San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-27

Then they returned to the central part of the
camp, where they communicated the tidings
of their defeat TO the other miners, who re
ceived them with different degrees Of sur
prise and Indignation. Some swore eternal
vengeance on the head Of the young swindler
and an ominous fourishing of pistols indi-
Gated the fate of the stranger if he should
appear in Silver Camp again; but Bill Saun-
ders turned TO the crowd and calmly said:
"Never mind, pards. He's got the trump
card now, but it'll cuu our turn some day"
"Thet's SO; Bills right Let the matter
drop, an we'll take it up agin' some more
convenient day." remarked two or three in
chorus
So the little ripple on the surface Of the
quiet life of Silver Camp caused by the
strangers advent in the place, subsidized, and
life went on among the miners as before
The luck did not seem to improve much;
every ounce of gold that was found was
bought at its full value by hard labor, and
few of the younger members Of the camp
became discouraged and carried their few
traps elsewhere.
One spring the SHOWS on the mountains
melted SO rapidly during two days heavy
storm that the Old Begum-the suggestive
title by which the river that flowed by the
camp was known by the Observation-Disclosures
to overflow its banks and drive every man
from his hut to the higher grounds. 1t had
been tremendous storm, even for those wild
parts of the country, and reports were COM
ing in from every direction about the dam
age to life and property that the river had
caused Small rivulets on the mountain
sides assumed gigantic proportions, and
IL t,,,, lad hn rnNyy p
in an appalling manner. The lower lands
were already covered with several feet of
water, and people were seeking refuge from
the flood on the billy plateau where the
mining camps had erected their small huts.
The second day Of the storm the miners of
Silver Camp started up the river in a body
to take observations. The rain was still
pouring down in torrents, and the men found
some difficulty in facing the storm as they
tludged over the large powders and loose
rocks. They wished to see what direction
the river was taking, and to ascertain if any
weak places in the left bank had yet been
made. Every article Of value had been col
lected in small bundles in the huts, so that at
a moments notice the miners could make
break for the higher land should the food
suddenly burst upon them.
"Seens to me the chaps from Steal
Clearin' S prospcctin' too" said Bill Saun-
Lers to his comrades, as he jumped upon
small rock and lcol1e.l up theIivcr. "They're
comm this way il q body jos as eff they was
excited bout so.Gethin'."
"ShoulGn't wonder eff the Old Begun had
burst through w thar" remarked another
miner "Thar'5 big GU is above the
clearin' a. 'Jwould4'V tS.:e much to induce
the river to LoyT through =.
"Waal, pards, guess we can give 'em
some shelter AZ food, ef EocLi,.' else" replied
Bill, slowly rc.2oTilg Lis had f"o-l his eyes,
which were nov losing .uUcl O. Their former
keCNMcss and brii-.cEcy.
Talk was rife il the camp t&at the loss Of
his fortune Id t"oGGlel Bill Saunders more
than he cared to own up. He certainly had
aged much since the young swindler had left
the mining camp, carrying with him the hard
earned fortunes of the two old miners.
Though Bill never spoke about his loss to his
comrades. it was evident from his manner
that he brooded considerably over his ruined
prospects His daily toll in the mines did
not yield him much more than enough to
keep body and soul together, and, unless the
loag looked for luck struck the camp soon, it
was evident to all that he would be destitute
of money just when he most needed it. His
strength was fast failing him, and Is lie stood
upon the rock perched several feet above his
comrades, k.s white beard and gray locks
impressed them all with pity ard venera-
ton.
Bill is loollin' pretty badly" whispered
one of the miners into his comrades ear.
twill nigh break his heart to lose his hut
an few belorgins now by tAe Good, won't
itn
A slow shake of the head was the only re-
Spouse, and ten the tI!l;o"5 t,o.-eI i'll the
direction TIC ca ElsI WS5 pointing.
a few minutes later c dozen ourly miners,
with rifles il their hands, cE,,cYSsa- from the
woods neu.' tne bank Of tie rive, al began
STRUGGLING 70 the Little ill. HI.,y " ere from
Steal Clearing, AID we're evidently seeking
refuge from the food.
Hello, thar" shouted the fore.1osc mem
be" e tie party, as be caught sight Of the
Silver Camp miners. lev ye seen asly, lin
OF stray chap rOun' these ERE parIs' a nee,
good lookiG' chap, with smooth face an q
- lice, smooth to2g,.e3 Ef ye hev, jes'
tell Kim he's wanted Up az Steal Clearin'.
We've got some JOYFUL Jews fur him thar, an
tvon't tale hir long ter find out what It's
Jes' rope an tree, thet's all he wants"
The two parties of miners had common
interests. A young stranger had sue
cessfully swindled The miners of Steal
Clearing out of several thousands of
dollars, and the descriptions of the man
given tailed exactly with those that every
miner of Silver Camp remembered as apply
ing to certain stranger who had entered
their village several years before. The flood
and the danger threatened to the two camps
were forgotten, and the search for the es
caDed swindler was begun in earnest