Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-20
The Stpru Tellsr.
4 new ELDORADO.
An Experience at Barbering In the
Early Days.

An Experience at Barbering In the
Early Days.
In the early days of California, il
only a report of d new gold-diggings
was started, a large proportion of the
male inhabitants of all sections of the
state would rush for the newly dis
covered gold camp. Gold Bluff, Kern
River, Fraser River, and Sierra county
had each its rise and decline. 1 went
with the crowd to each of these Ell
Dorados, writes ga. P. S." in The
Argonaut. Fraser River was the only
"digging" from which I returned "flat
broke" and this was the fate OF
hundreds of others who were reckless
enough to rush to these wild and
mountainous regions. All through the
summer of 1856, the newspapers of
the state published glowing accounts
of the rich strikes made in the wash
gravel mines of Rabbit Creek, Sierra
county, and in the fall of that year I
started for this new Ell Dorado. I
went by boat to Sacramento, and
tramped from there to Rabbit Creek.
When I crossed over the mountain
from Strawberry Valley, it was COW
cred ten feet deep with snow. The
mail was brought in by a carrier on
snow-shoes.
We found every place crowded, and
the hotels and boarding houses
charging one dollar a meal, including
place in which to spread ones
blankets. I Immediately "hustled"
around for place to work or chance
to stake off claim, but was a little
discouraged when I found eight thou
sand persons looking for the same
chance. By noon was quite dis
heartened, and went into tenpin alley
to get warm.
The proprietor of the place was
playing a game with man, and as he
had to leave to eat his dinner; he re-
quested me to finish his game. 1
replied that I would willingly do so,
but that I bad no money to pay for
the games if lost. "Oh, that makes
no difference" he said, "only play
while I get something to eat" 1 was
a lover of the game of tenpins, and
was glad to have chance to play the
game and get warm. When the pro-
prietor returned, I had won eight
games and lost two. He wished me
to continue the play, but I declined,
saying that I was hungry, which
seemed to surprise the proprietor, and
he kindly gave me a note to the hotel
manager, telling him to give me din
ner and charge the same to him. He
invited me to return after had dined,
which I did. He then told me that I
could spread my blankets in the alley
at night, and added that if would
assist him until I got work, he would
supply me with meals at the hotel.
The price of a game was 81, and as I
was more expert than the average
man, I was quite profitable assistant.
I soon tired of working for my board,
as that was not the bonanza I expected
to find. One day I had been to Span
ish Flat to look for work, was not
successful, and was returning to Rab-
bit Creek on Warren Hill. On my
way over, 1 found deserted log-cabin.
Now it was one of the unwritten laws
of the mines that any one could take
possession of vacant cabin and hold
it until the owner claimed it. /
thought that the cabin, with its open
fireplace, would be more comfortable
to sleep in than the tenpin alley. l
conclued that 1 would take possession
of it, and returned to Rabbit Greek to
get my blankets. When I told the
of the alley what contem.
plated doing, he gave me an order on
the store for some provisions, which l
carried to my new residence, and pro-
ceeded to make myself comfortable.
The next morning set to work clean
ing up the cabin. Among the debris
found rusty pair of shears. While
I was cleaning them a miner called
and asked me what I was doing. l
told him that I had taken possession
of the cabin until the owners return.
He then asked what I was doing with
the shears.
"Cleaning them to use," answered.
"Can you cut hair?" he asked.
eyes," said I, sat dollar head"
GAIL right" said he, "cut mine"
So set to work, and, as I had new
er done such work before, cut it
straight across the back of the head
from ear to ear. 1 saw my mistake
after I had finished but the miner
did not object to that style, and he
proved an excellent walking adver-
tisement for me, as every one he met
asked him where he had got his hair
cut.
"Up on Warren HILL" he replied.
"a Yankee has taken possession Of
Bill Benton's cabin, and he cuts hair" !"
Before long another customer came
in, and before night had cut six, and
pocketed my Sc. Others came next
day and asked if 1 could shave.
"Yes," 1 replied. ~ am not fixed
for it yet, but 1 will be ready tomor-
row."
That evening I went to Rabbit
Creek and bought razors and the nee
essary articles for use in the tonsorial
art, but could not get barber's chair.
Co INV patrons Sat on q hOY until |