Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-01-08


fact that rainy morning, as the stage
splashed through mud-holes and
b ounced over corduroys, bolders,
stumps and other appurtenances of q
mountain highway. The conversation,
which filtered in short, jerky utterances
through the jofts, or, technically speak
ing. the .'dips, spurs and angles, rami-
fications and sinuosities" of the mud
wagon, was extremely diversified,
touching upon many subjects; but one
topic will never forget, tragic tale
related by one of my companions, the
details of which, as afterward learned
by careful inquiry, were true in every
particular
just on the edge of Nevada City we
passed opposite the mouth of gulch,
down which flowed a tributary to Deer
Greek, and across which, some dis
lance up the stream, was stretched a
long, high trestle bridge, a portion of
the narrow-gauge railway which con-
meets that region with the Central Pa
cific at Colfax. s.That is Gold Run,
suppose?n I ventured, as l held the
side curtain back so as to get better
view.
Eyes, that is the famous Gold Run,
one of the richest diggings ever worked
in California; answered the oldest OF
my companions, whose appearance in
dictated that he had knocked about the
mines since the argonautic days of 40.
Early in 1850 they were known
through the mines as the Deer Creek
Pound Diggings.
.'Pound diggings?" I said, interroga-
lively.
Eyes; when claims averaged pound
of gold dust per day to the hand, the
locality was generally spoken of as
pound diggings.'
at was all worked out long ago, I
suppose?
Eyes, with the exception of certain
hydraulic operations, which might be
carried on there yet. Rich as it was,
it is more famous for being the scene
of the tragic death of Boss Wright
than for its great yield of gold,'
A''Who was Boss Wright-one of these
highwaymen who, 1 am told, infested
the mountain highways and trails in
the early days?"
.tNot by any means. He was the
Sheriff of Nevada County. There was
a highwayman mixed up in the affair,
however; the noted Jim Webster, of
whom you have no doubt heard"
Il can't say that ever heard of the
gentleman, but go ahead and tell us the
story, if You can manage to squeeze it
in between bumps. We have plenty of
time, and would like to hear it"
'.Boss'' WRIGHT.
And between bumps was told the
following story:
The Sheriff of Nevada County in 1856
was w. w. Wright, Familiarity called
''Boss Wright" by every one. He was
a man of great integrity of character,
firmness and courage, and discharged
the duties of his office so thoroughly
and yet so kindly, that every one, in
Guiding the numerous prisoners from
time to time under his official charge,
loved and respected him. Every one
was eager to do favor for Boss Wright.
An incident will illustrate this feeling
exactly. In July, 1856, the city of Ne
yada was devastated by fire, and the
Courthouse, which had just been erect
gether with other property to the
amount of 81 5000 900. When it became
evident the Courthouse would burn,
Wright rushed to the Jail to iberate
the prisoners. He had been working
the flames, and was completely ex-
hausted, so that after opening the Jail
door he fell fainting near the entrance,
overcome with the smoke and heat.
Among the prisoners was a powerful
confined under Indictment for murder
and had been denied the privilege of
bail. Instead of making his escape
rIo,x
lifted the unconscious Sheriff upon his
broad shoulders, and carried him down
to Deer Creek, where he bathed his
temples with water till he revived.
When he saw that Wright had fully re-
covered, he said: Now you are all
right. boss, where shall go?"
go where you please, was the re-
ply, s.only appear before the court on
Monday morning."
He actually showed up the next Mon
day, according to his instructions. The
court convened in building which had
been spared by the flames, and you may
imagine that there were neither gowns
nor wigs to lend dignity to the occa-
sion. The Judge, Niles Searls, so well
known in political and judicial life, who
had lost his all in the fire, presided
without coat, and was arrayed in a
blue flannel shirt, borrowed for the oc-
casion. Goats were rare among the
officers of the court, and what few there
were looked as though they had held
discussion with a barbed wire fence.
When Lewis put in his appearance, the
grateful Sheriff related the story of his
heroism; and Judge Searls at once adj
mitted him to bail, the bystanders
eagerly offering themselves as bonds
men. Lewis had been saloon-keeper
in Nevada City, and had killed man
under peculiar circumstances. One
night prize-fghter, having filled him
self with an assortment of bug, taran-
tula and other juices kept in the town,
entered the saloon and declared his in
tention to whip the proprietor. Lewis
did not stop to argue the question with
the beliigerent sportsman, but immedi-
ately drew a revolver from beneath the
counter and shot him dead. These
facts appeared in the trial, and, in view
of his conduct at the fire, it only took
the Jury five minutes to bring in YER
dict of not guilty.
THE OUTLAW.
Every story has to have its villain,
and this is no exception to the rule.
The individual in this case was Jim
Webster, celebrated outlaw, whom
every one residing in Nevada and Yuba
Counties in 1866, well remembers.
Early in 1856 Jim was' quietly mining
in Timbuetoo, apparently as harmless
and free from guile as any miner, when
he lost his claim in a dispute This
seemed to embitter his spirit and make |
him reckless. The worthy citizens of
Timbuctoo had just laid out new GEM