Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-09-18

| A Story of California Ia '4o.--A True Tale a
Told by an Old Timer.---His First
Experience In Gold Mining.
We we're seated around card table
watching game of Frog" at Dick Free
born's the other evening, when a hear
solo did AL. up, aad after Dick had dish.
ed up the "Noble Crown" and the boys
had licked their chops, we exchanged
our experience Of pioneer life-when
old man Wall discharged a final puff
and taking his pipe out of his mouth
narrated the following:
Boys. you have known me now for
nearly 30 years and you all know that
am not given to romancing-yet know
that none of you will believe the story
which am about to relate, and which
l declare is every word true. l left San
Antonio, Texas, in company with two
other fellows in the fall of 48 and
reached Stockton. CAL, in April 40.
There we hired man to pack our small
outfit up the country. We bargained
with him to pack our outfit to a point
on Woods creek about 20 miles above
Stockton, for $l.50 per pound. l was
considerably crippled up at this time,
30 had to ride all the distance. Arriv-
ing on Woods creek the packer said we
owed him 5000 500 being for my ride
and $500 for packing our blankets and
other supplies.
Now this was a dilemma for we
hadn't dollar. We told the packer to
wait day or two and we would try and
get him the money. My two partners
struck out the next morning on pros
pecting tour while l went to the only
store then on the creek, and bought
some supplies on jaw bone. Returning
to our camp. took an old butcher knife
and began crevising and gouging in the
ground about the camp. found gold
and picked out all the coarse pieces /
could find and put them in my purse.
In the evening my partners returned
and reported that they had struck moth
ing. The following day the packer in
formed me that he was obliged to have
his money and when my partners re.
turned we held consultation and con-
Guided to construct rocker and 90 to
work where l had been gouging with
my knife. was detailed to 90 10 the
store and purchase the material to make
the rocker. The store keeper charged
me two ounces for pork barrel and
two and one-half ounces for two sheets
Of tin told him that we would need
some nails; he showed me a few old
rusty and broken nails which he had
drawn out of some boxes and said that
was all he had In stock and that might
have them for two bits apiece. count
ed them very carefully and we were
charged up with $20.50, there being SO
IN all. l returned back to camp and
the rocker was built. costing six and
ounces. We then began to
work in earnest and at the expiration of
two days we agreed to pay the packer
by giving him what dust we had and
borrow the balance of the store keeper,
carried the purse to the store in nv
shirt and explained matters to the mer-
chant. who very generously agreed to
advance us the balance due the packer.
then drew the purse out and threw IL
On the counter, when to my utter con-
the s. X. threw up his hands
and exclaimed in establishments: Great
jod, man! l will not only pay you the
S6OO you owe the packer, but will give
you receipt in full for what YOU owe
me and $1,000 in gold coin besides The
result was, the dust was weighed. and
after paying our debts, we bought two
supplies ahead and had over
$1,000 in coin besides.
And now comes the incredible mart
Of my story. We never worked any
more in that place. We bought some
horses and started out prospecting
we're gone six weeks during which time
we never struck a pick in the ground.
We again landed on Woods creek. bnt
1t point above our former camp. We
aid in camp here about five weeks.
waiting for rain-so we could work-al-
though there was plenty of water to
rock with. One day while camped here
sunk hole about eighteen inches
when l struck crevice in the bedrock.
did not wash the dirt took out of the
hole, but only washed that which I |
'ound in the crevice. The gold from
his crevice weighed AZ ounces. We
hen packed up-hunting new diggipps
md never returned to Woods creek. In
hose days, boys. no matter how rich the
prospect we would always leave it when
We heard of new excitement, expect
ng to strike it richer. By the way. the
Woods creek above referred to was
named after the father of our sheriff.
who was with the first party that camp
I'd there. Uucle JOHNNY would not take
back seat for ANYBODY, spinning warns
" 40 and many of his stories laid the
Arabian Nights In the shade"