St. Paul daily globe., 1891-04-19
INCIDENT OF A CAMP.
How Rough Miners.showed Their
Respect for Young Wife.
kansas City Innrnnl

How Rough Miners. Showed Their
Respect for Young Wife.
Kansas City Journal
w. c. Tonkin, of Silver City, n. NJ,
a mining expert and engineer, is at the
Midland. Mr.. Tonkin mas spent NAM
Der of years in the Western wilds, and
has met the American miner in almost
all of the many phases. In the course
of conversation with group of friends
yesterday, the question of the Unborn
gatlantry of the American citizen to the
fair sex became the topic under discus
sion.
One gentleman remarked that a lady
could travel all over the United States
alone, and suffer no inconvenience or
annoyance. so long as her conduct did
not render her liable TO the approaches
of the maSher. He mentioned the play
of The Danites,' where group of
miners are awaiting the arrival of the
new school teacher on the stage. They
have bricks, brOomStickS, baskets, tin
cans and other ''weepins'' to make life
pleasant for him. The coach drives up
and neat, trim young lady gets down.
The miners drop their weapons sheep
iShiy. smooth their heads. and, taking
in their uncouth appearance, sneak
away.
That reminds me-" remarked Mr..
I0nkln, ''Of an Instance i'll mining
camp that illustrates the veneration
with which these rough men regard
woman. a few months after my mar
riage was sent through Lincoln coun-
ty, New Mexico, to survey some min
eral lands for railroad company. My
wife wanted to go with me. 1t was
"a <~E
'roughing it, and no mistake. | finally
consented to her going with NE. and we
| set out with an ambulance, cooking out
tit. etc, across the plains, l50 miles
from any railroad and into the heart of
| the wilderness.
"One day terrific rain set in and con-
! tinuedali night. In the storm lost my
bearings and wandered about until s
| O'Clock at night, when saw light.
| drove toward it and came up to 4 small
miners cabin. | got down. knocked at
| the door and was admitted. | stated my
| case and asked for shelter
Come right in stranger, and well
! come was my answer.
Il glanced around the room and saw
! four roughly-dreSSed miners. The room
had no flour, and only an open fireplace,
! over which their frugal meals were
cooked. A few necessary articles COM
! Dleted the entire furniture of the cabin.
My wife is with me- said, and is out in
the wagon now Here. boys. bundle
out O this. and help the stranger in
with his things. Be lively, now,' said
the spokesman, pulling off his hat and
sQuaring things about.
They helped us III with our goods,
GOT roaring fire to going, and then
forming in line near the leader, said :
Yer kindly welcome, mum, We amt
got much to offer, but yer can take the
ranch. Ne an my mates II git and
rooSt outside Jess make yerself to
home, an don't mind u.s.
They were standing uncovered all
this time, and when the speech was
ended filed out of their cabin and staid
out all night in the rain, in spite of the
earnest protests of my wife and myself
These great big-hearted, rough men
vacated their home for a lady, and
would not let US remunerate them in
any way. we don't see no wimmin
folks in these diggins'-the leader said
-'au' we feels proud to know yer been
here. What we done amt nothin' to
talk about, an we'd lick mean skunk
likewise which wouldn't fer a lady,"
i