Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-30
THE GOBLIN FROG.

Peter O'Reilly was pioneer miner of
Nevada and one Of the discoveries Of the
great Comstock silver lode-one of the
two men who turned to the light of day
that glittering ore which was the first of
over $500, 100000 since taken from the
wonderful vein then lit upon.
For years before he made the great
discovery O'Reilly had been working
among the gold placers of Gold canyon,
wet weather tributary of the Carson
creek, in which gold was discovered as
early as 1852. In this canyon he wrought
with pan and rocker, and at times with
much success. sometimes taking out sew
eral hundred dollars in few days, for
the ground was very rich in spots. -
Pete was fond of rambling away
alone along the mcandering of the can
yon iE search of the rich spots that were
to be found by those who diligently
sought for them. He liked to be by HIM
self and to mine i'll his own way. Pro-
vided he could find n few ''colors" (small
particles of gold) he would dig and pan
away for days, quite confident that his
luck would at last lead him into the right
and his labors be richly rewarded.
Peter O'Reilly was not only spirit
ualist, but also firm believer in all
manner of signs and omens. He heard
voices, as did the heroes of Ossian, in the
signing breeze and extracted meaning
from all the sounds of hill and vale that
reached his ears. The end Of this was Ca
few years after the discovery of tho Com
stock lode) that he became insane, and
finally died in q private asylum at Wood
bridge, CAL
1t appears that the last mining O'Reilly
ever did in Gold canyon was when he
started in to prospect bar on which he
found previous locator in the person of
frog, which held .'squatter's" right
to the place, and which frog almost i'm
mediately began to give him trouble.
Pete began his mining operations by
constructing small dam to turn the rill
flowing in the canyon into little ditch
that led to his 'panning hole" at tho
lower end of the bar.
The little reservoir formed by the dam
held only about dozen hogsheads of
water. 1t was soon after this reservoir
filled that Pete first had notice of the
presence on his claim of tho frog. He
had sunk pit in the gravel of the bar
almost down to the bed rock, and washed
out two or three pans of dirt that yielded
we'll. He was down in this prospect hole
filing his pan with some particularly
promising gravel, when he heard small,
squeaky voice sing out: "Struck it?''
Pete was at the moment deeply alb
sorbcd in the work in which he was en-
gagged, and the shrill, shrieking voice
ringing out SO near at hand and asking
a question that SO exactly chimed in with
the train of thought running through his
head SO startled him that his pick almost
fell from his hands. He pricl1ed up his
ears and looked about in all directions to
see whence proceeded the CHEEKY little
voice. Almost ho expected to discover
little red mantled fairy peering out at
him from some neighboring clump of
willows or some tall tuft of grass. AS
he stood thus gazing about in open
mouthed amazement the little voice
again piped out: "Struck it2 Struck it2
Struck it?''
Turning his eyes in the direction
whence proceeded the inquiring voice,
Pete presently deserted a small green
frog mounted upon stick that projected
an inch or two above the surface of the
water in his reservoir. The frog was
but rod or two away, and seemed, as
Pete thought, to be looking inquiringly
into his eyes.
'Struck it? Struck it2 Struck it?"
again said the frog.
Are ye schpakin' to me, sor2'' said
Pete.
''Struck it!' says the frog.
ITS good omen," said Pete. 1.-THE
little teller says I've struck it. Though |
he 8 no countryman of mine, believe in
me sowl he means well by me, and that
have sthruck it in this very hole"
SO saying Pete carried the pan of dirt
he had dug to his panning place, PANIED
1t out, and did not get a ''color." He
was not q little astonished at this result,
and was much inclined to call the frog
liar, but on turning to look for him the !
little fellow was gone. He went to his |
pit and dug another pan of dirt, listening
all the tineH0 hear what the frog would |
have to say about it. Not word did the |
frog say, however.
Pete wash i out the pan Of dirt and |
got gold to to value of nearly dollar.
"Ahal ye /. tie devil!' cried he; where
arc yc now: Ye didn't have word to
say this tin ="
Well pie ed with his lick, Pete began
digging al her pan Of gravel from the
place wherc he had got the last, expect
ing another rich result. lie had been at /
work only half minute before the little /
voice rang out sharp and clear: Struck I
it? Struck it? Struck it?''
"Oh, yes, you little fool" cried Pete;
''it's aisy for you to say 'Sthruck It'll
Stlvzck lei Sthruck it = after ye've seen /
WA, I've got in my pan"