Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-08
A PIONEER MYSTERY.
Rich Lead of Gold and Serpents u
earthed by Three Miners.

Rich Lead of Gold and Serpents I'm
earthed by Three Miners.
During the late snow blockade the Ne
vada county papers could not get much
news from the outside world, but it is evil
dent that they have local talent suited to
just such emergencies. Here is communi-
cation published by the Nevada City Tran
sript:
Editor Transcript: This being now very
wintTy season, which reminds me of old
times, would like to relate a little story of
what befell me in Nevada county in the
winter of '52'53. 1 am now "A years of
age, but the memory of the eyentful time
IS still fresh.
We were three in the psrty-John Lati-
mer and Seth Green, who have now passed
away may they rest in peace, and myself.
We had been prospecting on the South
Yuba, very near its head and were making
what was, we considered, small wages, or
about SIS per day apiece.
When the event occurred which | am
about to narrate, it was about as it is now
plenty of snow on the ground-and we
Rugged our four.foot fireplace in our 40
log hut very close. Latimer, who was
something of fiddler, was playing some
of those sweet old tunes so seldom heard
now, and we had our heads on our arms
pretending to be asleep; but the tears were
coursing down our cheeks as we thought of
home long since orgotten-sweethear
wives and mothers who some of Us would
never more see, perhaps, when suddenly
long drawn-out howl sounded clear on the
frosty air.
Wa all sprang to our feet when the howl
was repeated. l had forgotten to state
that at distance of about half mile from
our cabin there was deserted hut which
had never been occupied since we had been
In the neighborhood.
On going to the door we found that the
sound came from that direction, as they
were that minute repeated, accompanied
by sounds that were like pistol shots and
the beating of tin cans.
We Immediately put on our sixteen-foot
snow-shoes and buckling on our firearms,
started for the hut. As y approached the
door we heard pitiful means. These made
us hesitate, as miners in those days were a
bit superstitious, but with Come on,
bows Seth, who was the boldest, kicked
the door open, walked in and stood in the
center of the hut, when all sounds ceased
for a moment. Then queer, whistling
sound sprang up and lasted for about two
minutes, while we stood spellbound, oGr
hair slowly rising.
Without the least warning the floor sud-
denly gave way leaving Seth, who was the
only one inside, standing on a piece
of sapling about two inches wide which
had been put down as stringer, while be-
meath him was a yawning hole which was
bottomless as far as we could see. Seth
sTayed for an instant then with despair
ing cry pitched headlong into the pit.
We stood horror-stTieken for awhile,
then crawled to the edge and shouted with
all our might, but no answers were re-
turned.
After a little while John said he would
90 for rope, and would lower light and
frv to descend. He returned in very
short time We lowered the rope, which
was fifty feet long, and when it was nearly
ali run out we began to see the bottom,
which was solid rock. So We concluded to
descend. as we could see nothing of Seth,
and after knotting the rope we fastened it
securely and descended. Once on the bot
torn we lit our lantern and looked for Seth.
He was lying close to one Of the sides, dead
as far as we could see at first; but on turn
ing him over we found that he still
breathed. We made an examination and
found to our wonder that, with the ex-
ception Of few bruises, he was unhurt.
We went 10 WUIk dHu IL q SAAO-t 1AAAc
brought him TO.
hole AS we raised the lantern peculiar
Tlisfeuing and shining met our eyes, and
on going to the wall what was our surprise
10 find it was of quartz, with seams OF gold
two inches thick in places running N all
directions. We also noticed little round
holes. some in the quartz and some in the
ooid thar looked ike drill holes. As we
fsasted our ewes on the sight with wonder,
and must saw avarice, the moaning began
soaip. and from each hole the head of
rsttIesnake protruded As they began TO
Issue forth, while the moaning sounded
louder and louder, We made tor the rope
and climbed as we never climbed before
while fearful stencil began to assall our
nostrils. When we reached the top, yeils
and shrieks so demoniac as TO make our
hair stand on end were heard. How we
reached our hut we never knew, put the
next day we left, never to return
on reaching Nevada City, as it was
then. we parted, agreeing never TO say any
thing about it. have correspondent with
both John and Seth since that time, but
neither had ever tried to go back, and
neither have I, you bet. l have Travelled a
great deal since and have read all the
newspapers (including the Transcript treat
ing of this county, but have never heard OF
any onefnding that hole, nor has the mys-
terry ever been explained.
This is true account, although it does
not sound so. Please do me the favor,
friend Transcript, of publishing it, as some
one NAV know something of it, and it has
been the wish of my life to have the mys-
tery explained. Yours, respectfully
PIONEER.
Nevada City, February :. 1890.