The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-03-08

e-CrlstOlike splendOr In my mind, /
placed those that were loose in a niche
Is high up the bank as I could reach,
Ind made my way around the point Of
'ock to find way back home with
,he nugget securely fastened In my
1ress. The water was up to my
but / succeeded In getting
then marking the way care
fully with bits of paper, ! made upI
the hill again and gained the house,
much the worse for wear. put on a
dry dress, and seeking Miller showed
him my find, asking him with calm
ness certainly did not feel, what it
was. He scanned it carefully, and
said:
"'It's purity good, Where'd you
get it?"
II rather stammcred that l had
found it in the creeks bed, a short
distance from the house. Thoughts
Of the treasure, IL it were one, being
fllched from me caused this little de-
ception. He said further: It's purity
we'll mixed with dirt, and then, laugh.
ingly said: III you had wheelbar.
rowful OF bits like this you could bny
a farm
"'How much is it worth p l asked.
"'Oh, about els, l think
II thanked him and went to my
room. To get the rest OF the bits, as
he called them, from where they were
and take them safely to place where
I could dispose Of them. gave me much
to think on. did not care to trust
any one with my secret, and l wanted
to know the extent OF my find. The
next day l was putting query after
query to Miller about placer mining.
At night l was as far from knowing
what its extent was as could be.
After supper l resolved to try the
Italian, who had taken some fancy to
me, thought, for having given him
several cast.off garments for his wife.
| found him, secured his services for
the next day, making a tryst where
he was to meet me with pick, shovel,
bags, and rope, and on the way told
him what was about to do and
offered him $50 to assist me to the
railroad with what he might secure.
He swore by the Virgin he would
never betrqy me. We made our way
down to the rock, and, fixing the rope
firmly, l went around, took the tools
from him, and then he came. l asked
him what he knew about placer min
Ing. He knew considerable. ! showed
him where i found the nuggets, OF
rather the clodS, and we went II
work.
sit was hard work, too. But aftel
eight or nine hours Of picking cam'
to the conclusion that I had got al
there was out of the rough gutter o
the rock where the stream tricklet
through. We had in all, at rougl
estimation, about eighty pounds of tn
! mess of dirt and gold, including tn
, loose bits had concealed In the niche
I could not see signs of any more
There was no beach except where
: had Stood, We looked that all owe
: : and saw no signs Of gold. We du
down and soon struck solid rock, an
!, we concluded there was nothing mor
than the pocket We made wv
packages Of the dirt, and With muc
= effort helped the Italian carry theI
u up the hill. We left the tools. Tha
. night l went to his house, guardin
y my treasure. sent a note by him
I" Miller telling him would not be
:, home, saying the Italians wife WI
y Ill and that l would stay with HI
: that night. l had the Italian secul
y me a cart and donkeys, and the ne!
a morning, with my fortune conccalt
u under the seat, started with it Il
y the nearest station, after settlir
y with Miller for my months board.
:" We reached the station after s.
'o ' days trip. 1gave the Italian i've
y six ounces OF the most solid OF Il
- stun. l had the rest packed In
~ stout b0x. While at the station
:. met a travelling salesman, to whom
=. conAded. He advised me to take 1t
~ the City of Mexico. l lacked $40
10 10 $l2 OF having enough money to p
~ my fare, but he loaned II to me, On
" ing l could send it to him. / arriv
81 safely 10 the city, and with the
!" sistance OF an American at the hoa
VI had the stuti melted, and after, Il
y, customs and license we're paid,
nettcd me %, 100. On the advice
the same gentleman ! invested II
70 small cultivated coffee plantati
near Minatitlan. 1t was prodtai
~ and l have been there since July ls'
'W'o W until the fall OF last year, when ! &c
" =. my Interest In the coffee ground
"s w one Of tho larger growers. ! do n
~ ~ like Mexico, and l have spent ct
:. 4. siderable time since I lclosed out !
~ interest 10 travelling"
~ The Canton Picket states that
=. has sent out Individual statements
~ those Indebted to II on subscriptl
,n account, to which no attention Is pa