The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-08-22

| dim senss or its crime Tender nands
carried Wash ard his wife out 81 the
tunnel. and did all that could be done
for the poor woman.
A dozen men went back into the tun-
mel from which they had taken the dead
man. and looked At the place where his
last faltering shock had glanced on the
ninty rock.
Boys" said one. 'l1l never forget
that 1 told Wash he couldn't have any
more powder. not II he died in his tun-
mel. Well set of them last blast-holes
| jest IS no wanted. and then weli bury
him in hero where he dropped"
There was plenty Of blasting powder
now to be had for the asking. and In .
few minutes more the face Of the drift
was ready for the blast. the fires set
and lighted. word had got around tho
camp, and every man was gathered az
the mouth Of the tunnel. A few women
were in the old cabin caring for the
dying wife, A long silence followed
the lighting Of the fuses. and suddenly
the dull noise Of the shock and the fall
Of heavier masses OF rocks than usual
startled the miners outside.
They ran into the tunnel with their
lights. Tho blast had opened wide
path into an irregular cavern. cleaning
with gold. Above. below and on all
sides was the shining precious metal.
That last blast, for which Wash had
struggled 50 braycly. had revealed a
fortune. The excited miners rushed
out again with a Wild shout A woman
met them with flushed and frightened
face.
How can you make such noise?''
she said. 1.-The poor things gone, cry
ing like baby for her de d man"
i The miners drew close together.
ashamed and profoundly affected. After
little few Of them went back to the
tunnel and secured Wash's pickaxc.
which had been left leaning against
the wall
I'VE can't bury them here. now.
said one; 1.-THE mine will be worked
again. They must lie on the hillside.
where all his old friends Of twenty years
ago are laid"
Meanwhile they were talking in low
tones, when suddenly. a miner. who
had been looking at Vash's curying
pickaxe which hardly another man in
camp could have handled. gave = cry Of
surprise. In little flaw in the weld.
ing Of steel to iron few inches from
the point. was a heck OF wire gold.
broken of and caught there by the last
stroke OF the Weapon. as il was flung
forward and the man with it. both sink.
.. | ing at the foot OF the wall OF rock.
"Ef only Wash could have seen thai
before he died. twonld have made him
happy" said one Of the miners. "lIs
knew pockct-mning traces better thar
any other man In the mountains. That.
,, pocket gold: he could hayo had thou
,, sand dollars on that bit Of yellow wire
Wash made his strike himself. withou
any body's powder: but he died before hs
knowed it,
"Vhat makes you say so, Jim?" que
ried a second miner.
because helped pick him up. Ill
! jest had both hands gripping his pick
axe handle. and the point OF ii wa
, wedged in the rock. lie lay Jest as h
fell. going down with the stroke. as
he had felt his heart giving way. an
threw himself and his pick into that las
blow. Twas an awful stroke he made
never saw rock split 50 by mortal mai
before
: Wash had no relatives. His wife
. brother came up and took possession D
the claim which the miners had pro
tected against all intrudcrs. In a fe,
weeks il became generally understoo,
in the region that the wealth Of tn
> blue Juniata's last and creates
pocket" was estimated by conservative
was managed with consummatc skill
! and one OF the finest blocks OF build
ings in San Francisco was erected b.
I the shrewd. selfish man OF affairs VIII
had once refused TO help that Graz,
!; Missourian brother-in-law" Of his Tn
( hidden gold OF the ''Blue Junlati
! pocket" went abroad in the world
blessing or cursing according TO tn
natures Of the men who held il; tn
. miner and his wife lay in the red hill
, side soil. under the pines. within SCUM,
Of the E'NeF> their struggle past
> But from the day that Wash fell dea'
0 in his tunnel blight seemed to fall OF
1 the little camp Of Ophir- Mine afte
9 mine gave out; miner after miner move'
! away. landslide swept Of the cabil
4 where Wash had lived. and though. a
{ | nave said. the blue Juniata- yieldc,
. all that was expected, and even more
4 and founded one OF the great Pacifi
. coast fortunes, none Of its treasure
brought happiness to those who worries
: it To-day the camp is deserted. AM
4 its very name memory. The broker
{ fumes rot on the hillsides and tn
I grizzly sleeps in the ancient tunne
Q where the Nissourian sank dead in hi
last wrestle with fate. This is tn
story Of the last strike at Ophir.-
4 Charles Howard Shinn. in y. y. indie
4 pendent
let IL Cherish sympathy.
!, By attention and exercise. ii may b