The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27


from the exhausted placers of the State
toward the rich stores of gold that was
hidden IN the quartz deposits that lie n
sucn profuslon in the ranges that border
the great valley OF the Sacramento River
OF IN me intersecting valleys of that vol
luminous stream.
Two men HAD just arrived at Grass Val
ley, which at that time was experiencing
the wonderful growth which the discov-
cry OF splendid mines In the near vicinity
had encouraged and sustained Both men
were young and vigorous and evidently
new TO the country. In fact, they were
only just from the extreme East-Massa-
chusetts, to be particular-and at once ex-
cited the attention of the crowd by their
manners of speech and the evident care
which they devoted to their toilet.
mighty genteel couple" remarked an
old and seasoned miner, "but 'twon't take
EN- long TO get acclimated like the rest of
US, l reckon"
Such was the general impression made
by the strangers on their arrival at Grass
Valley. Their names were Elliot Spencer
and Enoch Pope, and it was not long be-
tore their purpose in joining the COM
munlty was known to all. A relative of
young Spencer, during an early day in Cali
lorna, had acquired a promising quartz
claim IN the mountains about twenty
miles distant, and had decided it to him
on the sole condition that he would emf
CRATE and work the claim industriously
Tor two years. Adventurous and endowed
With wealth, Spencer accepted the claim,
and persuaded Pope, who had been lie
long friend, TO join him in the under
taking, on a promise OF sharing equally
III the suits.
The inquiries made by the two friends
were encouraging TO the last degree. The
claim was one that was well known by
every miner IN the district and prophecies
had been made by the best experts of its
ultimately becoming source of meal
culable wealth.
a trip to the mine soon followed and
both Spencer and Pope, who we're skilled
metallurgiats by profession, were con-
firmed in their belief that the mine was
splendid property. They returned to
Grass Valley, purchased stores for pro-
longed stay in the mountains, hired a
superintendent and men and proceeded
without delay to push forward the devel-
opment of their promising venture.
They were not delayed by lack of means
and were never embarrassed by inability
to pay their miners or purchase necessary
material, and consequently the progress
made in their shafts and tunnels seemed
marvellous in the eyes of their neigh bors
who were working their own claims sub
ject to the EN- barrassments resulting from
restricted resources.
a year and a half of steady and unre-
I
ment OF the Bunker Hill, " tor so they
had named the mine, to point where it
bad become the greatest producer OF the
district, and the time came when Pope
claimed the privilege from his partner of
returning 10 old Massachusetts and bring
ing back TO California his old sweetheart
and bride.
Time hung heavily on Spencers hands
until the happy couple returned. but at
last the friends were again united, and
happy in the splendid prospect OF affiuence
which their past laborS seemed to assure.
For several months this blissful existence
was maintained, but during that time
Spencer had conceived violent passion
for Pope's unconscious wife, and Ionged to
possess her for his own.
The love and loyalty of the little woman
for her husband could not be shaken, and
Spencer knew that public manifestation
of his feelings would be met by her with
unspeakabe disdain. He hungered and
thirsted for his partners wife, and flung
TO the winds all questions OF loyalty or
gratitude due to his friend.
To gain the ends he desired could only
be accom- plished by the destruction of
Pope, and one day the latter was found in
the deepest shaft OF the mine with his
SIX ull crushed by a rock, which had APP
parently fallen from great height. The
victim was brought to the surface and re.
gained consciousness for a moment.
Spencer p he called. "SpencerI' and
then he turned over on his face and died
Spencer did not make his appearance
for several hours after the death of Pope
and then his sorrow was so skillfully SIM
ulated and his grief seemed so great and
sincere that no suspicion was manifested
toward himself as the murderer; in fact,
the general opinion was that Pope came
to his death by accident, and after his
burial the matter was dropped without
further investigation. Not q breath of
suspicion Swallowed Spencer.
The grief of the wife excited the COM
miseration of even the rough miners, and
nothing could have exceeded the kind and
sympathetic attentions of Spencer, who
advised her to leave the mine and seek
associations where she would not be
constantly reminded of her sorrows. The
advice was followed, and she decided to
remain in Grass Valley until her affairs
could be so arranged as to permit her re-
turn to the East. Artfully Spencer man.
AGED 70 defer q settlement on some pre-
text or another, and the widows stay was
prolonged for over year. Then Spencer
yentured to intimate to the widow his
hopes.
At first they were discouraged, but as
the lonely woman, so far from nome and
without congenial partnership, began
to consider the matter, she at last con-
ouered her repugnaEce to a remarriage
and consented. only STIMULATING that she
should not return 10 the mine that had
been so Hateful to her grlish hopes.
Spencer readily assented to the stipula-
,,.i+t l,a, . H.