Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-05-07
AFACETlOUS GOLD-HUNTER.
Mark Twain's Experience as
Pocket Miner.
The Forgotten Claim-An Incident
Which Probably Turned the
Humorist from Mining to
Literature.

Literature.
The position of the pocket-miner a.
mong the other Inhabitants of mining
region very much resembles that of the
bee-hunter among the people of the
frontier settlements in agricultural re-
gions. The business he follows also
has several points Of resemblance to
that of the bee-hunter. The trail fol.
lowed By one leads him to the tree stor-
ed with sweets. and that. of the other
ends in a pocket of sweetest gold. The
man who becomes an expert bee-hunt-
or is likely to remain bee-huDter all
his days. and the same may be lsaid OF
the pocket miner.
Mark Twain's narrow escape from be-
coming pocket miner has never been
told. 1t is worth recording. as it gave
him the story Of the Jumping Frog
and sent him off along the line of the
literary load and set him to scratching
therein for pockets of fun.
It 1855 Mark wearied of Bohemian
life in San Francisco and went up into
the mining regions of Calaverans coun-
ty to rusticate with some old friends
Steve. Jim and Billy Gillis. Jim Gillis
was. and still is, one of the most expert
pocket miners in California. Although
educated with a view eventually to
fight the battle of life as physician,
and though still finding solace in his
leisure moments IN the works of Greek
and Latin authors reposing on shelf
In his cabin, Jim Gillis is booked for
life as pocket miner. The business
has charms for him that he cannot
break away trom-he is bound to it in
chains of gold, Show him particle of
quartz gold on the side of mountain,
and If 1t came to where it was found
through the process of accidents of ma
ture undisturbed in any way by the in
terference of man, he will as unerringly
trace it to its source as the bee hunter
viii follow the bee to its hoard of
sweets.
Mark Twain found the Bohemian
style Of mining practiced by the 'Gillis
boys much more attractive than those
more regular kinds which call for a
large outlay of muscle. He and Jim
Gillis took to the hills in search of gold
pockets and spent some days in work
ing up the undisturbed trail of an un
sturbed.deposit. They were on the
golden bee line ..and stuck to it faith
fully, though it was necessary to carry
each sample of dirt to small stream,
In the bed up canyon in order to pan
1t out. Each step made sure by golden
grains they at last came upon the pock-
ct which had thrown those grains off.
It was cold, dreary, drizzling day
when the home deposit was found
The sample carried to the stream and
washed out yielded but few cents. AL
though the right vein had been dlscov-
cred. they had as yet not found the tail
end Of the pocket. Returning to the
vein. they dug a sample from a new
place, and were about to carry il down
to the raYine and test it when the rain
began to pour down heavily. With
chattering teeth Mark declared he
would remain no longer. lie said there
was no sense in freezing to death, as, in
q day or two, when it was bright and
warm. they could return and pursue
their investigations in comfort. Yield
ing to Marks entreaties, backed as
they were by his blue nose, bumped
back, and generally miserable and de-
jected appearance, Jim emptied the
sacks of dirt upon the ground first hav-
ing hastily written and posted up no
tice Of their claim to certain number
OF feet on the vein, which notice would
hold good for thirty days. Angels
camp being at no great distance from
the spot, while their cabin was some
miles away, Mark and Jim struck out
for the place. The only hotel kept in
the little mining camp was kept by one
Coon Drayton, al old Mississippi river
pilot, and at his house the pocket min
ers found shelter. Mark Twain having
formerly followed the business of pilot
on the Mississippi river, he and Coon
were soon great friends, and swapped
scores of yarns. 1t continued to rain
for three days, and until the weather
cleared up Mark and Jim remained at
Coon's hotel.
The story of, the Jumping frog was
one Of the yarns told Mark yCoon dur
Ing theithree days session land it struck
him a. being SO comical that he deter
mined to write 1t up. When he return
cd to the Gillis cabin, Mark set to work
upon the frog story. He also wrote
some sketches of life in the mountains
and mines for some of the San Francis
CO papers.
Mark did not think much of the frog
story. even after it had received the fin
ishing touches. He gave the preference
to some other sketches and sent them
to the papers for which he was writing.
Steve. Gillis, however, declared that the
n "A. .