The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-17
LAST STRIKE AT OPHIR.
The Sad Story of California Min
ing Camp.

Opnlr was Jno 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 very
popular; for he gave away his money as
:ast as he made it. Wash was 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 placer camp, and all the
claims" along the stream or on the
fiat 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,
% 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.
$50 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
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 other
claim ever paid a 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 Sa ;
ramento valley. He reviewed the past,
hundred thousand dollars had come
cut 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
more than thousand dollars, the larg-
est yield of a 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 a
picayune."
IL do" said Jennie: sits you Icare for
for, Wash"
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 a 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"
de climbed the hill and began work
WI - euuuol WuRcu SQOulO StE1ko Guo
broken, collaborating lodges at lower
point than he 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,
hsh and berries, so that the little money
they had could all be spent for blasting
powder. Every morning at day break
Wash, gaunt and silent went to his
work; every night at dark he stumbled
home to his cabin.
Jennie he said, 81 know there is
gold there. We will find it soon. /
never before worked a month in the old
mine without taking out something.
This deadlock has lasted more than a
year. 1t can't last always. will ind
the lead again, and then we win let the
rest go and buy 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
man among thousands. The very