The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-01-28
sELlNa 4 NINE TO cAlNAMEN.
One VII Some Wicked scheuning Ameri-
cans Sailed q Valuable Mine.

cans Sailed q Valuable Mire.
In 1851 a 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 as company of
Cinnamon a 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 1t 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 1t 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 1t 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
a very ingenious plan. He took gun and
| went as he said, to get IA quail or two, but
| in reality to kill snake. AS there were
| great many about the place he soon killed
| large gopher snake, which resembles the
rattlesnake In appearance, but is perfectly
|
a 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;
| Nov, boys, when the Cinnamon come
tomorrow they won't allow any Of us to DO
| 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 was going for rabbit,
only you see, I'll put salt into the gun
instead of shot. Wen find out where they
are going to pan out next, and you be look
ing on, innocent like, with the snake read
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 holler, Hold on, boyap and before they
know what's up I'll fire the salt all around
there and make believe killed the snake
How'll that do"
Next morning four Cinnamon came pre-
pared for work. They tried a few places
but OF course did not get the color" The
Americans kept Mt distance, so thai
there could be no complaint.
"Well, john" said the schemer, "wher,
you try next-over in that corneri"
Tho Cinnamon were suspicious in a mo
ment. They were familiar with salteC
claims, and were well on their guard. "NC
+. likee dis corn. Tile him nudder corn, >
pointing to the opposite one.
Jim, with his hands in his pockets, wa,
E above on the bank, many fest away, watch
ing When he saw them point in that di
, rection his partner gave nod and ht
pitched the snake on the ground near tn,
place. The leader exclaimed, Hold on
boys" aud fred before they could tel
which way to look. Going up to the snake
he pushed the gun under it and carried il
awny hanging over the barrel
Jim walked OF and Bill sat on a wheel
+ barrow on the opposite side from wher
they were at work. The Cinnamon had nj
suspicion. They carried away several pan
c of dirt to wash in 4 stream rear by, an,
when they returned Bill felt pretty sur
they had struck some of the "salt," bu
g the Cinnamon said nothing except "Claiu
{ no good. Mclean man talkee too muclee
9 The Americans, knowing the game, n
i, fused to take less than the specified price
which the Cinnamon finally paid. and il
two days the sellers were oil to new dig
gings.
The strangcst part of the story Is tina
the claim turned ont to lie ore Of the rich
est in the district, The Cinnamon made
great deal of money, sold out and wen
home.-Hubert Burgess in Century.