The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-08-29


She sings that hymn,
"Nearer, my God. nearer to Thee
w. A. Buxton, in Yankee Blade.
DAN DUNSTAN'S CLAIM.
Graphic Relation Of His Troubles
In Holding It Down.
1t was generally conceded in the
Wolf Creek community that Daniel
Dunstan had no more sense than the
law allowed him-and his liberty.
1t was no wonder, then. that when a
certain Mr.. Lockyear, a "claim To-
Gator" struck Wolf Creek in search of
recruits for the far West, one of the
''suckers" that was caught was Dan.
1t was a memorable day for Wolf
Creek when Lockyear and Dan Dunstan
left it, for on that day one of the lard
tanks at the pork house exploded. kill
ing three men, thirteen hogs and a
Chinaman.
Still more remarkable was Dams re-
turn. To the establishment of every
one he came back, three years later,
with a ''bushel of money" built the
Dunstan House at cost of $12O, 900,
and married the daughter of the presi-
dent of the bank.
Some said: "A fool for luck, any,
how" but the better-natured ex-
claimed: Bully for Danr'
A few of the latter were invited to
dine one evening with Mr.. and Mrs.
Dunstan, when the former gratifed his
guests by telling them how be had
made his money.
''None of you fellows ever held
down a claim?'" None of them had.
well, them" said Mr.. Dunstan, take
advice that has cost me a few hundred
dollars, and DON'T
''But it seems to have PANIED out all
right in your case," said one.
$50 it has. But I'll tell you; they
say, "A fool for luck-'"
'And poor man for dogs" inter-
rupted another.
That's right. Well, I decided to
take up land outside the imits;' so
when we got to Sage station hired a
wagon and team, and we drove about
thirty miles due south, where old Lock-
year said there was a fine valley, you
betcher.'
Il somehow didn't think the old cuss
knew much about the country; but
still, after driving pretty nearly all
day, we did eventually find nice
looking valley-and he appeared to
recognize it at once. After figuring a
little, he said we were in range 81,
and about town (township) 10; so we
hunted around for q government cor
ner; having at last found one. Lock-
year tied his handkerchief round the
front wheel of the wagon, and drove
while counted the revolutions.
1--WE were pretty tired; the country
was sandy, and the sun pretty hot, so
before had counted out two sections
dropped off to sleep and fell out of the
Wagon; that started the horses, and
away they went with Lockyear. They
must have run pretty straight, for it
was the township corner that upset the
wagon"
Mr.. Dunstan paused to minister to
his guests: Mrs. D. sensibly with.
drew; which action being silently taken
as q sign4 for the cigar of peace, the
host continued:
Il located in that valley, on a nice
little stream which old Lockyear as
sured me would never dry up-you
betcher.' remember the way he
shook his head as he said it. It had
been an exceptional winter for snow.
or that little stream never would have
been ON the surface-it never has since;
it runs under
"Well, 1 filed on the northwest quar-
ter of 10 as q Homestead and the
northeast quarter as tree claim 1t
was out OF the question to grow trees
they wouldn't live; I mover knew
any one to provo up on a tree claim.
The way they do is to hold on to it for
the two years and then sell the right
ii its worth any thing-to some one
10 'pre-empt.'
1T was four miles from q rancho,
and there boarded with the granger
(the outfit were away on the round
up') until 1 got my house up and we'll
dug.
He was a nice NAH CHonest John
they called him). and he promised to
help mo out. When l got down with
the we'll so couldn't throw the dirt
out any more overhead. he came down
and drew it up for me.
1T was on one of these occasions q
was down the welD when a waterspout
burst about three miles north Of us,
and came roaring down the valley. We
had just time to get into the shantee.
when over it went and lis in it. The
door being on tho south side. it had us
nicely cooped. You see, l had the
shanteo up first, but couldn't live in it
till we struck water; this was another
simple trick! L should have dug the
we'll first, but then, you see, had
reckoned on the stream-and that went
back ON me.
! lit was while ve were cooped up
there. and the rain driving through the
cracks in tho floor (which now stood to
the north, Of course,) that John said
"'Dau, didn't you say this was the
northwest quarter Of 10?' (He was
citing there on the side of tho over
earnsd stove, despite the way the LIGHT