Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-03-17

the one thing needful to their comfort
on the way, but that had given out
during the afternoon, and when we
reached the mining village in the
Calico district late in the evening We
were al very thirsty as well as hungry.
We soon found the hotel-a long,
low wooden structu g, with doors and
windows all standing one side, as if
the building had once started to fall.
The BARRON which was also the
clerks Office and sitting room, was full
of dogs, children and drunken men, in
the order named. | noticed a few
women in the crowd trying to prevent
their children from being n;ured by
drunken fathers,
After while the landlord came in.
He was savage-looking old fellow,
ard carried an immense old-fashioned
Colts revolver in his belt. t had been
my intention to get rooms and beds for
myself and companions as early as
possible, but that intention was not
carried out.
As the host came in, staggering I'M
der an immense basket OF vegetables
he was carrying to the kitchen, he
stumbled and fell headlong over into q
crowd of men who were disputing
about game of cards; potato struck
one man in the eye, turnip smote an
other i'll the car, cabbage smashed
the mouth and nose of tn rd, and so
on round the table Each man being
already angry, this was as n spark to n
powder magazine, and they fell in a
body upon the unlucky proprietor.
"Hooray." cried Pat, one of my
friends, gleefully, catching up poker
as shillalah and plunging into the
fight in behalf of the hotel keeper.
l dropped my hand on a trusty friend
seat beside quiet old gentleman who
was sitting apart from the crowd, and
seemed to take no interest in the stir
ring events around him.
Pat soon came out of the fight victo-
rious; the gamblers We're unable to
stand up before his heavy poker. The
lrishman was slightly scratched, but
not seriously hurt, and was soon drink
ing in pod-fellowship with the host
b. hind the bar.
L went to the proprietor and asked
for lodgings.
All right--if you can pay now. Two
dollars n head"
l drew out my pocketbook, which
stopped his sharp tongue. l had more
money about me than | cared for him
to see. but, as there was no help for it,
| exposed my purse and counted out
his fec.
"All right! You'll never miss it, for
you've got more dust than tramp gen.
orally carries" said the host, placing
glasses on the counter for myself and
the others.
Tramp! Tho word grated on nv
nerves, but l knew that in that coun-
try tho word simply meant travelling
miner.
We followed our host up Il short
flight Of rickety stairs. He carried a
miserable apology tor light in a tai
low candle without holder. Some
times southwest gust of wind, from
tho Pacific Ocean, would rush through
the broken windows, making tho candle
Hare, and as the hot oil ran down over
his fingers lac gave vent to his feelings
IN most expressive terms.
zone OF You can sleep here" said
tho landlord, pausing at the door of
small apartment, :the other two will
find rooms further on.
There was @ narrow bed in one cor
ncr, while directly across in the oppo-
site corner were u bucket OF water and
a tan basin resting on the floor; be-
tween the bed and water bucket broad
piece OF some sort OF coarse mating
covered the floor.
Il may want a drop Of water dur
ing the night said Pat, "as I've
drank none to-day, so I'll bring the
bncket--"
Never mind that" said the landlord,
sharply, the water is near enough.
Here are some candles
The freshman. Who was used TO the
~ild ways Of that country at that time,
vas suspicious Of coming danger
Let's take a drink. boys, aud counsel
togetheT. for ,oEt like the looks OF
things here
We all drank, and Pat eounseled Us