wltha strange feeling of salts
,sm,. sssva mat be had not asked for it. The
M f.'lsaIee so begun increased rapidly.
NJ NJ a.y aaay passed that the old man did
Ifpsssi,ss g als y way to Slingsby's, or Phil
sbsss s's,m' / as It now began to be called, I
al !. IS would sit on the bank, and f.
AnsI, lts owner while he worked. AL T,
loms l Old Pete was too much broken
/ a ~ M Y long course of drinking to
p6encaa Moor, he was IN fact a most ex-
Iuunass Isu miner, and his advice to the
/ kio,ss 3, In man was of SO much value that
| M i css W. long the despised claim be-
|lmg Ps;lI;sw anown as paying property. |
Ia ;,s;n s;nliiips, recognizing the aid given
sisf sssls'ea that old Pete should con-
| u ss snsen one Of the owners, and at !
4 Il s5ss' saeaa-up afterwards handed him ,
De Reut ~. the dastsss - Fl
/ ID m,, giit was unfortunate. The /
soss I n;.s xens down to the camp and t
| ae sras ae was horribly. drunk. Some !.
/ ID NJ ,ed s.1 e him, while he was in /
|sss Nas';s nat :, ne should go and see his n
|aSeperass s Old Pete accordingly ]
| bsna a T. up to the claim, where he
|sas s Young fellow just leaving e
Ind mt h;lllps took him to the cabin
ula 70 bed The next morning /