Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-10-11
LAST STRIKE AT OPHIR.
The Sad Story of California Min
ing Camp.

Ophir was the most prosperous min
ing camp on the western slope of the
Sierra, and Wash Bonner was the most
prosperous miner it contained. His
claim, the blue Juniata," was paying
enormously, and Wash had become verv
popular; for he gave away his money as
EAST as he made it. Wash was a tall
good 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 on the
fiat were taken up, when Wash, a tall
greenhorn of newcomer, drifted in
without dollar 20 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 a pick, went to the
place indicated, and in an hour devel-
Oped the most famous mine of the dis
trlct. 1t was curious pocket-mine in
loose, broken forma ton; and though
every one rushed to the place and
staked out the whole hillside, no other
claim ever paid tsnth part as much as
the blue Juniata."
In the 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 Sa3-
ramento valley. He reviewed the past
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 a pocket" and took out
more than thousand dollars, the larg-
est yield of single day in the history
OF the mine. Then he quit work, went
TO the 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, eff you want me, jest as if
hadn't any mine, an wasn't worth
picayune."
dc" said Jennie: 'its you Icare for
for, Wash"
month later they were married, and
began housekeeping in little house of
white pine, built near the mine. Then
wash began the regular developments of
his claim.
For six months he kept up courage,
though not dollar had come from it in
ali that time They lived on what was
leIt 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, gold-bearing lodges at lower
point than ne had yet reached.
months more passed over the heads of
tue miner and his wife. One after an
o'her their friends deserted them; their
ereolt gave out, and they lived on game,
usn and berries, so that the little money
sHey mad could all be spent for blasting
pU"oer Every morning at aybreak
"@Sh' gaunt and silent, went to his
work; every night at dark he stumbled
nome to his cabin.
Jennie" he said, 81 know rhere is
solo there. We will find it soon.
lever before worked month in the old
I'M nine without taking out something.
MS deadlock has lasted more than a
year 1t can't last always. l will find
sne lead again, and then we will let the
.es' 20 and buy farm in the valley
"uere we can forget about this fight"
She believed every word; for she was
loving, loyal woman, and she knew
THIS great awkward Missourian was
@an among thousands. The very