The record-union., 1892-05-07
Some Incidents of Early Life Among
the Miners.
A Christian Heart More En1cacious
Than Vaccfnation-A Typical Trial
Before a Miners Court.

"a COuSbIuCl1OA, w ILL AIG0 llSIS
of berths on each side, and long table
OF rough boards covered with oilcloth,
with long benches on each side, extend
ing through the center, with little wing
adjunct for a cook-house. This was a
clearinghouse run in connection with
the store.
1t is an old saying that "There are ex-
ceptlonS to all general rules" but the
miners of those days generally were
pro1ane, Incorporate, gambling set OF
bodies, possessing Christian hearts. This
may be paradox, but human life is full
of paradoxes, and / am not inclined to
modify the description.
In 1923 the parties who kept the
aforementioned store and boarding
house had considerable difficulty in
Keeping cook Tor any considerable
length of time, although those employed
in such occupation ranged in capacity
from college graduates and sea captains
to sailors and ditch diggers.
On one occasion, when the cook had
quit, a new one was obtained from Sacra-
mento-an old sailor; and shortly after
he commenced work he was taken sick,
but continued cooking until he broke
out in pustules, when doctor was con-
suited, and he at once pronounced the
disease smallpox.
The boarders looked quite solemn as
they consulted together what was best to
be done; but the conclusion was that all
had been thoroughly exposed, and it
would be inhuman Tor unchristian) to
send the man away. He was put in
cabin and taken care of until he recov-
cred. Because of the Christian hearts of
those profane, intemperate, gambling
bodies, not one of them contracted the
disease.
Now, have precisely the same pooof
to support this assertion that DR.. W Water-
house had when he vaccinated his chill
drer and sent them to the smallpox
hospital to be exposeH for his asser-
ton, that vaccination prevented them
from taking the disease. By logi-
cal inference Christian heart is
as good preventive of smallpox
as vaccination. The weakness of the
logic is perfectly analogous Ito my un-
derstanding), and consists of the impos-
sibility of proving that the children would
have taken the disease without vaccina-
ton, or the miners without their Christ
ian hearts; or that the protective power
supposed or real in either case would
last long enough to be a permanent ben
eft. [ believe that statistics are begin
ming to show that the beneficial effects of
vaccination If real are OF very short du-
ration.
l think it would puzzle the most scien-
titic to prove that Christian heart would
need renewing as often as vaccination.
Anyhow, if permitted by our vaunted
liberal modern laws, | am willing to
trust to the Christian heart and the use
of disinfectants, and preventives less dis
gusting than the injection of foul cow
pox into my system.
UNCLE BARNEY's FAILING.
Among the boarders was a plump,
round -SbOn ldara6 hardy old mar, bpSa
age was in the vicinity of three-score-and-
ten, who was known as "Uncle Barney,D
He had an inordinate craving for LIQUOR,
although l do not remember ever to have
seen him thoroughly drunk. One night
the man who slept in the store saw
shadoWy form creeping through a hole
in the corner of the tent, and at once con-
cluded that it was an Indian bent on
theft or plunder. He got out his pistol, but
thought he would not be too hasty, and
waited for developments.
The shadowy form crossed the store
and went behind the bar, and, seizing a
decanter of liquor, poured out a glass
and drank it. The motions and act Of the
shadowy form convinced the man in the
store that it was no Indian, and on strik-
ing light he discovered Uncle Barney.
Thankful that he had not been too ready
to shoot, and thoroughly impressed
with the danger which Uncle Barney had
D6tu Ill, gave U00 OLD
man a severe lecture. with an injunction
never to run another such risk by sim
liar act.
He presumed that the old man was as
much impressed by the situation as he
was himself. The very next night tall
lank, rollicking Irishman, known as
Charley, was awakened in the small
hours by the cold night air, and discov-
cred that his blankets were gone. He got
out of his bunk to investigate, and as
everything inside was quiet he went
prowling around outside and soon dis
covered Uncle Barney, seated on the
ground, wrapped in his (Charley's)
blankets, with decanter of liquor, which
he had abstracted from behind the bar
without wakening any one, in one hand,
and an ordinary bottle in the other hand,
into which he was pouring the liquor
from the decanter. Charley pounced
upon him with yell.
You thieving old reprobate, I have
caug ht you in the very act, and Pll hang
you in the morning!n
1t is well-known by pioneers that lono
after California was organized as State
justice In the mines continued to be ad-
ministered by miners meetings. A mi
ners' meeting was called to try Uncle
Barney. A judge was chosen to preside.
and advocates for and against the culprit
were appointed. Charley brought in his
X,
looking up at the scrub oaks and pointing
out this limb and that as an elegant place
to hang 'the old thief"
After Charley had made his statement
the advocate for Uncle Barney said that.
as all could see, the prisoner was very
old man, and as ali knew the last night
had been very cold, and it was evident
that Uncle Barney, feeling cold in the
night, had got up to hunt for more cover
ing, and feeling pair of blankets, and the
night being dark, he did not discover the 1
man under the blankets.
The prosecuting counsel said that, in
stead of Uncle Barney's age being in his
favor, it was against him; that certainly
he was old enough to know better than
TO strip man naked, as cold as the last
night had been, and leave him to freeze;
that under the circumstances it was surely
his duty to ascertain whether there was
man under the blankets before he appro-
priated them to his own use.
The Judge said that before he took
vote to decide an important question in
volving mans life, or death, he would
like to hear what excuse Uncle Barney
could give for his conduct
Uncle Barney said: Gentlemen, / have
to acknowledge that appearances are
against me. l suppose / took the blank
cts, but l must have been sound asleep
when / did 1t, for have no noremembrance
of it. The fact is, gentlemen, have been
a sleep-walker all my life. I remember
one time, back East, before came to Cal
ifornia, got up in my sleep and went
three miles to where a man had flock of
sheep in pasture, and L let down the
bars and turned the sheep into the road
and drove them more than a mile. and
never woke up until met the man who
owned the sheep. He had been away
all night, and was just going home. lit
tie before daylight, and 1 happened to
meet him, or l don't know how far
might have driven the Sheep"
did the owner wake you up when
l-r,l