The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-20
A CALIFORNIA STORY.
A Pioneer Relates = "Reminiscences of the
North Fork Of Trinity.

mug over t1e W
and enc up Trinity to Weaverville. Aad
along these trails went the pack mules of
Jake Trick, McIlvain, Warren and others,
carrying supplies to the various camps.
WILD AND BUSY TIMES
were those days. The tinkle of the bell
mares bell, the wild "currajo" of the mule
teer, the leng string of apparahos and cargo,
the gingle of the heavy spurs, and at night
the rattle Of the golden eagle and doubloons
at the monte tables, made regular pande-
monium. Yet with all these there were few
fights, and seldom one passed in his checks
through a row. In fact, it was one of those
fun-loving camps where money and fun were
more plentiful than brains. There were
about one hundred voters, and among them
there were some original characters. None
more so than one old grizzled chinner
By THE NAME OF CROCK"
His cabin stood at the junction of the East
and North Fork, dlngy little hut of 10xl2,
set back on the hi llside An hundred feet or
so from the mountain torrent, and from
which could be seen miners plying their
rockers and long toms, for there were but
few sluices then in vogue. Old Brooks cabin
would scarcely be noticed by the passing
traveller save for a giant pine which stood
back of and leaned over it in fearful proxim-
ity, and many were the cautious remarks
made to Brock, at which he would smile and
say, "There's no danger, for you see back in
Maine, where / was raised, pine roots run
powerful deep" Old Brock was a man of
about so years, and had been
ONE OF THE ARGoNAUTs.
His hair was streaked with grey, and the
coat he wore was one he had brought from
Maine He worked every day from early
dawn till twilight cleaning, never making
more than grub, he said, and never appear
ing in town only on Sunday, or mt some
Miners Meeting, of which, out of respect,
he was invariably made chairman. He never
was known to spend cent foolishly, yet
never refused his drink with the boys. And
strange rs it may seem, all liked the grizzled
old man, and he who called him stingy would
have to crawfsh or fight Fer whenever a
miner or sport was broke, cid Brock had an
ounce or two to loan. True, it was at heavy
like the Dutchman's one
per cent, namely, two for one but then he
asked no note or collaterals. He served all
alike. None applied and went away empty
handed. So, when sport got broke and his
last chips went to fill the Golfers of the monte |
bank, he would sit back and say, an see old |
Brock in the morning" So it came that old
Brock was universally liked.
ANOTHER CHARACTER
nearly as well liked was a man who was as |
much different from Brock as day Is from |
night. His name was Jim Spooks. Jim's |
failings were a lack of willingness to work |
and fendness for practical joking. Jim |
would ride mule for a doctor, or would |
carry message for friend free of charge. |
Furnish him a mount and bottle Of W Risky |
and your message would be deliv ered. No |
matter how dark the night or how bad the
rail, Jim was sure. He would nurse bro
her miner through sick spell, or care for a
broken leg or arm, with all the care a
mother ever nursed her babe but outside of
hat, work he would not, nor receive pay
Grub and whiskys too good for me-" he
used to say. He never was seen with cent
Ind never went without food or raiment.
Whenever they were needed he went and
JAILED for them with a. much assurance as n
and was supplied always. But
MS strong trait was the
HUGE SELLS HE WOULD PERPErRATE
IN the boys. 1t was nothing unusual for
linn to ride up to one of the resorts, his
teed in foam, and sing out that some miner
whom all knew, was shot or killed in some
hooking manner, and despite the many sells,
We always bit again. And after a day or so
kulking Jim would be on hand again.
One evening, late in November, "a, there
we're assembled at cold Pussy Dams saloon"
ONE twenty of US miners chatting and
Thinking, for twas Saturday night, when up
ode Jim snooks, his mule covered with
oam' ana sang out: "Hurry up, boys; the
rec has fell on old Brooks cabin p There
vas not one thought that we were being
ooled, for every man there had at different
Ines predicted IL would fall. So there was
urrying to and fro for axes, saws, crowbars.
to-, and forty or fifty men went up the trail
n full speed 1t was mile and a half to old
'rocks. A bright moon shone, and all were
training every nerve to rescue the grizzled |
Id man, and when we came to the turn in ;
he trail, an hundred feet away, there stood
Id Brooks cabin, tree and
ALL SAFE AS USUAL.
Then and only then did we realize the
uge sell, only to hear, high up on the moun
lin side, the loud laugh of Jim Shocks. On I
sturning many were the imprecations cast
MIN and settled determination expressed
cure him Of such scurriious tricks. Van
ay well believe Jim kept shady for some
me, put amidst the busy hum of delving for
70 ghssering dross, such tricks were soon.
,rgotten. ,
On the 9Th Of January, '55, q few of us .
liners had gathsredin to celebrate old jack. :
ms victory, and were all ENJOYING our. !
ives. The winter rains had we'll set In and /
. streams were running bank full. The bio 9
una moon rsdc high in the heavens and ! .
sht drizzle was falling apparently from .
oudless sky, when near midnight, from che
tier stiffness, came the 4
STRONG VOICE OF JIM sSooxs n
Hurry up boys; the tree has fell for fact. G
yes," says big Sandy Wilson, oget a rome
VS. and with one bound Sandy cleared the '
'or ana had Jim In limbo. Gwen cure Won q
w. Jim. You've played this too long, Tn
mean time little Doc. camo with 4 ,ash
pc secured from the nearest pack-saadla =
vain jim protested that the tree had fa,.
and Brock was yet alive and conla !. :
ved out tho crowd had beer long suffer- \
3, and although not hair would have been =
rt on Jims head, yet they intended to give
= good scare. So the rope was adjusted.
= huge i've oak with its wide spreading
los' 5000 near, under which Jim's mule
= leu, when Jim said: ssLook here. bovs a.
leserve this for my prauks-bnt a. =. - ~