St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-07-05
DESERVING a Whining Camp.

The collapse OF nalf a dozen faro
banks, the bankruptcy OF as many
liquor shops, the lowering of prices at
the hotels and boarding houses, and the
unending procession now vending its
way out of this snow-bound and torrent
swept camp, all indicate that the great
boom has collapsed. Gamblers. thieves,
adventurers and hard men generally
from all the mining camps and frontier
settlements in the country congregated
here, expecting to reap rich harvest,
| in such numbers that it occurred to
them all at once that they had overdone
the business. They pitched their tents
and opened up their banks, saloons
and deadfalls. but they soon discovered
that the great majority of the stamped
ers were without money to spare, and
that as no gold was being taken from
the placers there was precious little of
| it in circulation. Under such circum-
stances trade was far from briskin any
direction, and, having looked the
ground over pretty thoroughly, the
sports concluded that the longer they
STAYED here the poorer they would be.
..You can't run game without
money any more'n you can keep up
mining fever without dust" said one
of the toughs this morning as he set
out for the railroad.
The dog-eat dog process has been
going on here in all branches of industry,
and the problem OF how four or five
thousand men. mostly poor and for the
most part idle. can live off each
/ other, is no nearer settlement to-day
than it was before the Pritchard Creek
claims were located. Mad as was the
haste of these men to get here, their
anxiety to get away is almost rs great.
In some respects the journey out Is
worse than was the trip in, for now all
the mountain water courses are opec,
| and it is as much as mans life is
worth to attempt to cross them. The
men now turning their backs on the far
famed Cour d Alene district were only
few weeks ago facing what they be-
lieved to be fortune. Bitter experience
has shown them that they are now
leaving starvation behind.
Good by, boys said "busted"
| gambler yesterday morning, as he
swung his kit done up in bag over his
shoulders. ARIZONA is good enough
for me after this. My health demands
that | live in country where you can
see the earth that you're walking on,
There'll be enough heat in this place
before long to melt the snow. and don't
You forget it. J"
Scores of deluded fellows with
scarcely grub enough to last them until
they reach the railroad are keeping the
disappointed gamblers company in their
hegira While feeling is spreading
generally through the camp that the
whole thing is swindle, a good many
prospectors and business men with
means sufficient to sustain life until
summer are determined, now that they
are here. to stay and see the thing out.
The hegira of the impecunious classes
will prove godsend to the camp, for
there have been more men here than
could make living unless the placers
proved much richer than any disinter-
ested people now believe to be possible.
Nearly all the celebrated desper-
ADDE'S of the far West are now or have
been here. Every camp from the Black
Hills to the Pacific coast has had rep
resentatiyes here, and the stranger
coming into Eagle City is invited to
look upon these worthless by the
lot owner who may have him
in tow as proof positive that
the new diggings are all that has
been claimed for them. The man.
killer from Deadwood, Tombstone, or
the Comstock is pointed out very much
as citizen further East singles out the
buildings or public institutions of the
town of his residence in which he takes
local pride.
OF the many rough and even desper-
ate characters whom one may see on
all sides. it has been noticeable for
some time that comparatively few of
them are altogether cruel and heart
less. If there had not been good
deal of latent kindness beneath these
uninyiting exteriors, there would have
been untold suffering in this camp.
Hundreds of fellows, with just money
enough to get here, have been sustained
by their more fortunate brethren for
weeks No broke man hesitates to ask
for food. although many one shows
that begging is not to his liking. Some
of these lunches are tolerated for a
time, and then roughly refused. when
they are compelled to look up another
place.
..How's grub?" asked one emaciatcd
fellow of a man who had plenty, such
as it was.
..Grub's scarce. and you want to be,
too." was the reply of the individual
addressed, in whose eye was savage
glitter.
I'm powerful hungry, boss" said
the man, as he moved off few steps,
.Well, come and eat, them" ex-
claimed the owner of the yictuals.
"This thing is an internal nuisance and
an awful tax, but I'm blessed if can
refuse beggar who looks as thin as
YOU do. Now fill your sack, and be
lively about it before any more get
around.-Eagle City (Idaho) Cor. N. \.
iSna.