The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-18
McsHANE's DIAMONDS.
A story Of the South African Mines.
yankee Blade.l

yankee Blade.l
II was a singular incident that once
came under my observation, while trav-
cling in an English railway coach, and
one that afforded me good deal of
amusement at the time of it's occur
renee.
was an American tourist, travelling
ON small capital and large assurance;
the latter Of which, allow me to remark,
increased in proportion as the former
diminished. Twas journeying from the
picturesque little town of Hadley, ON the
London and Western, to the great me-
tropolis, where Bob, my fellow tourist,
was awaiting my arrival. l hi taken
a run down to Hadley for few days,
for the purpose of visiting couple of
ruined abbeys In the vicinity, and hop
ing at the same time TO escape from the
fog, smoke and noise of busy London.
l left Bob in town, for, alas! he did
not appreciate moss covered walls and
antique battlements, preferring, by far,
the giddy throngs of the Odeon or the
Alhambra.
had enjoyed myself to my hearts
content in wandering among the venera-
bic ruins of a bygono age, and vaguely
specializing on the lives of the former
owners Of the ivy mantled structures.
In fact, the tune had slipped away so
pleasantly that was greatly surprised
one evening to receive letter from Bob,
saying that l had been away week,
whereas had said three days would be
the limit, and that if / wanted to see
London in Yuletide garb, / had better
''hurry up" to use his expression.
Whereupon, had packed my Gladstone,
and. having settled my account and bid
den farewell to my jolly host of the
Black Horse, not without much regret,
/ found myself settled in compartment
of q second class railway carriage, whirl-
ing away to the metropolis
Upon entering the compartment /
glanced casually around and observed, to
nay surprise, that its only other occu-
pants beside myself were rather oldish
man, wrapped from top to toe in huge
ulster, and whom, by some unknown
mental process, | set down as a well to do
merchant, and tall, seedy looking indi-
vidual with an honest, sun Drowned face.
/ was at II loss to determine the calling
Of the second of my fellow travellers, and
the old fashioned portmanteau that
rested at his feet did not serve to en-
tighten me-the aforesaid mental process
was at fault. | concluded, however, that
the two mon were as unknown to each
other as they were to me.
They had civilly made room for me
wien | took my seat, and then, as the
train began to move, the tall man began
talking to him of the ulster, and kept it
np
After had made myself as comfort
able as one can be in an English railway
coach, drew forth novel and tried to
read. say tried" for the attempt was
q complete failure. The carriage was
beastly cold, and between the rattle of
the train and the incessant talking of the
tall man, had to re-read the first page
of my ''Haggurd' tale three times before
I got the sense of il, and it wasn't very
deep reading either. Then l gave it up
in disgust, and leaning back, with the
stoical determination to grin and bear it,
pretended to go to sleep.
The tall man had just finished some
'good story" with which he seemed
highly pleased, and its denouement was
evidently satisfactory to his listener, for
he of the ulster was giving vent to a Sc
Pfes Of throaty ehuckles. Immediately
made up my mind to listen to the next
yarn that the loquacious tall man should
tell, and felt the more justified in doing
SO because twas largely his fault that my
reading had been interrupted
had not long to wait, for the effect Of
the last tale had not yet worn away
when the tall man began:
There's another good story that !
know, and can vouch for the truth of
this one, because, you see, was one Of
the actors in the affair myself" and then,
not pausing for any comments, he con-
hnued: at was way back in the pros
porous days of the South Africa diamond
fields landed in the colony when o
mere boy, and, after knocking around
Cape Town for year, came to the con-
clusion that I'd never make fortune
there, and that had better strike for the
interior, where they said the Kohinoors
were to be had for the picking up.
well, reached the diamond district,
just how itdoesn't matter, and, of course,
soon discovered that the reports had
heard concerning the wealth of the dis
trict were greatly exaggerated. How
ever, was there, and had TO make the
best Of it.
There were a couple of fellows in the
camp whom took fancy to, and so we
three pooled our issues, and, having To-
Gated claim, went to work.
Zone OF my partners was from Lanca-
shire, and was as true friend as ever
bad, but quiet eort of boy. Poor fell
lowl he sailed from Cape Town a few
years later in vessel that was never
heard Of after she left port. The third
member of our triumvirate was just the
opposite of the Lancashire lad, as far as
soberness of disposition goes He, like
myself, was Londoner, and was the
most jovial, whole souled fellow in the
district. Billy Thompson was his name,
but the boys had abbreviated it into
'Tompy.' He was forever playing some
joke or other on the miners, SO that they
were always on the lookout when Tompy
was around.
There was an Irishman in camp by
the name of Mike McShane. He was Q
true son of the Emerald Isle, light heart
ed and 'aisy goin',' and, as was natural,
he and Tompy struck up warm friend
ship. he used to come down to our
quarters almost every night, and many
is the good yarn that he and Tompy used
70 spin to while away the evening. All
that the rest Of us needed to do was,
LIE around and laugh at the right Tina
II think can hear Tompy nov, as hs
used to ask Mike, when the latter would
come up to our hut of an evening:
"Well, Mike, have you found the big
diamond that's been waiting for Won
these long years down in your pitt
Faith, me bhoys, yez kin joke az
much az yez loikes, but, begorra! It'll be
moy tonne to joke whin olive found the
jewel, as OF will some tonne. Whist! We
spsipeens. don't Of tell yez olive seen it