, 1888-12-20
DEADLY PROSPECT HOLES.
Some OF the Dangers Attending Travelling
in the Sierras.


in the Sierras.
AS one approaches to-day the rising
slopes of the Sierras in California, the
more especially in that portion extending
from Nevada county on the north through
Placer, FL Dorado, Calaveras and Mari
posa counties, on the south, certain signs
and indications are met with, the land
marks, 30 to speak, of the pioneers of 40.
rode pretty much all through that
country on horseback some year or SO ago,
and came near losing my life in number
of these landmarks, which have proven
fatal to many others before and vet remain
constant source of danger to the unwary
traveller in that region.
refer now more particularly to that
part Of FL Dorado county lying within IL
radius of fifty miles of Piucerville, or
HaDgtown, as it was called in the Ar
gonaut days. Here is where the greatest
rush to the gold diggings took place. The
creeks and mountain streams all about
contained rich deposits of gold, and the
gold hunters fairly swarmed over this
portion of the country.
When the yield of the river beds was
exhausted the miners began sinking pros
pect holes. These varied in depth from
ten to one hundred feet. Sometimes when
pay gravel was struck great streams of
water would be called into play, cutting
wide chasms into the soil and often wash
ing away mountains themselves. These
claims, when abandoned and when after
ward covered with growth of under
brush, rendered it dangerous to travel in
their vicinity for fear of falling into one OF
these artificial precipices, which could not
be seen until the very brink was reached.
DANGEROUS REGION.
The prospect holes, however, are another
matter. These are met with everywhere
in the region have described. often not
more than ten feet apart. They are rarely
more than tive feet in diameter and,
owing to the growth OF underbrush, are
vertable pitfalls and death traps.
Many u man has started out on a pros
pecting tour aud tunbIed headlong into
one of these pits, never to he heard from
again. Wild animals OF all kinds also are
made the victims of these prospect holes.
My fret experience in this regard taught
me a valuable lesson that Needed there
after | was walking through the woods
one day with rifle. when | scared up one
of the wild hogs that are pretty thick in
that country. | made up my mind that
Mr.. Hog would be my meat, as these ami
mails are very good eating. and so started
in chase. Owing TO the trees | couldn't
get a good shot.
THE HOG DISAPPEARED.
Well, chased that hog for perhaps 100
yards or so when. to my astenishment, he
suddenly disappeared as if the earth had
swallowed him, couldn't make it out at
all, so rushed to the spot as quick as
could.
The first thing knew felt the ground
give way beneath my feet, and by some
happy accident | was barely prevented
from falling into hole which, as | after
ward ascertained, was eIghty-6ve feet
deep. / managed to clutch hold of a pro-
jecting bush in the nick of time or should
have caught that hog with vengeance.
The hog is probably there vet. The hole
certainly is, anyhow, aud if any one con-
templates a trip through that section of
the country it would be we'll for him to
bear these facts in mind.