The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-18
ais view: about four miles away, despara'
do named "Irish Dick" had shot an Indian

his view. about lOur mics h"hy, icsF"'
do named "lrish Dick" had shot an India
in cold blood, and other similar murders ha
been committed. These occurances natura
" made Mr.. Fisher trifle nervous. As tn
Indians had not observed him, he PRUDENT
inserted himself behind large pine tree, I
see what might turn up. A moment or tw
afterwards he happened to look backward
when he discovered two Indians on bris
run following down his track Here was
animation, lie dare not run because tina
would look covarlly. lie therefore wake
off as though it was none Of his business, bu
admits that in spite Of himself his gait wa
a trif,e faster than was consistent with dig
nifty and decorum. lie met the gentry of IN
forest who proved to be lot Of boys, head
cd by an old chief, who was quite sociaoI
and accepted Mr.. Fishers invitation to visI
his tent, whence after a dinner and othe
cheer they departed.
SINGULAR CUSTOM.
On the following Sunday, Mr.. Fisher hay
ing performed his weekly tasks, went forth
and before he knew it, found himself nea
the camp of the old chief and much large
company Of Indians then before. He Was to-
near to retreat, besides, his old rel frien'
beck oned him to come on. He did so, and
found the party in a, TO him, new and re
markable ceremony. A squaw, with a pap
poose in her lap, Was seated upon theground
Around her holding each other by the hanC
were thirty to fifty Indian men and wome'
who marched around her chanting curious
song. The old chief seized Mr.. Fisher hanC
led him up to the ring, which widened Il
give them room, and thus they too Joined il
this singular march, aud kept it up for
.ong time. At a signal, at length, they
stopped whereupon small cakes were pass
ed around Mr.. Fisher ate some and found
them agreeable and similar in taste to pc.
.atoe. They are made from large black
oak acorn, peculiar 10 that country. The
,corns are gathered, dried and put in bins.
much as we do corn. This ceremony over
Mr.. Fisher returned 10 his tent, and ever
,fter was on the best Of terms with his red
lelghbors. During his two years stay in
that region he never lost a single thing by
heft, yet he left his blankets, food, guns,
,tc., open TO the world, day after day. He
one instance where sack Of -four
worth at that time one dollar a pound stood
,ut under tree for nearly two weeks, and
I WAS never molested by either Indian or
whites.
IRISH pYcK's FATE.
The gambler referred to above came to an
.wful end. There was no law in California
n those days, save such as the miners made
themselves, and that was usually pss tdcto,
n, af(er the fact, or, crime was committed,
md such as our courts would pronounce I'M
constitutional. but the miners couldn't
md wouldn't submit to- the laws delay.
When they made q law they saw it was
executed, together with the fellow 1t
vas made for. Gambler "Dick" had gotten
! bad name already, and subsequently to his
insulting an Indians wife and then shooting
Ter husband dead in her presence for re
two miners got into quarrel
md fs,icuifs over game of cards. Irish
Dick" drew a knife and plundged it up to
he hilt in the back of one Of them, killing
lin instantly. Then he cody wiped the
Hood from his weapon upon his sleeve! The
miners didn't wait for warrants, juries, quo
subpTnas, new trials, writs Of
rror and the like, but in ten minutes muir.
erer "Dick" was swinging in the breeze,
suspended by the neck to the limb Of a tree
" a strong rope!
SICKNESS AND DEATH.
There were no doctors and no medicine in
no mines in ls49. When poor miner got
lex there was no hope for him. He would
rawl away under some tree and lie and
asp away till his superior constitution
riumphed over his malady or, he would
waste away and die OF course his compan.
Dns, when he had any. would give him water
nd little assistance, the best they knew
ow, but generally useless or positively
urtful. When dead they were generally
uried with their clothing as the only shrowd
nd coffin. At Mr.. Fishers they did better
nth the dead. There is a species of cedar
a that vicinity which splits into very good
cards and Of these collins, rude hut decent,
'ere made, and the poor dead given some
hing like christian burial
OTHER SUBJECTS.
The tent of the Fishers was only few
lilies from the snowy range of the noun
.ins. The country is nearly level plain
irther towards the sea- and for miles not a
lade Of grass seems ever to have grown.
he region about the camp was covered with
blended pine trees, tall, straight and beauti-
IL, but under them no brush no grass, no
egetation. Gold was found in deep ravines
hich ran through these pine woods, leading
'om the mountains. Mr.. Fisher did not see
ow any crop of any sort could be produced