The morning call., 1893-03-14
"LUCKY" is ARMED
Baldwin Goes Cunning for
Ghosts.
HE'LL HOLD a HAUNTED MlNE
His Guard May Encounter Spirits
of the Former Owners of the
Hobson Claim.
HE'LL HOLD a HAUNTED MINE

graduated himself on having safely dis
patched his advance guard to hold the fort
until the arrival of the miners who are
shortly 10 work his mineral claim near that
town.
just what Mr.. Baldwin's employees intend
to do with the shotguns is not definitely
known, but as the Bald win shaft is in close
proximity to what was once known as
"HObsOn's claim" supposititiously
haunted mine which has been abandoned
for years, and is valuable only for its
output of tradition, It may be possible that
the Baldwin skrmishers are deployed to
frighten away any wandering spooks that
might through their connection with the
dead past. have an unfair advantage in the
matter of discovering flaw in the title to
"Lucky's" property.
Il is alleged by these who ought to know
that John Farmland, at one time a part
owner of the Hobson estate. has relatives
who may suddenly take it into their heads
to claim everything in the way of real estate
from Shingle Springs to Pleasant Valley.
1t Is not supposed that Mr. Baldwin or
others Interested in Ell Dorado County seri-
ouslY lear the descendants OF John Farri-
land.
Hobson came to California in 1913 and
went into partnership with man named
Avery The twain located a claim and
wOrkeiit to an advantage for some months.
Suddenly Avery disappeared, leaving no
cleW to his W WhereabOuts any more than if
he had mysteriously dropped of this mum
dane sphere
HObsOn, personally q man of very pc
cullar ideas, disliking 10 return TO work in
the mine after this mystery, sold it to
company of ready purchasers.
Thirty days after this transfer Thomas
K lloway, one of the shareholders, was
killed by the premature explosion of
blast, and later second owner fell down
the shaft, dying from injuries sustained.
This placed a huOdOo on The property and
Immediately the superstitiOus miners chris
tened the place "Hobson's Haunted Claim"
and for years the heretofore valuable mine
was offered for sale for a song.
Some time during the sixties party of
Texans came to FL Dorado and purchased
the location, notwithstanding the prOtesta-
tions of their friends in "HangtowB."
Soon after their advent TO the geld fields a
gaunt product of Pike County, Mo-, hap
pened IN the diggIngs, accompanied by his
son and daughter-the latter pretty girl
of 1S.
Much to the astonishment Of the denzens
of Hangtown, no ill-luck attended the
Texans, their investment panned out spen-
dldly, and they made money fast, while the
Missourians barely eked out an existence.
Ial> 80 excited the Jealousy of the parties
from Pike that they purposely became on
very unsocIabe terms with the Texans.
This feeling had by no means reached the
degree of lighting mad" however, until
one evening when Pete Christian, one of the
Texans, and Hank Farmland, son of the ad-
est Mssourian, came together in a clash
over poker game. Christian laid young
Farmland out with a blow over the head
with a pistol-butt, and thencefeTth it was
war TO the knife.
Old Farmland went cruising round after
Christian with a shotgun, and would prob
ably have filed the latter as full of holes as
a porous plaster had not Miss Susie FART
land interfeGed at the critical moment and
saved his life.
Christian had always evinced a weakness
for the bue-eyed Susie, and her pleadings
in his behalf stirred still more deeply this
latent sentiment.
Farmland senior went back to his cabin
su kily, and subsequently, the owners Of
HobSnn's claim kept strictly alO0f from
their fractions neIghbOr.
Suddenly. after its absence of years, the
evil spirit of the mine returned.
Groahs and yells emanated from the shaft
during nocturnal hours. White figures
RIided among the shadowing trees. Bowl
ders started from the hilltop, came crash
ing into the limpid creek belOw-in fact, all
manner OF uncanny things occurred.
The Texans. unable TO persuade any one
to work Tor them, were obliged to perform
all the Ia Dor of the mines themselves. Brave
men as they were they feared that every
impending moment would be their last.
The FarrIlands, with the exception of
Susie, were gleelul over the misfortune
which seemed to hover over the enemy.
Farmland the elder declared jOyfully that
the Texans would soon leave the country,
but Susan only dropped her dark lashes and
pouted eOntemptuously.
In face OF the trouble existing between
her father, brother and the Texans. Susie
Farmland mad matured an Irresistible fancy
for Pete Christian. The twain often net
on the sly at the foot of the canyon TO talk
Of everything in the world but fighting.
Christian did not see his way very clearly
to propose to Miss susie in the existing cir
cumstances. but finally decided to sound
the young lady on the subject.
You're pretty good-lo0king girl, Sue,"
said he, "Dut l reckon your old man will
raise Satan il any young fellow were to be
proposing to you"
Susie was surprised enough at this sally
to have looked mildly astonished if she had
permitted her natural impulses to get the
better Of her. but not countenanclng such a
show OF weakness. So the, story runs, she
sedately replied: We'll, l am a-reckoninE
I'd nave little to say on that subject my
self; what the old man wants will not con-
cern me-"
This was all that Christian wanted to find
out. He proposed Immediately, but alaek
for the inconsistency of woman. the fair
maiden. in direct opposition TO what she
had just said, answered.
You will have to ask my pa first; my old
mans particular you know"
By this time the couple had walked up
the canyon TO a spot almost directly under
Hobson's claim.
Suddenly a boulder came dashing down
the hillside to the right of them, followed
by dem mOniacsl yell.
Susie muttered something angrily, ap-
parently not bit frightened, but Christian
did not hear her subdued remark. He
looked nonchalantly in The direction of the
mine and then bade the girl "good-night."
Instead OF returning 10 his cabin by the
usual trail he stopped beneath the shadow
OF an oyerhanging fir tree and awaited de-
velopments.
Much to his astonishment white figure
glided out to the girl and commenced an
animated conversation with her. Christian
smiled knowing smile, said nothing and
went home.
The following day he sought an interview
with old Farmland and proposed 10 cease
hostllltles and give him an interest in Hob
sons claim I he would consent TO Susie be-
coming his wife.
Farmland, who had always coveted the
Texans possessions, accepted the offer
without parley and thus the trouble ended
After her marriage to Christian, Susie, in
reply TO shyly ventured question OF the
former, why she spoke to spirits, confessed
that the ghosts were none other than Earri-
land senior and junior.
The old man had taken advantage of the
stories which were told about the mis-
fortunes which had attended the former
owners of the mine to 'haunt" aud drive
his enemies from their business.
The Texans and the Farmland family
worked the mine Jointly for two years.
Teen old Farmland became its sole owner,
operating his property till the quartz lead
pegged ut.
1t is said that the mine is now the prop
erty Of aIA English syndicate. which owns
the Sportman's Hail ranch near Pleasant
Valley. Some Ell Doradars aver 1t is still
haunted.
Perhaps Mr.. Baldwin's gnnners will no