Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-06
AN OLD LEDGER.
Its Leaves Tell Two Real Stories of CALI
fornia Life in 40.

us A<caSeS AelA Two zeal stories Oh Call
fornia Life in 40.
But here are two real stories unrav.
eled from the tangled thread of charge:
and counter charges, that have plots
and denouements like novels. Among
the debtors of firm, the name Pat
Doody' occurs quite often. He was q
miner. for there are many credits for
gold dust TO his account. For some
time, at decent intervals, he bought a
moderate amount of liquor; but sudden
ly one Wednesday. the charges against
him for various kinds of alcoholic re-
freshments assumed alarming proper
tons That day his liquor bill was $50,
the following day S23, and up to the
next Tuesday, or during six days, he
spent S99 for liquor. He did not con-
fine himself to one kind. but bought
about equal proportions of ale. claret,
brandy, gin and whisky, besides the
drinks. After this there is a suggest
i've absence of the name of Pat D0ody
from the books for several weeks. Then
on two consecutive days there are two
charges to ''P. Doody (by Mrs. d."
Women, as every one knows, were very
scarce in the mines then, and this is the
only woman's name in the book. So
it seems that Pat had wife. There
can be no doubt that his fearful weeks
spree had Frustrated him, and at last
she had to come to the store herself to
make some purchases The first article
that she called. for, or, at least, the first
article charged, is whisky. 81 The
next day, among other articles, she got
whisky, S. These are signs that
Pat was coming to again. He had,
however, evidently learned the lesson
not to fool with mixed drinks, but to
stick to the good old Irish beverage.
whisky. and 90 it straight Although
Mrs Doody was compelled to buy 80
worth of liquor for her convalescent
husband, she was much more frugal in
her purchases than Pat had ever been.
for she also bought $50 worth of provi-
sions. Two days after this. "P. Doody'
makes his appearance again, and is
charged with lone box of seidlitz pow
ders. $3.50" This move on the part of
Pat will be easily understood by any one
who is in the least familiar with the
habits of the topers of those times.
These powders We're very much esteemed
by them, and were taken as means of
regulating the disordered digestive ap-
paratus after prolonged sprees. Innu-
merable boxes were sold, and $3.50 a |
box was invariably charged.
The following incident happened |
about the same time rs the former. 1t |
seems that the firm had a man doing
teaming for them. who is simply called |
Dick in the accounts. Dick must have
been an unusually hard drinker, for
liquor charges against him are very fire.
quent. At last, on duly q. '49, he was
paid "a, perhaps all that was due him,
although it is evident from n former
item that Transfers received $500 a
month for their services. Immediately
following the settlement is this mem
orandum: George commenced work in
place of Dick" The experience of his
predecessor should have taught the new
n lesson, but for little over
, week the charges against George for
champagne. champagne cider, ale,
vine and ''drinks" are even more
numerous than had formerly been en-
cred against Dick. Then Georges
name entirely disappears from the
looks till, at the end of two weeks the
ollowing memorandum occus: "Paid
or digging grave for George, $3.50"
There is something pathetic and char
lcteristic of the times in the fact that ,
he last mention of the unfortunate
eamster's name is simply George"
This is undoubtedly the only name by
which he WIS known, and if head
'oard or rude stone was put up to mark !
lis grave, it bore the simple inscription I
George The $3.50 paid for digging I
he grave was probably the only ex- c
'ense of the burial. Dead men were I
oiled in the blankets in which they i
led, and buried without ceremony.
,of1ins were seldom used, for lumber /
7as scarce and costly. The miners +
'ere glad TO get enough lumber for s
he cradles with which they washed
heir dirt A small cradle containing
bout fifteen feet of lumber was worth r
40. q
Dick was then reinstated in his old
osition. He, in turn, did not take i
by the even more serious ex- I
eriencc of George. On the very day of .
ne grave-digging memorandum there q
re two liquor charges against Dick,
nd almost every day thereafter he is
harged with more or less liquor
,ceridlid MOnthiy.