The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-07
DEADLY paospecr HOLES.
scne of the Dangers Attending Travelling
In the Siers15.

In the sSer1,15-
AS one approaches today the rising
slopes of the Sicrras in California, the
more espcciallyin that portion extend
ing from Nevada county on the north.
through placer. FL Dorado, Calaveras
and Marirosa counties. son the south.
certain signs and indications are met
with. the landmarks, SO TO speak. Of
the pioneers OF 40.
| rode pretty much all through that
country on horseback some year or so
aeo. and came near losing ny life in {,
number Of these landmarks, which
have proven fatal to many others be
fore and yet remain constant source
of danger to the unwary traveller in
that region.
refer now more particularly to that
part of Il Dorado county lying within
a radius of City miles Of Placerville,
or IIangtoxn. as 1t was called in the
Argonaut days. Here is where the
greatest rush to the gold diggings took
place. The creeks. and mountain
streams all about contained rich de
posits of gold, and the gold hunters
fairly swarmed over this portion of
the country.
When the Weld Of the river beds
was exhausted the miners began sink.
ing prospect holes These varied in
depth from ten TO one hundred feet.
Sometimes when pay gravel" was
struck great streams of water world
be called into play, cutting wide
chasms into the soil and often wash
ing away mountainsS themselves.
These claims. when abandoned and
when aftcrward covered with growth
of undcrbrush. rendered it dangerous
to travel i'll their vicinity 1T night for
fear OF falling into one Of these crti
fetal prccipices, which could not be
seen until tho very brink was reached
The prospect holes. however, arc
another matter. These are met Will.
everywhere in tho region | have de-
scrlbed, often not more than ten feet
apart They are rarely more than five
feet in diameter and, owing to the
growth of undcrbi'ush, arc veritabie
pitfalls and death traps.
Many man has started out on q
prospecting tour and t;lmblcd lead
long into one Of these pits, never to be
heard from again. Wild animals of
Al-i0o e-ASC "a ii1S NiItl.4is Oi
these deadly prospect holes
Ny first experience in this regard
taught Elo a valuable lesson that |
needed thereafter. ! was wali.inG
through the woods ono day with a
rifle, when | scared up one of tie wild
hogs that are pretty thick in tha;
country. I made up my mind that
Mr.. Hog would be my meat, as these
animals are very good eating, and SO
| started in chase. Owing to the trees
couldn't get a good shot
We'll, chased that hog for perhaps
hundred yards or so when, to my
astonishmont, ho suddenly disappeared
IS if the earth had swallowed hina.
couldn't make it cut at all, SO rushed
to the spot as quick as gould.
The first thing l knew felt the
ground give way beneath my feet,
and by some happy accident | was
barely prevented from falling into
hole which, as Il afterward asaert,ined
x;7os cighty-tiye feet deep manage1
70 clutch hold of a projecting bush III
the nick Of time or I should Lave
caught that hog With vengeance.
The hog Is probably there yet. Hhe
hole ccrtainlY is, anyhow, and if cny
orc contempIates trip through thct
section Of the country it would be
well fog him TO bear thsse facts in
mind. New York Herald,