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

Soon, however, he pausei in this work,
and, throwing down his pick, said; mo,
it's of no use. Haven't thried to get
him in all manner O. waysl No, when l
get the wather off he'll b. gone. He's
nc human frog. I'll jist ct him how'd
possession and I'll hunt me another place.
Divil lick will ever stir Ike here again.
it's the divil's own child he is I've
heard birds talk and bastes talk but niver
wan o. thin all that could schpake so
plain as this little green dvil that's Wild
out either feathers or hair-he's not
human"
Pete began gathering up his tools and
clothes with the intention of vacating
the place, when he stopped and gazed
wistfully at his prospect hole. "A prom
Using place it was, too, in the main,
said he. ''Howly Mothel.! Shall ], a
Christian and a good Catholic, be tor
mented away by dirty little hereto
haste like your No. I'll give him
warmin' yit, and all the likes of him.
I'll pepper him tomorrow" So saying,
Pete put on his coat and struck out for
home, turning to shake his fist toward
the pond as he departed.
The next morning Pete went up to-
ward Johntown, little trading post
about mile above his claim, and bor-
rowed shot gun; then he bought
quantity of powder and shot, and re-
turned toward his mine in q vengeful
mood. Again and again he said as he
strobe along: I'll kill that frog if it's
among the possibilitiesW
On reaching his claim Pete crawled to
big rock near the pond, and seating
himself upon it, watched patiently for
over an hour, but the frog was neither
to be seen nor heard.
HE has run away" said Pete, "but
I'll kill hun if he's anywhere on the face
of the green earth!"
He then moved cautiously along down
the canyon. Although frogs were quite
common on the Carson river, they were
seldom seen in Gold canyon. At last,
however, Pete saw wha; he thought
might be his tormentor. He blazed away
with his gun and stretched the creature
lifeless on the margin of the rail. He
was beginning to rejoice over the victory
he had gained when up from the spot
leaped another frog, the very picture of
that he had killed.. Pete l,oked at this
new appariation, then tcrr ed and gaZed
on the slaughtered animal to be sure he
was dead. Finding it still stretched on
tho ground, he went after the second
frog, which he finally succeeded in kill
ing. All that day he hunted up and
down tho canyon, blazing away at every
thing that moved. He laughtered many
toads and lizards, but orly ono other
frog.
The next day he was again out with
his gun, and every day for about week,
extending his hunt as far al, the Carson
river, and firing away many pounds of
shot to little effect. He talked of little
but frogs, and the miners along the
canyon, who always found great sport in
his eccentricities and in hhi superstitious
notions, ''stuffed" him will many stories
of the baleful influences of frogs and
toads.
Orc morning to the surpl Use of the joe
ular miners of the camp, ftr whom his
insane warfare on the frogs had afforded !
great sport insteadof starting out with
his gun, Pete took his pan and crevicing
spoon and departed down tile canyon in
the direction of his claim. An hour later
Pctc came tearing up the c5nyon to the
camp wild eyed. 'I'll niv6r sthrike pick
Until this canyon again!" cred he. That
imp O. the devil is still there ON me claiml
| was but jist listin' me second pan of
dirt whin he raised his head from the
water and says: Pate, have We struck it''
says he. May the divil bless me, says ],
If we can't have the whole bloody canyon;
I'll niver strike pick Until it again. No
more will. That frog IL no human
frog-it's q child O hell"
Pete O'ReillY kept his word; he at once
pulled up stakes" in Gold canyon. He
struck for Six Mile canyon, five miles to
tho northward. Taking Pa; Mclaughlin
for u partner, the two Begin mining at
the head of the canyon, where Virginia
City now stands, and thme the pair
presently ''struck it''-struck the great
Comstock silver lode, the hidden treasure
house of the gnomes and wonder Of the
whole mining world. But for the ''goblin |
frog O'Reilly would probably have con-
tinued mining in Gold canyoi, and to this !
day the Comstoclr and "Bg Bonanza"
might have remained undiscovered. But |
for that frog the names of lAackay, Fair
and score of other mining millionaires
would not now be known throughout the |
tho world. San Francisco Examiner.