Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-28
BILLY lIlTClIlNS.

] luNlEluR ItllttLNblAN III i-lllEc 1blh u
rainy afternoon ia lalv D-tubrt 1881, fuI
cold and CheerlrSs Nd- Gv Wind whlstling
down the old eu.igIan- uIl. and the
driving rain obscuI-d the '.ew sIgu of the
Blue Wing saloon IA Ia, orhrl side If
the plaza. Little r1,r.s sought channels
among the twisted rc,rs of ,hr 5Iant pines
swaying uneasily ~ IL gust, which
brought down green spray and dried
branch in disagreeable confusion closed
were the livery table, butcher shop and
blacksmith forge 10 The -L>I. 10 JLc south
two private residrn 'es .huwrd closed
doors and veilcd iIndow>. To thr west
the hotel, Blue Wing, and gambling shop
made gallant struggle against the pecul
lar depression IT the lay, while on the
north the stores, stables and warehouse
of the controlling commercial maghate
were open to such necessary attempts AT
trade as the purchase of gold dust for
CASH or the exchange Of bacon, flour and
good whisky for bad accounts Ola a series
of already overloaded books The crowd
of miners and loafrrs, Calmly watching
with lazy satisfaction tur combustion of
a quarter ot a cord "I Lat pine wood in a
giant stove, regaled itself tIom time To
time with stories more nr less VCracious
or decent, and in "a corner Tennessee
Jack, the Judge, Long Harry West ,tht
expressmanD, and handsome Dick Ga gen
tleman who left New York city 10y re
quest were engaged in financially sustain
ing their private ideas of classic poker.
1t was u day of idlencss
The door opened aud the beaming
though dripping face of Billy Hitchins
appeared. General social movement of
chairs and proffer OF rhrrc fingers of
whisky and seat \ prompt accept
ance of both by the wet and wrdried miner
who had done his two miles and half
up the winding trail from BeaI river,
hreaSting the gusts with the sturdy
pluck of BritOn, for Billy WAS bright
Cornish lad of p. whose quiet, cheerful
way had made him general favOrite.
He cabined alone in a little nook near
Bear river. where he had "A hank claim
and toiled alone. save for the Chatlering
cOmpanionship of few Chinese, who
were already cleaning up the abandoned
riv. .r claims, skinned over by the rest
less and unthrifty whites.
II was soon noiSed about that Billy had
sold his bank claim 10 the sly but good ma
tured Chinese, who marked his returns
and was to give possession on the morrow,
and only reserving the right To clean up his
ground sluice and leave a clean set of
boxes and rifles for the MOngolian part
ners. who were already weighing up the
purchase price in dust, and with reed
stylus and Chinese yellow slips figuring
up with keen eyes the deposit due from
All Sam, Hop Kee, Sun Wo and the other
wanderers from the Flowery Land who
Ornamented Bear river crossing. Going
home" Magic words-"made his pile
Lucky dog" II was vaguely under
stood the pile was about So. 900, with the
addition of the price of the bank, of which
Billy had been the managing partner at
the end of IA long handled shovel, and the
sly nest egg concealed in the lonely cabin.
Sailor Bill, an old man-o' wars man,
suggested ''as how Billy nd do the hand
some thing" before leaving, and after set
Ting some prelimnaries Billy departed.
as the stores were already lessening, hav
ing engaged several pack mules to bring
on the morrow his few personal effects
to the Burg. as it was proudly called.
Men envied the honest lad, who had not
turned the golden tide of fortune down
his throat, obstinately expended il in sup
porting peculiar visions as 10 the relative
order of exit of the last three cards from
some FrenchwOman who ornamented the
Arcade" The cold rain ceased splash
ing. forgot to patter, and the bright,
laughing stars sparkled in the cleareSt
skies on earth The swaying pines seemed
to swell their generous breasts and gently
murmur: Going hOmel Yes, going
home" In many a struggling cabin that
night were little parcels made up
.
New York, and Sailor Bill, Dor
rowed beautiful specimen to send to the
buxom lass who presided over the bar at
the Foul Anchor at Portsmouth. By
the Pickering candle light here and there
rOughened hands wrote words of cheer to
absent ones at home, for here was the
first friendly chance in two years.
Morning in the mountains! Far reaches
of blue distance touched with liquid gold,
down the pine clad canyons poured the
sparkling shafts of light, and dark gOrges
gave up their shadows prisoners to these
bright lancerS of the growing day. Little
York shook itself up-assumed its respec
tive burdens of toll or laZiness, blinking
vice was sleeping off its last nights drunk
the ringing sound Of the blacksmith's
hammer was musically breaking the sweet
silence and the rattle OF the dice box was
hushed in the Arcade, where no sound
was audible save the buzzing Of the half
flies and the tiukle of the bar
keepers spoon as he mixed the same"
for old Col. Howard OF Virginia. The
colonel was on his way TO Sacramento to
try the celebrated case Of the Five-SpOt
against the Natchez Belle.
Higher climbed the golden sun and
-, shn,,., - ,bo dr,,,,,,, st;r,,oss
,f tho -, bra,,bIass haroha,IsJ
Cb;nar,on sbr@irc, nm fror ,ba -
- I'll axhoustnI in frort - ,ba 60
arS ,,antod Ont. ..piI1r tIi,cbi,, pTiT,