Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-07-12
SELECT STORY.
THE MINES.

~ AN'NN IVA 'N'''AN
Columbia occurred in the year 1858,
and among the many thousands who
started from Victoria to the land Of
| promise was your humble servant,
I Joseph Laylor.
| did not go alone on my gold-seek-
ing expedition. Harry Cleye went
with NE as partner.
1t was a journey of twenty-three
/ days from Victoria, often wading
waist-dcep in mud and slush, and
/ crossing mountains Of immense size.
At last we arrived at the mines in
a deplorabIe condition. Here we
found the suffering fearful, provisions
scarce, and, although we had read
such glittering accounts of the MINES,
the gold was slow in coming.
Day by day We toiled, and at the
end Of the first week we were
not much richer than when we
arrived.
The second week, however, we
struck "vein,' and our anticipations
seemed about to be realized.
1t was the last day of the second
week, and Harry and | were seated in
our tent, smoking and discussing our
unexpected luck.
| had just put down my pipe,
when d man entered the tent. 1t was
Bob Riley, the bully of the mines.
He wasa man Of about six feet in
height, splendidly formed, with an
arm that looked as though it might
fell an OK.
He took a seat without saying as
much as ''by Your leave
"IIey, old boy, guy us that pipe"
he said, at length, pointing to the pipe
which | had put down. 'And
harkee, old man, fill it to the brlm;
dye hear"
Bob Riley | replied, 81 know
you're a bully, and I'm not afraid of
you. If you call me rightly and
speak respectfully I'll lend you
the pipe
"Guv me that pipe!" he cried, his
face growing red with rage. "Guy
me the pipe, and mind who you are
talking to; dye hear"
q will not give you the pipe, Bob
Riley, till you do what / told you,"
was the answer, interposing my body
between him and the object of his in
quiry.
With an oath he arose and came to-
ward me. Harry jumped up to'take
my part, but told him to keep quiet
and I'd make it right.
1t certainly looked as if Bob would
demolish me-I was so small in COM
parison to him.
''Get out of the way.' he cried
with an oath, his face white with
rage.
I did not move.
He then raised his brawny fist to
strike me down.
| parried the blow, and the next
minute he had measured his length
on the ground, his head touching the
canvas, from Il well-measured blow
on the mouth from my fist.
In minute he was up again, for |
would take no mean advantage Of his
position.
With yolley of oaths, he cried:
"Joe LayIor, my time will come.
| shall never forget this ~ and with
that he disappeared from the tent.
That night | lay awake, the words
of the bully ringing in my ears. |
tried to forget them but it was use
less.
By the morning it had leaked out
that I had clicked the bully, and /
was the talk and hero of the day.
!; \ X =; X 4
| pass over a period of four
months.
Unusual luck mad attended the
efforts of Harry and myself during
this time, and we were worth nice
100000 in gold apiece and thinking
about leaving the mines.
For the better safety Of our money
we had dug hole in the ground I'M
der our tent, deposited 1t there, placed
piece of wood over the hole and
then covered it with mud, and five
miners, Harry and myself had form
ed Il band for mutual protection.
Every night at II o'clock Harry
..l 1o,J- coa - am, cold