The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-30
A GOBLIN FROG.
THROUGH ITS AGENCY THE COM
STOCK Is DISCOVERED.
O'Reiiiy's Good Luck-An Irishman
Who Struck 1t After Frightful Ex-
perience--A Yarn That Gould Only
Come From California

Come From California.
Dan he guile in the San Francisco Examiner.
Peter 0'Reilly was pioneer miner OF
Nevada and one of the discoveries OF the
great Comstock silver lode-one OF the two
men who turned up to the light of day
that glittering ore which was the first Of
over 100000, 900 since taken from the
wonderful vein then hit upon.
For years before he made the great dis
covery 0Reilly had been working among
the gold placers of Gold canyon, a wet
weather tributary OF the Carson river, in
which gold was discovered rs early as 1852.
In this canyon he wrought with pan and
rocker, and at times with much success,
sometimes taking out several hundred dol
lars in few days, for the ground was very
rich in spots.
"Peto" was fond OF rambling away alone
along the meanderings OF the canyon in
search Of the rich spots that were to be
found by those who diligently sought for
them. He liked 10 be by himself and
mine in his own way. Provided he could
find few "colors" (small particles Of gold,
he would dig and pan away for days, quite
confident thet mis- luck would at last lead
him to the right spot and his labors be
richly rewarded.
Peter 0'Reilly was not only spiritual
list, but also firm believer in all manner
OF signs and omens. He heard voices, ms
did the heroes OF 0ssian, inrho signing
breeze and extracted q meaning from all
the sounds OF Hill and vale that reached
his ear. The end Of all this was In few
years after the discovery Of the Comstock
lodc) that he became insane, and finally
died in private asylum at Woodbridge,
Cal. The last mining O'Rcilly ever did
in Gold canyon was when he started in 10
prospect bar on which he found previ-
Gus locator IN the person Of frog, which
held ''squatter's" right 10 the place, and
which frog almost Immediately began 10
give him trouble.
Pete began his mining operations 10y
constructing a small dam 10 turn'the rill
flowing in the canyon into a little ditch
that led TO his banning hole" at the
lower end Of the bar.
The little reservoir formed by the dam
held only about a dozen hosshoads 81
water II was soon after this reservoir
filed that Pete FIRST had notice 81 the
presence on his claim Of the frog. lie
had sunk pit IN the gravel Of the lar al
most down TO the bed rock and bal
washed ont two or three pais q dirt thai
yielded well. lie was down In this pru--
peci hole filing his pan with some p1rtic-
ularly promising gravel when be hca0i
small squeaky yoicC sing out, struck it,
Pete was ut the moment deeply absorbed
In the work in which be was engaged, and
the shrill, squcak.ng voice ringing Out -
near at hand and asking a question that ~
exactly chmed IN with the train oi thought |
running through his head. ~ silfiled him /
that he pick alnOs, fell ifom his hands. |
lie pnckcd up his cans and looked about /
In al directions tO see whence proceeded i
the cherry little voice. Almost he expect. /
ed ~ discover q little r'd-mnntlcd fairy /
pceping ont at him from some ueighburing /
clump Oi willows or some tall tuit oi grl,ss
As lac thus stood gazing about Ia open. |
mouthcd aninEOmcnt, the little voice again |
E s4s out "s''H'S 'a Struck '' struck
Turning his eyes IN ihcdircciion whence
proceeded the inguiring voice. Pete pn,s-
emily d,Scricd q small grycn frog mounted
upon n stick that projected mn inch or two
above The surface Of The water in his rcscr- .
voir. The frog vas but roi OF two away I.
aud seemed, ~ Pete thought. 10 be- looking |
inquiunsly into his eyes.
"sruck iU struck ltl Struck ~ again
said the irog.
"Aw yc schrakin' to me, sor." said
Pete.
'>iuck to- snys ihe foy.
"lt's good omOn slid Pete. The lit
tlc TELLER Saws I've sthruck H. Though he's
no c0unihryman % mine, believe IN me
towl he means we'll 10y me and that have
ghruck II In this very hole"
~ saying, Pete carried the pan oi dirt
be had dug 20 his panning place, banned
Il out and did not ut color" lie was
little asiOnished NJ this result, aud WIS
much inclined 10 call the irpg n liar. but
1u turning 30 look inr him thc little fellow
was gone. lie vent 90 his pit aud dug
n0iher pan Of dirt, listening all the timo
30 hear What the frog would have 20 say
ah0u, Il. Not Wond did the irog cay,
however.
Pete washed on, the pan q dirt and 20,
gDll a. the value Of nearly ~. "Ahal yo
little diHlW cried be-, "WhOrc mir yc nov?
Ne didn't have n wor1 Ia say this time"
Well pleased with his luck, Pete lrrun
digging another pan Of gravel from the
plafc where he hal got the last, expecting
another rich rsult. lie bad bccn az work
only half a minute before the little voice
rang ont sharp and clear: "siruck ",
Struck iig Struck ~
go ycs. sc little Tool :" cried pcic. "ilf
aisy for 20 10 say 'sihuCk Il ahruck IL
tihiuck i y after yc'yc seen What got In
me pam
"slruck ~ Struck ~ Struck 90" cried
the irog In what's seemed 10 Pete triumph
ant tone.
"Au right, me bye" chorrily azcntcj
Pete, nodding his head toward the it'll,
iclow That fai vinking aud blinking OF
The end Of the stick. "All right, mc bye
AZ coou-o I've nhmck NJ"
Pete then picked up hia pan oi gravel
armed " % the water hole, washed ID on
ind did not end a spCck Of gold "You'r
ho worst Liar ] liver saw" cried pci,
hing up nom Ibis work and shaking Nj
Oh la the direction oi he frog. Not
tgu Of the frog dbl he scc, however. IN
title fellow having very pfuiCutly rutirc
~ The bottom oi the pond.
Pete grumblcd ior a time. then won't On
Tug another pan Of gravel. IA he WI
arying The dirt 10 his panning place III
fog stuck his head above thc water an
allied out, "Stuick IN" and again no r1l
nos found. Thus II went when the iro
uid nothing be got good yield of col,
pnt when he made bis usual inquiry