The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-02-16
JACK FLEMMING'S FIRST BEAR.

bOys, dill SNlH0 w IoWh UHlo
mornin'." g
''What, Jack, not goin' to town."
"Not sick, are yer? >
'Hello! not goin to town."
''N hats the matter, jack" we all
exclaimed in breath.
mo, nothin the matter; jist kinder
reckon I'll notlgo to-day"
1t was the last Sunday of October, in
1852. a beautiful sunny morning, the
air still, and q slight wind rustled the
leaves of the many trees about our
camp, which was situated on the Co
sumnes River, in FL Dorado County,
about ten miles from Hangtown.
Five of Gus boys were mining here,
said boys ranging from eighteen to
twenty-six years in age, and hailing
from Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, South
Carolina and New York.
Jack Flemming was about six feet
three inches in height and weighing one
hundred and forty pounds, and was at
this time twenty-five years of age, of a
fair complexion, dark brown hair and
large blue eyes. Owing to his easy
disposition and the facility with
which he turned joke from himself
upon any one Of his companions he
an especial favorite in camp, although
the butt of all our fun, which he took
good-naturedly, without any sign of
anger or displeasure. 1t was wonder
full, too, for looking back over the long
lapse of years | can now see that many
rough jokes were played on him.
He was always calm and collected
ana was never known to get excited
over any event, no matter how excited
others might become. His perceptive
faculties were dull. The only thing he
was sharp and shrewd4 about was a
horse trade, in which he always sue
ceeded. He came from Boone County,
Missouri. The name of the town / do
not remember, although many stormy
night we have been entertained by the
tales told by Jack about this town and
the ''circus shows" that his dad used
to take him ''for to. see"
Jack was the truest hearted and most
uncultured of all that uncultured people
do not believe he ever spoke correct
sentence in all his life. The only eX-
preston approaching profanity we evel
heard him say was: 81 gawd, boys
which | always supposed to be cor.
ruption of what might have been pro.
fame, bad he. been able to speak it cor.
lie ,tly. On Sundays it was our custom
as OF all other camps, to 90 to town, tC
mail and get letters, see the sights, have
a square meal and hear OF the latest
discoveries in the mines. 1t was after
breakfast We were all surprised to
see Jack settle down comfortably in his
chair before the fire and light his pipe
Instead of making his usual prepare
tons to 60 to town, as the rest of u'
were doing. 1t was the more surprising
for the reason that the rains would sooI
set in, and we could not go to tow
many more times until spring. He haC
always been the first to start, and being
the possessor of long legs, would arrive
there some time before the rest of us, ant
when we got there we had only to SCI
Jack and from him hearthe news. Whel
Jack told of his determ nation to sta,
at home this morning we took it as
joke, and thought that after we hat
gone he would take different trail thai
the usual one and arrive in town befor
us, and we fully expected to see him OF
getting there; but to our great disap
pointment he was not there. We gen
orally started for home in time to
there by sunset, but this day for som
cause we started home earlier than usr
al. On the way Jack was great
missed, for when he was along ther
never was lack of something TO kee
all entertained. When we came in sigh
al the cabin we saw the door standin
open, and expected and hoped JAG
would have dinner cooking. Althoug
not thinking it would be ready, know
ing that he wou not be looking for l
SO soon, we stepped in softly. in ordt
to give him a surprise; but stopped SUI
denly, for to our amazement Jack w,
nowhere TO be seen, and everything
the cabin was scattered over the foo
A few days before we had laid in OF
winter supplies; and the cabin was we
filled with the goods and provision
found in miners cabin in those day
When we left in the morning quart,
of beef was hanging on the rideepol
1t was gone. We looked for the gun
They were gone. A barrel of sugi
lay on its side upon the floor, 6a
empty. A key of syrup, broken ope
and the syrup running over Il
cabin. Beans lying over everyihin
In fact, everything was in confusio
Tom Stapleton was the first to spea
Boys, said he, ''look to your revol
ers; the dickens been to pay here. v