The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-01-01
JIM GAGAN'S LUCK.

In the exciting days of 49 and 80 the
town of Meadow Lake, Nevada Co., Cal,
was an enterprising city of 1900 inhabi-
tants. 1t was surrounded by some of
the richest placer mines in California,
| and there were those who got the idea
that the town was destined to be the
metropolis of the west, but the mines
We're finally all exhausted and the for
| tune seekers drew away from the spot,
| the merchants closed their stores, the
| saloon doors were nailed up. and now
| the visi or to chat Sc ton witnesses the
| spectacle of broad streets flanked by
| empty buildings that are falling into
ruins. Doors that have been torn up
| from their hinges by the wind reveal the
| interior of saloons, with bottles of liquor
standing the shelves just as they
we! e left by their proprietors more than
| quarter of century ago Not soul
now dwells in the town. The streets
are file with rank growth of weeds,
| and the wooden sidewalks have fallen
| into dust
| On the main street, about half way to
! the southern extremity of the town,
stands two-storied building of unhewn
| stone. This building is in good condi-
windows and small portion of the roof,
which has been crushed in by slide of
| snow from the side of the mountain that
| towers above it. The building, in the
days of 50, was the publication Office of
tho Meadow Lake Daily Herald, a seven
column, eight-page paper, that was run
| to satisfy the within of one of the
luckiest an at the same time one of the
most unfortunate men who Were at all
| conspicuous during the California gold
| craze
J mes Gagan was the editor and pro-
prietor of the Daily Herald. He was a
jolly Irish printer, who claimed royal
ancestry, and when he had funds he
threw his money around in reckless
way that proved him high liver when
circumstances permitted. Gagan had
worked his way through the printing es-
Establishments of the Gulf coast to Cali
fornia, and, getting the gold craze, he
abandoned type-setting for time and
set out for Meadow Lake on foot. He
| had hard trip over the mountains,
and when, at thu end OF four weeks, he
walked into Meadow Lake he was a
sorry-looking sight, weathefbeaten and
ragged, but not at all dNwn-hearted, for
he was typical tourist printer, and
his spirit was always among the clouds.
| Gagan had money enough in his pocket
to enable him to purchase mining out
fit at second hand, and friendless and
alone, he set off for diggings back of the
town. In remote canyon, through
which ran small stream of water,
Gagan staked off claim and set to
work. He struck color" at the first
blow of the pick, and at the close of the
day he had taken out $500 worth of
gold dust. The canyon had not been
prospected before, and for a mont
Gagan labored alone, visiting the town
when he was obliged to- to procure pro-
visions. At the end Of the fourth week
he was an immensely rich man, his pan
nings" having increased in value each
day. With leather belt full Of shining
gold he returned to Meadow Lake and
made his rich find known. In the gold
dust he had ample evidence that his
story was true, and he found no trouble
in disposing of his claim at price that
ran his wealth into millions.
The population of Meadow Lake had
now grown g r, 600 inhabitants, and as
get the field was open to newspaper en-
terprise. Glgan was quick to see this
after he was out of the mines, and he set
about establishing the Herald. In those
DAYS there was not railroad within
several hundred miles of the town, and
the on v access to the place was by a
rough trail over the mountains: but
Gagan had money and a disposition &c
spend it: so he Immediately set about
building a two-storied stone structure
to be occupied as printing office. In a
few weeks the building was ready foI
occupancy, and Gagan set out for the
east for the purpose of purchasing q
newspaper plant 1t was nearly three
months before he returned, but he
brought with him first-class outfit, in.
Guiding a cylinder press and steam
engine In due time the Herald WAS
J issued, and it was a perfect newspI pei
, geographically. The business men o.
the town patronized it literally, ant
every man in the town subscribed for it
Single copies sold at four bits or fifty
: cents each, and the subscription pric,
for a year was $780, The circulation o
the Herald at one time reached SOC
copies daily, but Gagan was sinking very
rapidly. To get printers to come to tbs
: town and work he was obliged to pay
them so day, and his other employees
were paid correspondingly high wages
Paper laid down in the Herald establish
ment at that early day cost great dea.
as it was bought in the east, shipsT'
} around the Horn and carried to the to1fI
J on pack mules. Gagan was obliged Il
keep a train of twenty-five mules, ~;tl
half as many drivers, on the road re
tween San Francisco and Meadow LSa'
week in and week out. This cost grea
deal of money.
G1gan was the leading man of the town
, Ii here vas dispute to be settled, Ga
gan was the man to settle it. The cas-
was laii e.ore him, he took it under al
. yiscment and reviewed th' case and an
nounced his decision through the eli
torial columns of the Herald. II Their
was family in the town that needle
financial aid an appeal was made to Ga