Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-11
A LITTLE MINING FLA..
Selling OF to Chta,nen--tnI hrter A
the Celestisis had ths Ee,t of


Selling OFT 70 Ch..,men-tnI Arter Al
the CeleStisis Had the re,t OFT.
In 1851 a party of American miners
had been working a claim near Colum-
bia, Tuolumne County. California, and
not having even found the color
they became discouraged; the more so
as company Of Cinnamon short dis
tance above them were doing very
well. The Americans having expressed
a willingness to sell. one day three
Cinnamon went TO look mt thc claim.
They talked il over among themselves,
and finally asked the owners at what
price they would sell. Oh course the
Americans made IL ou5 riya aud put "a
high figure on it, Though j.. fact they
were resolved TO sell IL cut at any
price, being sure that the ground was
worthless. 1t was decided that lhe
Cinnamon should bring their picks and
pans the next day 10 prospect aud if
they were satisfied they would buy at
the figure agreed upon.
The miners, thinking II wouid p Oh
ably be their last chance to sell de-
termined TO salt tho claim. II was
large piece OF gro~-.a and the tcoub!e
was where to put the salt. Oue OF
the men soon hitupUn u very ingenious
plan. He took gan and went rs he
said, TO get "a quail or t@o but in
reality TO kill "a snake. AS there we're
II great many about the place. he soon
killed a large gopher snake, which re
sembles the large rattle snake in ap-
pearance, but is perfectly harmless to
man. Putting his game into bag, he
returned TO camp.
On being asked by his companions
what he had brought back for supper
he shook out the snake and explained
his idea thus:
Now, boys. when the Cinnamon
come tomorrow, they won't allow any
OF us 10 be too near, because they're
afraid of salt Well, Jim, you walk
along on top Of the bank and have
that dead snake in your pocket. Bill
and me will stay talking to the Johns
I'll have my gun over my shoulder as
If / was going for a rabbit, only you
see III put salt into the gun instead
Of shot. Well find out where they
are going TO pan out next, and you be
looking on, innocent-like, with the
snake ready to drop where | tell you.
When them fellers start to walk
there just slide him down the bank,
and when we all get there III holler
Hold on, boys" and before they know
what's up, I'll fire the salt all around
there and make believe | killed the
snake. how'll that do?"
Next morning four Cinnamon came
prepared for work. They tried few
places, but of course did not get the
color" The Americans kept at q
distance so that there could be no com
plant
We'll. john said the schemer,
"where you try next over in that
corner?n
The Cinnamon were suspicious in a
moment They were familiar with
salted claims and were well on their
guard. NO likec dis corn. Tile him
nudder corn" pointing to the oppo-
site one.
jim, with his hands in his pockets
was above on the bank, many feet
away, watching; when he saw them
point in that direction, his partner
gave a nod and he pitched the snake
on the ground near the place. The
leader exclaimed. Hold on, boys"
and fired before they could tell which
way to look. Going up to the snake,
he pushed the gun under il and carried
ii away hanging over the barrel. Jim
walked eff and Bill sat on wheel
barrow on the opposite side from
where they were at work. The China
men had no suspicion. They carried
away several pans of dirt to wash in a
stream near by, and when they re-
turned Bill felt pretty sure they had
struck some of the salt but the
Cinnamon said nothing except "C'-
no good. Mclean man ~. 'e,Ip ,lp
| muchee. Wv
americans, knowing the game,
refused 10 take less than the specified
price, which the Cinnamon finally paic
and in two days the sellers We're of K
new diggings.
The strangest part OF the story Il
that the claim turned out to be one o
the richest in the district. The China
men made n great deal of money, solo
out and went home. The Century.
| -.-------
Devoted His Life TO Spiders.