Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-19
A FAMOUS MINER
Career of George DAILY Told by Per-
sonai Friend

sonai Friend
Dan" Ferguson, well-known
miner Of the Pacific coast, who is now
interested ia various properties in the
Cascades, is staying at the Rainier
hotel. Some sixteen years ago, when
he was only boy Of IS, he began his
career as a miner, and since that time
he has tried fortune in California,
Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico
His life has been full OF adventure,
and he can relate many interesting
stories OF the various mining camps
where he has stayed. "The bravest
man | ever knew he said yesterday,
was George DAILY. He began as a re-
porter on the Virginia City Enter
prise. To get the mining news was
his special work, and in doing that nc
used To visit all the mining camps
about. So he got a pretty good knowl
edge.
"When | first met him he was run
ming the Jupiter mine at BOdie, Cal.
and another at Aurora, twelve miles
away. across the Nevada line. The
Jupiter was paying well, and the com
pany had IL surveyed for a patent.
While DAILY was over at Aurora two
very tough miners came in and tried
t. jump one end OF the claim. They
were Of the sort that would squat on
claim and insist upon being paid
before they would leave. Frequently
II was easier to buy man of Than 10
fight him.
These fellows started sinking 3.
shaft, but Daily came back from Au-
rOTa and told them he would them he
would give them twenty-fOHf hours To
clear out. Then they wanted 10 see
the man who would dare put them out,
for they were fighters.
while they they were at supper
that night Days men began filling up
their shaft. They came back with a
gang OF tOughs. and tried 10 drive
back Days men. In the darkness q
number OF shots were exchanged
Both parties stayed on the grounds,
the Squatters in little stone hut
When the gray morning came, Days
men, who were outside, saw that their
only chance was 10 make "A charge on
the hut before the Squatters shot
them down. This was done. and two
Of The Squatter party killed; the rest
were captured, and Days men put
them in Jail. The Squattcrs fad
friends who got them out. and then e.
cap the climax the sheriff appeared
and arrested Days foreman aud s,y-
erai hands for the killing. The Judge
acquitted them, and they came back
To the Jupiter mine.
by this time the feeling was pretty
strong, for the SquattcTs were promi-
ncnt In the Mining Union, which had
1859 members there. The union
gathered its strength and was going
10 stop the Jupiter from operation
unless the foreman was discharged.
But Daily was game. He defcd the
whole lot Of them, barricaded the
isling works, stationed a guard and
kept the mine open in spite uf the
mob. They wanted to run him out ui
The country, bat he posted a notice
That though he had business Ia san
Francisco, he would stay on the
ground until the trouble was over
and nc did.
Then he went 20 Lcadvilc and
managed the Little Chief IN several
other mines. They were very SUCCESS
ful, but In 1879 OF 1850 the famous
miners strike came on. lie fought
that out as he had the one at Budie. !
and after that ne went To Lake Valley |
- ~ fANNlNNH 4 hNAt ilN was hlAltAl
by the Indians. The redskins
were killing the miners and set /
tiers and the soldiers had gone
out TO make capture. Well. !
DAILY, who was afraid OF nothing. went
with them, and I started, too. After
a day or so he sent me back to look
after the mine, where | was foreman.
The soldiers marched on. planning to
meet the soldiers in the opening. But
as the soldiers filed through n canyon
the reds ambushcd them. The com
mander fell In the first volley. and
DAILY was shot through the hand: but
he Jumped down behind his horse and
fought in that way TIL he was killed.
and he wasn't killed until he bad shot
four Indians dead. | went out with
party the next day to bring back his
body.
"a short time after that we struck
a big pocket Of ore worth 500. O00-thc
famous bridal chamber-nO bigger
than this office, from which we took
out S2.0OO,OOO. Here is the ore" and
Mr.. Ferguson took fiOm his pocket
what looked like a red waxy clay
chloride Of silver.