Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-10-17
LAST STRIKE AT OPHIR.
The Sad Story of a California Min
ing Camp.

Ophir was the most prosperous min
Sierra, and Wash Bonner was the most
prosperous miner it contained. His
claim, the blue Juniata," was paying
enormously, and Wash had become very
popular; for he gave away his money as
EAST as he made it. Wash was tall,
yood-humored Missourian, lean, light
haired and sleepy. No one gave him
credit for much energy or ambition, and
the accident by which he had stumbled
upon his claim when the camp was first
settled was told far and wide as a case
Of fool luck
1t happened this way: The camp be-
gan as a placer camp, and all the
''claims" along the stream or en- the
fat were taken up, when Wash, tall
greenhorn of newcomer, drifted in
without dollar TO 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
low?" said the captain of the company.
"Why don't you stake out clamp
"All taken," said Wash, slowly.
go 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 deyel
oped the most famous mine of the dis.
trict 1t was curious pocket-mine in
loose, broken formation; and though
every one rushed to the place and
staked out the whole hillside, no othel
claim ever paid tSnth part as much az
the blue Jupiata.n
In the course of time, as the regior
became settled and men with familie.
came In, Wash fell in love with the
pretty daughter of farmer in the Sa ;
ramento valley. He reviewed the past
hundred thousand dollars had com,
out OF his mine, and he had nothing LEFT
70 snow for it. He resolved that if tn,
girl would have him he would neve,
waste another cent. He went to tn,
cialm' struck pocket" and took GU
more than thousand dollars, the larg
est yield of single day in the histor,
OIL Inc mine. Then he quit work, wen
" 'he town, "spruced himself up, drov,
uoWn into the valley, called on the girl
proposed, and was accepted.
Jennie" said Wash, you've got Il
Jake me- Ell you want me, jest as if
haoh1 any mine, an wasn't worth
picayune."
for, Wash"
month later they were married, an,
Degan housekeeping in little house O
wn'te pine, built near the mine. Thel
"as9 began the regular development o
his claim.
a. ror SIX months he kept up courage
Enough not dollar had come from it il
~, mat time They lived on what wa
eis OF the thousand dollars after tn
wedding expenses were taken on,
. anea' one day, Wash said: ''Jennie
ne Joys think the old mine is playe
W., out don't. I'll never give it u
w. Hlle i've. Pll ind bigger poke
~ enaI mountain-side than any ma
''er yet struck in California"
ie climoed the hill and began wor
tunnel which should strike tn
so,S, gold-bearing lodges at a lowe
nm .nan ne had yet reached.
,ho onsns more passed over the heads {
o.S e miner and his wife. One after az
C c.nsa. their friends deserted them; thei
ssh .' gave out, and they lived on gam,
thar uu berries, so that the little none
now, naa could all be spent for blasting
Wa.b VASE Every morning at daybrea
gaunt and silent, went to h
S %Urk' every night at dark he stumble,
uome to his cabin.
o0,s Senhie," he said, 81 know There /
Ssn. mere We will find it soon.
mir oetore worked month in the oil,
TIT ; without taking out something
yeas uead'lock has lasted more than
tho L.. ~ can't last always. / will fin,
rest sa again, and then we will let til
WIZ o 20 and buy farm in the yafle,
ST. NO can forget about this fight"
sIo 1s believed every word; for she wa
ths. hing loyal woman. and she kne,
msn great awkward Missourian wa
among thousands The YER