Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-12
One Way of Sailing a Claim.

In 1851 party of American miners had
been working a claim near Columbia, Tue
lumne county. California, and not having
even found the color" they became dis
cOuraged: the more so as a company of
Cinnamon short distance above them
were doing very well. The Americans
having expressed willingness to SELL one
day three Cinnamon went to look at the
claim. They talked it over among them
selves and finally asked the owners at what
price they would sell. OF course the Amer
leans made it out rich and put high figure
on it, though in fact they were resolved to
sell out at any price, being sure that the
ground was worthless 1t was decided that
the Cinnamon should bring their picks and
pans next day to prospect. and if they were
satisfied they would buy at the figure agreed
upon.
The miners. thinking it would probably
be their last chance to sell. determined to
salt the claim. 1t was a large piece of
ground. and the trouble was where to put
the salt. One of the men soon bit upon
a very ingenious plan. He took a gun and
went, as he said. to get quail or two, but
in reality to kill a snake. As there were a
great many about the place, he soon killed
a large gopher-snake. which resembles the
harmless to man. Putting his game into
a 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 to 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 overm my shout
der as if ] was going for a rabbit, only you
see I'll put salt into the gun instead of
shot. Wen 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. I'll 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 pre-
pared for work. They tried few places.
but of course did not get the color. The
Americans kept at a distance 50 that there
could be no complaint,
"Well, John, said the schemer. where
you Try next. over III tldt corner
The Cinnamon were suspicious in a mo-
ment. They We're familiar with sailed
claims, and they were well on their guard
''No likee dis corn Tile him nudder
corn, pointing to the opposite one
jim with his hands in his pockets. was
above on the bank. many feet away. watch
ing: when he saw them point in that direc-
ton. 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 it and carried it away hang
ing over the barrel. Jim walked of and
Bill sat on a wheelbarrow on the opposite
side from where they We're at work. The
Cinnamon had no suspicion They car
red away several pans of dirt to wash in a
stream near by, and when they returned
Bill felt pretty sure they had struck some
OF the salt but the Cinnamon said moth
ing except "Claim no good. Mclean man
talkee too muchee'
The Americans, knowing the game re-
fused to take less than the specified price.
which the Cinnamon finally paid and i'm
two days the sellers We're OFF to new dig
gings.
The strangest part of the story is that the
claim turned out to be one of the richest in
the district The Cinnamon made a great
deal of money, sold out and went home
The Century for JlHe