Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-05-21
THE GREAT CINCH.


rocky walls shut out the morning sun
rays and the only trees in sight were
somber evergreens and thiekets of
chaparal. The aspect OF the rugged
landscape was suggestive of their
primitive inhabitants the Apache In
dian and the grizzly bear
Yet in this secluded spot there were
signs OF human life and activity in
the shape OF rude miners shack
open in front with three sides formed
OF upright poles chinked with mud
and roof Of overlapping splints. II
stood near a large freshly dug hole in
the canyon side
Picketed by rope tied to his fore
leg an aged burro was feeding on the
dry heritage OF the canyons bottom.
In the excavation in the mountain
side raw-looking youth was working
very moderately using alternatively
pick and shovel A shock OF tow
hair ran wild beneath his hat bIim
and stray tuft like tassel appeared
through a hole in the crown. This
young fellow was Joe Dobbs late OF
Missouri and the ob, ect OF his labOrs
was to develop Peg Leg Crawford
newly located mine Great Cinch. in
Bueno canyon in the Chiricahua
range.
This mine was at present in the
stage of hole in the ground with
prospects ahead out the indications
of mineral were good and had grown
better as the digging went on A good
face had been cleared away against
the rock aud when the proprietor
now on trip 10 town for supplies
should return. blasting was to begin.
Joe was not to share in the profits Of
the mines Development He was
merely a shiitless boy picked up
dead broke az Camp Bowie and
taken along by Crawford for the sake
OF his work and company at the price
OF his grub and a shadowy promise
of wages If the mine turned out we'll
The decrepit burro had been turned
out TO die by his Mexican owner. and
Joe had driven him to camp as a
starter for herd he said.
Having repaired to the shade OF the
shack" he cut some slices from the
small piece OF bacon for his use and
raked together the embers of the
campfire.
There was no wood cut and before
setting out to get some Joe sat down
to rest His eye fell on the large vaiise
that Peg Leg Crawford always kept
carefully locked and out OF the way OF
harm. Ia the hurry OF departure the
miner had left the key in the lock.
and it occurred to the boy that it
would be a good time to see what was
inside.
Joe turned the key and opened the
sacred valise. 1t contained two pairs
OF cotton socks. some specimens Of
ore, and bulky package wrapped in
scrap Of army blanket
Joe united the cord that fastened
the parcel and unrolled the covering
from a wooden box that had once held
Malaga raisins. Frying OF the top oil
the box with his knife. he saw that il
contained about two dozen OF what
looked like long. thick candles Had
the youth been more thoughtful and
known more OF letters he would have
spelled out the words. 'dinumite dan
geruss. written in blue chalk on the
cover but as it was that inscription
passed UNDECIDED with all the warning
Of risk it conveyed. He had heard
vaguely Of dynamite. but knew moth
ing OF how it appeared or should bt
handled The cylindrical objects be
fore him he half thought might b.
some form Of candy.
I'll don't see why old Peg Leg should
be SO mighty perticllar bout this out
fit o stun, +" he said TO himself as
picking up a fake of the substance
that had scaled from one OF the pieces
he put it in his mouth and tried i
with his tongue IL had a sweetisl
taste and he set his teeth into it.
If Joe had applied his grinders witt
the force and enthusiasm that b.
would have shown in cracking hick
oryuut there might have been pre-
mature explosion and my story neve
have been told; but he quickly discov
cred a caustic property in the sub
stance, and. not liking the favor. spi
it out He put the box on fiat rocl
that served as a table. convinced thai
he wanted nothing Of its contents.
CHANGING to glance up the mountaii
side he saw the boughs shaking in
scrub oak. At the back Of the cam
leaned one of those old style arm
rifles chiefly formidable 10 the on
who fires them. known as the LON
Tom With more animation than h
had shown at any former time in tn
day Joe seized the fre.arm and ex
claimed:
i sees yer and yer my meat her
goes fur Drilled squir'l fer dinner
and started up the mountain TO secur
the game.
The path which he must take
reach the place where he had seen th
squirrel was steep and roundabout
When after hard scrambling owe
rocks he came near the place wher
he had seen the squirrel that evasiy
rodent was not 20 be found 81
climbing higher and LOOKING beyon
a. -. = q.