Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-05-30

| Pitfalls In the sierras That Arc n Con
| stant Source of Menace.
In the early California mining days
when the placers were pretty wei
worked out and hydraulic mining wa
occupying the attention of the pros
ipectors, 1t was the custom to sink small
pits or shafts in various places for tn,
purpose Of locating the gravel bed
which contained the auriferous dc
posts.
These gravel beds, following thu
course OF ancient river channels, some
times lay at depth OF one hundred feet
from the surface, often they ran along
the hillsides and not infrequently were
they found at the depth of few feet.
The giant streams OF water that wero
directed at these gravel beds left yawn-
ing chasms in their wake, and when
the claims were abandoned and the
thick underbrush grew around their
edges, they were a constant source OF
danger TO those who, in after years,
happened to travel through these re-
gions unacquainted with the ''lay OF
the land"
IL these were and are still source OF
danger the prospect holes sunk by the
miners years since are much more dam
gorous and not so easily discovered. In
Eldorado County, particularly, arc these
prospect holes to DO met with. They
range In depth from ten to one hundred
feet and are barely more than three feet
in di n npaOtnr nd lltr. fh a
growth OF vegetation that makes them
yerltable death traps to one who has not
his eyes constantly about him.
A few years since happened to be
hunting In this region. had been
warned to look out for these prospect
holes, but thus far had not come across
any. had had a wearisome days tramp
in search OF small game without result,
and was about to return to camp empty
handed when espied wild boar--a
youngster that had probably strayed
from the rest OF the drove--standing
some ninety yards dsdistant This reused
my interest and visions OF pork chops at
supper served to pntan edge on my appe-
tite. accordingly gave chase.
The boar was evidently not TO my
way OF thinking, for, upon seeing me,
he started and ran for dear life in
another direction, with me in hot pur-
suit. The heavy growth of underbrush
rendered any but shot at close range
almost impossible, so continued on,
keeping the boar in full sight. The
boar, however, was gaining on me.
have since acquired great respect for
the running powers OF these animals,
and have no doubt that they could be
trained successfully to course jack rab-
bits II one could ever catch ono OF these
brutes alive.
We, the boar and |, the former, OF
course. gaining at every jump, finally
reached an open place, and paused to
take q snap shot at the animal, intend
ing to give up the chase. ] took care
ful aim and fred. Tho result almost
took my breath away, for the boar had
vanished from sight !. 1t seemed as II
the earth had opened and swallowed
him.
Well, thought l II had no thought Of
prospect holes), this certainly goes
ahead Of any thing lveever seen. There
was no place apparently for tho animal
to conceal himself, and was almost
ready to believe that had been the VIC
tim OF some optical delusion occasioned
by the days fatigue and disappointment.
l continued, however, to walk toward
the spot where tho boar had disap-
moo rod