The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-31
AMONG THE CALIFORNIA MINERS.

MIR. EDITOR There are a number of
demoralizing influences at work in this
far western country. First among these
is bad whiskey, everywhere present, and
second, is the tendency of men to live
alone, commonly known as keeping bach
elor's hail.
This kind of life can be seen in all its
phases in the hydraulic mining regions of
California. Some of these men have
lived here ever since "'49," and would
have reduced this kind of life to science
long ago, il there could be any science
about it. A man locates "a claim, builds
a cabin, gets frying pan, coffee pot, oil
can, (for bucket, -four sack or two,
a gunny sack, some bale rope, a dog and
cat, and pan or two for washing gold
out Of tho gravel, and he is ready for
business. OF course, some of them have
a better outfit, such as cook stove, dishes,
&c, horse, pigs and chickens. But no
matter whether these men have much or
little, in and about their cabins, this
mode of life has made them substantially
alike. Here are men from New York,
Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Mexico, with
no appreciable difference, although their
early lives and education differed as wide
ly as their states. Here are men who
would have ranked above the average. IL
living in the older states. But they have
lived without books, ignorant of the pro.
gress of science and literature, except the
little knowledge gathered from an oc.
casional newspaper. When they meet,
they discuss politics, mining aud hunt
ing, concerning themselves very little
about the outside world They manage
to get enough out of their mines to live
pretty well, but only about one in a hun
dred "strikes it rich.s Their groceries
are brought to them by wagons, which
come around once week. In the Fall
they kill deer, and sheep left by the herd
ers, who have been here with their hocks
during Summer, but have driven down to
the valleys to Winter. A good hunter
can lay in enough meat in this way, by a
two days hunt, to'last him all Winter.
But while this is an easy going, indie
pendent life, it makes a thoughtful man
sad fhe stops to consider the real condi-
ton of these men. Many of them came
here in the flush of youth or early man
hood. Cheered by gilded hopes they said
"good bye to relatives, aud TO her that
was to watch for his return in year or
two and share the fortune he felt sure was
waiting for him. Then the toilsome and
dangerous journey across the plains. If
escaping the deadly bullet of the Indians
and enduring the hardship, in most cases
disappointment was ready to meet him
with open arms on reaching California.
He soon learned that if man got rich
here, che had to rustic for it," Some be-
came discouraged at once, and returned
others sickened and died, but the MAORI
ty with brave hearts and strong hands,
aetermiheo 10 return win iot'une Vi
DIE IN the ehort. mus tney nave toiied
while the years crept slowly by. The
old father and mother watched Tor their
return IN VAN, ana al last were iaid TO
rest without seeing their absent one.
She, who had heard his parting VOWS, and
faithfully waited for bis return, saw with
pain the appointed time go oy, out no
sign OF his coming. In some cases re-
port of his death destroyed her hope and
she married some one, less brave but more
sensible and willing to "pake haste slow
iy." But others nave waited iaithiniiy
all these years. and grown OLD gracefully,
as one by one the golden threads OF YOUTH
ful hopes have broken by the weight OF
years that have swept over their hearts.
And how about him Tor wnom sne watch
ed ana waitedY ferhaps Nc HIS naine'
less grave or still occupies MS caoin mere
among his fellow miners. lie Is 100 Ola
now to return even should be De apie 10
WOO fortunes treacpefous gouuess' Dut
lead him gently PACK 10 other Gays ana
scenes, and as ne repeats ina story Oh MS
lie, one VIII notice minor choro Oh sau-
ness that cannot IAN 10 touch inc nafaest
heart. a Few moro years ana he VIII
drop out Oh line, ana his comrades car
ny nm TO ms last resting place amid the
treasures he so eagerly sought ihese
men are honest, brave ana generous.
they VIII snare tEeir caoin ana 'ast NOR
sci OF 1000 with stranger. iheir lives
may be called failure, but II they leave
the world no Deter, their lives al least,
have been above reproach, and leave the
world and mankind no 'corse.
1t may not be amiss to say few words
about the miners in this country. In THIS
county OF Eldorado gold was hrst us
covered, and mining has been carried GU
ever since. In some cases tunnels nave
been run into the hill and mountain sides ;
but the larger part is done on the surface.
A few of the miners collect water from
spring rains and melting SHOWS, WINE