Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-24
SELLING A MINE. TO cHINAMEN.
One Way Some Wicked Scheming Ameri-
cans Sailed a Valuable Mine,

cans Sailed Valuable Mine.
In 1851 party of American miners had
been working a claim near Columbia,
Tuolumne county, California, and not hav-
ing even found the "color," they became
discouraged; the more so SIS company of
Cinnamon short distance above them
were doing very we'll 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
Americans made it out rich and put high
figure on it. though in fact they were re-
solved to sell out at any price, being sure
that the ground was worthless. It was de-
cided 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 large piece of
ground, and the trouble was where to put
the salt" One of the men soon hit upon
very ingenious plan. He took a gun and
went, as he said, to get d quail or two, but
in reality to kill snake. AS there were
great many about the place he soon killed
a large gopher snake, which resembles the
rattlesnake in appearance, 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:
sNow, 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 over my
shoulder as if l was going for a rabbit,
only, you see, Pll put salt into the gun
instead of shot. Well find out where they
are going to pan out next, and you be look
ing ON, innocent like, with the snake ready
to drop where tell you. When them fell
lers start to walk there, just slide him
down the bank, and when we all get there
I'll boiler, Hold on, boysp and before they
know what's up PHI fire the salt all around
there and make believe killed the snake.
How'll that do?"
Next morning four Cinnamon came pre-
but Of course did not get the 'color." The
AulcI1CduS hcpU du u ulSoduCC, 81 OudI
there could be no complaint.
"Well, john" said the schemer, "where
you try next-over in that corner?"
The Cinnamon were suspicious in a mo-
ment They were familiar with sailed
claims, and were well on their guard. "No
lkee 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 di-
rection his partner gave nod and he
pitched the snake on the ground near the
place. The leader exclaimed, Hold on,
boys" and fred before they could tell
which way to look Going up to the snake,
he pushed the gun under it and carried it
away hanging over the barrel.
Jim walked off and Bill sat on wheel
barrow on the opposite side from where
they were at work. The Cinnamon had no
suspicion. They carried 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 nothing 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 in
two days the sellers were off to new dig
gings.
The strangest part of the story is that
the claim turned out to be one of the rich
est in the district. The Cinnamon made a
great deal of money, sold out and went
home.-Hubert Burgess in Century.