Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-06-13
A MINING STORY.

% Eureka Gold Mining Company.
Don't 1t look important on paper? |
tell you boys, we've got a good thing,
but we must work! said Tim FLYNN,
glarcing at the piece of paper in his
hand
eyes, replied Joe Bagley, with a
sleepy vawn, "but let's go to roost
now. We can't do anything more to-
night
The men, eight in number, had been
sitting around a camp fire discussing
tdeir prospects. The Eureka mine
originally belonged to party Of eastern
capitalists, who. having worked il for a
short time and finding it did not "pan
out according to expectations, sold
their interests to the men who had just
taken possession Of the property, which
they fmly believed would prove an Ell
Dorado They were poor in purse for
they Id invested their all in the new
venture, but were rich in hope and cOur-
age.
II Is a we'll known fact" Flynn
would assert twenty times day, that
the Eureka is on a range with the fam
Gus Empire, which yields $50, 900 per
ton, and we are sure to strike the same
vein Some day we will wake up tofind
ourselves milIionaIres. tits only cues
ton Of tile."
The next morning seven of the men,
who were the actual owners, began work
leaving ST Reed, whom they tened the
silent pa1 tner, to do the chores about
the camp. Reed was pale and thin and
had au anxious, expectant look npon his
face. He seldom spoke TO any one,
which fact had gained him the sobriQuet
of Silent or 81 Reed. He was devotedly
attached to Flynn, who had befriended
him while IN Sacramento, and exhibited
such sincere grief when he heard of his
intended departure for the mines that
Flynn invited him to Join the party.
The miners worked like beavers, del7-
ing down into the earth that each felt
certain held in her virgin bosom the
gold which would enrich them. They
began tueir labors at the first streak OF
dawn, toillng increasingly through the
entire dav, each dreaming his own dream
of future greatness. Weeks sped by;
pan after pan was washed, the contents
examined, then thrown aside. But they
there. The next blow of the pick ght
reveal 1t.
One evening after supper, Joe Bagly
said:
Flows the fodder, 81? Last anoth-
er week, eh p
No, hardly enough for another
week
"You must put us on low rations,
then. What dye say, boys ?"
agreed" they answered in chorus.
The next day when ST gave each man
his portion, they laughingly declared
that Flynn had received the lions share
which was true; for Reed had robbed
himself IN order thar, his friend should
have his usual supply, albeit no one sus
pected the bit of self sacrifice. The
seek was stealing by and they had not
''struck it. The hearts of the MIXERS
were growing heavy with dread. Yet
they dared not give vent TO their fears.
Each felt that success depended upon
his individual courage, and no one was
willing to dampen the ardor of the 9TH
ers by expressing doubts Of their ulti-
mate triumph.
One day, while seated on the ground
eating their midday meal, a little girl
appeared before them.
"Holy thunder!" cried Flynn, spring
ing to his feet, where did you come
from % --
"PIease, sir, I've been walking ever
so far. Ma saw yer camp fire las night,
and told me how to git here. She
couldn't come herself, cause Freddie's
sick. May [ sit down I'm awful
tired"
She glanced timidly at the men then
at the empty pot in which the dinner Of
beans and bacon had been cooked.
"Where does you ma live =? inquired
Bagly.
"She doesn't live anywhere. We're
a-huntin' for pa.
"Did.ye expect to find i'm here ?"
emo, sir, but we're hungry and ma
thought you'd give us sometin' to eat. !"
The men roared with laughter. Some
thing to eat, when they had just de-
youred the last cut of bacon.