The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-06-20
WOMEN WASH FOR GOLD.

without faint OF treaSOn.-blil arp, l"
Atlanta Constitution.
WOMEN WASH FOR GOLD.
North Caroline DANES Bear Their Part
in the Mining Operations.
Among the inhabitants OF the south
ern mountains, among those strange
leftover people whose customs have
little changed from what they were 200
wears ago, women bear . large share
of the burdens of existence and they |
don't call themselves new women.
In the South mountains of North Car
DINA, lying to the south OF the old town
of Morganton, the poorer residents op-
tain a small amount OF ready money
by panning gold in the branches,
as the little streams are called. 1t was
told that by far the greater part OF this
work was done by women, and l was
invited to make journey through the
mountains with one of these women to
act as guide and preceptor.
As we stood the next morning before
log hut the door opened and woman
stod before us. She was introduced by
nv friend as "Tine" Hank. About 30
wears old, rather small, slight, dressed
in a coarse gown of nondescript color
and material, her eyes were OF the most
beautiful brown, while her glossy black
hair was done into simple knot at the
back of her head.s Her feet were bare
and as brown as the soil which formed
the Aoorpf the cabin.
"Tine" had been forewarned OF our
coming and was ready to start at once
with her gold pan under her arm. In
| a commanding tone she called to man
who sat by the fireplace. telling him TO
get a shovel and follow. We took our
way down O crooked trail which ran
| alongside one of the branches" Ii 1t
had been pleasure to see the grace ana
beauty of this woman in repose, it was
a marvel to observe her gliding along
the forest path, with every muscle IN
play, every motion adjusted to the
needs of the moment, now stepping
deftly from one stone to another, now
rrasping the small limb of tree to aid
her in steep part of the path.
When we reached a place where heaps
of gravel and sand showed that panning
had been done, "Tine" assured us she
could obtain a "color." Taking the
shovel from the mountaineer. she drove
It into the bed of the shallow stream
pushing it down by placing her naked
foot on the edge OF the blade, Having
carefully chosen painful of gravel, she
crouched down and commenced the op
GRAFTON of banning" have seen THU
delicate task performed many times
but never before with such rapidity ant
dexterity. In an incredibly short tim'
she gave the final twist OF the iron pan
and exhibited it to us with the SINAI
remaining amount of gravel collected il
its lower edge, while the tin yellow
scales, the 'colors," were arranged II
, a sort Of line in the upper part.
, Then she jumped to the opposite sid
, of the branch, digging with her hand
. at some loosened pieces OF quartz in tn
!, opposite bank. She returned, carrying
three or four pieces in her hands. On
of the fragments she held out triumph
antly, saying: "It'll carry right smar
, gold" while her bright eyes shone wit
pleasure.
Placing her trophies on fiat STONE
. she proceeded to beat the quartz to
fine powder. Scraping the crushed ms
, terial into the pan she proceeded to
: small pool in the stream and went
work as deftly as before.
! A pretty picture it was and a move
:. one, this delicate, featured, barefoote
woman, bending over the edge OF th
: stream, which rushed along among tn
= gray rocks, taking its path down tn
:. slope of the mountain under the big pin
= trees. When the pan was presented IL
= inspection there, indeed, was "rigf
, smart gold" Instead of q few fakes
yellow streak showed on the black SUI
face of the pan--"almost penn.
> weight" as the mountaineers informe
9 us. This being placed in a sharpens
:, Quill brought along for the purpos
y we left the branch" and started f
: other profitable workings.
= During the day we encountered sc
, eral women, usually in small partie
: engaged either in panning or in bea
= ing up the loose vein OF rock after Il
= primitive method which ''Tine" had el
: ployed. They told us they averag'
= about 81 day when they worked har
ard there was, Of course, always 4
9 chance Of striking pocket" wifi
- might give them $50 or $50 in lum
They were able to turn their winnin
at once into cash by selling the gold
- the local storekeepers.--N. Y. Heralt
er -Lamartine's best poetry was VIZ
" ten when he was no m0rs than 20 yes