Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-16
LAST STRIKE AT OPHIR.
The Sad Story Of a California Min
ing Camp.

ing camp on Tue western Slope Oh Cn0
Sierra, and Wash Bonner was the most
prosperous miner 1t contained. His
claim, the BLUE Juniata," was paying
enormously, and Wash had become very
popular; for he gave away his money as
fast as he made 1t. Wash was tall,
good humored Missourian, lean, light
haired and sleepy. No one gave him
credit for much energy or am bition, and
the accident by which he had stumbled
upon his claim when the camp was first
settled WINS told far and wide as q case
of fool luck"
1t happened this way: The camp be-
gan as placer camp, and all the
''claims" along the stream or on tho
fat were taken up, when Wash, q tall
greenhorn of newcomer, drifted in
without dollar 10 his name, and stood
watching the sailor company Of runa-
ways from ships in San Francisco bay,
as they took out their ''ounce to the
man" from the best washlngs in the
camp.
What are you looking at young fell
1ow?" said the captain of the company
"Why don't you stake out claim"
i "All TAKEN" said Wash, slowly.
SEQ up on the top of the hill by them
oaks" said the man, winking at his
, comrades. 'More there than here"
Wash borrowed pick, went to the
place indicated, and in an hour devel.
.oped the most famous mine of the dis
trict. 1t was q curious pocket-mine in
O loose. broken formations; and though
ct every one rushed to the place and
staked out the whole hillside, no other
claim ever paid tenth part as much as
the "Blue Jupiata."
In tho course of time, as the region
became settled and men with families
came in, Wash fell in love with the
pretty daughter OF farmer in the Sa,-
ramento valley. He reviewed the past,
q hundred thousand dollars had come
= out of his mine, and he had nothing left
to show for it. He resolved that if the
girl would have him he would never
waste another cent. He went to the
claim, struck pocket" and took out
moro than thousand dollars, the larg-
est yield of a single day in the history
of the mine. Then he quit work, went
to tho town, "spruced himself up, )" drove
down into the valley, called on the girl,
proposed, and was accepted.
Jennie" said Wash, you've got to
take me, ef you want me, jest as If
hadn't any mine, an wasn't worth
picayune."
'Ido," said Jennie: sits you Icare for
for, WashT
A month later they were married, and
began housekeeping in little house OF
white pine, built near the mine. Then
Wash began the regular development OF
his claim.
For six months he kept up courage,
though not dollar had come from it in
all that time. They lived on what was
left OF the thousand dollars after the
wedding expenses were taken out.
Then, one day, Wash said: Jennie,
the boys think the old mine is played
out; but don't. I'll never give it up
while live. I'll find bigger pocket
in that mountain-side than any man
ever yet struck in California"
He climbed the hill and began work
on tunnel which should strike the
broken, collaborating lodges at lower
point than ne had yet reached.
Months more passed over the heads of
the miner and his wife. One after an
other their friends deserted them; their
credit gave out, and they lived on game,
fish and berries, so that the little money
they had could all be spent for blasting
powder. Every morning at daybreak
Wash, gaunt and silent, went to his
work; every night at dark he stumbled
home to his cabin.
Jennie" he said, II know there is
gold there. We will find it soon.
never before worked month in the old
mine without taking out something.
This deadlock has lasted more than q
year. 1t can't last always. / will find
the lead again, and then we will let the
rest 60 and buy a farm in the valley |
where we can forget about this fight
She believed every word; for she was
. loving, loyal woman, and she knew
that this great, awkward Missourian was |
a man among thousands. The very |
boys in town booted after him, and
called him crazy; but she knew better.
Her family had once urged her TO leave
him and come home, but they never ven
tured to suggest 1t again. Old miners
passing by looked at the claim and said
there was no gold left Men who had
had thousands Of dollars from her hus-
band, and owed their entire fortunes to
him, at last refused to give him credit
for sack OF -four or q side Of bacon.
''You stick by the mine, Wash; I'll
stick by you," was all that Jennie said.
she never told her husband that she
had gone to her brother. who was rich,
and asked him for little money to
carry them through the winter. 'Not