The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-01-31
THE GOLD NUGGET.
A THRILLING REM1N1scENcE By A
CALIFORNIA PIONEER.

| A THRILLING REMlN1SCENCE By
CALIFORNIA PIONEER.
Yes, / knew Juan. He was a
Mexican, who kept corral on
Rincon Point, in 1916. He sup
piled the whalers and hide-droghers
with fresh beef. When Marshall
turned the world askeW by unearth-
ing that ,taismanic nugget at SUIT
ter's Mill, Juan sold out and joined
the rush northward. He was lucky
at the start, if unlucky at the
end. The first pick ne sank brought
up one the biggest specimens
struck in California. Eight Aou-
sand dollars was offered for it right
away, but Juan wouldn't sell. He
thought ne could make more by
putting it up 81 a rattle. Eight
thousand shares at $40 a share was
the order. The enterprise was sue.
cessful.
The central point of attraction
was White Mans Bar. Crowds
from every camp within tramping
distance came to look at the mug
get and take shares in the lottery.
Juan was in high feather. He was
the big pin Of the occasion and,
Castilian-like, put on a mint Of
frills. He was tall, lank man,
saturnine in the countenance, with
a retreating jaw and a baboonish
forehead. He wore a red bandana
round his head and carried long
noyaja (knife) in his sash. He al
ways wore the costume of "a yaquero
and, Judging from his looks, was
a tough eustomer;ye a more harm
less fellow never breathed. He
was fond Of money though, and
would sooner lose one ounce of
blood than a dollar any day. To.
guard the nugget he employed eight
Of his countrymen. -Four Of these
were armed with pistols and mach
etes. They were a surly-looking
gang, and seemed able to whip
anything of their size; but when it
came to the scratch were COM.
pletely subdued by the ''malditos
mericanos', >,
The. nugget was placed under a
glass case on the center of a table
in the Modo Verde saloon, where a
yellow-faced girl from Sonora took
the names of subscribers. Among
those who came to see the nugget
was "Jilnmy-from-town," one of the
noted desperadoes of that day, and
as smart a rogue as ever went un-
hanged, He was attended by two
of his principal pals-Joe Bell and
Micky Free. After taking in the
situation Jimmy concluded the
the plant could be raised, and SO
informed his lieutenants. TOO
risky" said Joe, sthese greasers are
well armed, have grit, and will
make fight
"Very likely" answered Jimmy,
.but we can double haul 'em. You'll
get the chunk if you do what I
say
$50 ahead" said Micky.
"Beat up all the boys you can
and get me 'broncho.' I'll show
you how to corral the nugget. See
if you can't lift me before to-mor.
row night"
Jimmy's two gillies followed his
directions. Twenty hard nuts re-
ported for duty within forty-eight
hours. The 'broncho' was also on
hand, paid for with the money of a
colored man, whom Micky knocked
| on the head. The animal was i'm
mediateiy placed in training.
Jimmy had been a circus rider,
and was a sharp in horse flesh. He
soon had the '.broncho" ready for
business. Meantime the rattle
bowled along. The lists were near
fly full, and as the hour for drawing
approached the excitement in
4 creased. The saloon was abso-
j lutely packed; the monte-dealers
B could scarcely handle their cards,
while the guard around the nugget
lhad to use force to keep the crowd
from oYer-turning the table. Now
was the time for Jimmy. BE ap-
i ipeared in front of the saloon
!: mounted on his sbroncho;' his pals
: were already mingiing with the
E crowd inside, ready to seize the
|. nugget at signal from their leader
r Jimmy worried the animal sum
# GENTLY to make it restiye. It be
off gan to back into the saloon. Th'
ie crowd shouted, cursed and strug
q gled, but gave way. In spite Q
III ali jimmy appeared to do, the ami
Il. nal kept backing and gradual
as approached the center-table. Jua
ne 1saw the danger which threatene
osel lhis treasure, and springing forward
sm seized tie seins Of the hsenehs
z