The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-03

The coming in of the new year was
fraught with a number of thrilling in
cidents in the various mining camps
of the state, and it may take some
time yet before history of the scenes
that were enacted in the mountains
and canyons of the different districts
viii be compiled by the state historian
if they ever are.
1t is a sure sign that interest in min
ing matters has not died out when
at the Witching hour of midnight on
the first of the new year, squads of
men could be found waiting in the
mountains for the purpose of jumping
some desirable claim Or to hold their
own against a real OF imaginary 10
Gator.
From all information obtainable at
this writing there was considerab bic
activity III the way of claimju jumping
or the relocation of mining claims on
the night of the first Of January, and
by the time that the adventures are
all in the readers of The Herald may
expect to see some interesting nara
tlVeS III these columns regarding them.
Already one account has been re-
ceiVed regarding a gun play in one of
the camps not more than $50 miles
from this city, but on account of the
extreme nOdesty Of one OF the partici-
pants III the encounter no names viii
be given as to who We're mixed up in
the endeaVor to obtain possession Of a
very valuable property. Suffice it to
say that a we'll known mining man in
this city has had an intimaUion that
his claim was liable to be jumped on
the LIST of the year and on the night of
the 31st of last month he was to be
found on the ground warmly dressed
for a cold night in the hills and with
no weapon of offense or. defense other
than a stout walking stick.
The night was dark and the defender
of his right began TO feel little lone
some until a few minutes after II,
when he had an experience that sent
the blood through his veins at a lively
rate and he had more company than
he had any use for; and it was not
long before his guests began to make
matters extremely interesting for him,
and the entertainment that ensued
was not entirely to his satisfaction,
neither was it conducive to good
health.
AS stated above the night was dark
and it was almost impossible to dis
Germ an object so feet away, and as
the hour began to Indicate the near ap-
proach of midnight the claimholder
became cOgnizanj of the fact that some
one was approaching and it was not
long afterwards before two figures like
two ships in a fog doomed up in the
distance
Haltr' cried the claimholder who
comes there"
The only answer was the report of
a Winchester and a As whiStled close
to his head to the right.
Blood and rainwater," shouted the
claimholder, fourishing his stout cane,
Get off from my ground or 1 will
make it hot for you
Another flash from the rife was the
only reply VOuchsafed by the claim
jumpers, and a bullet sung through the
air on the other side of the claim
holders head and he began 10 think
that it was about time for him to seek
cover: that in reality the endeavor to
maintain his rights TO a mining claim
was about as dangerous as engaging
In a football encounter, and that if he /
did not look little out he was liable !
To furnish the material for a frst-class |
funeral.
\ parley was then held and the |
claimholder succeeded in convincing |
the beiligerent couple that the claim !
vas his and that be intended 10 stand !
with Winchesters While ne could only |
boast of a hickory stick.
F'oreseeing the consequences if they |
persisted iii their efforts to jump the |
claim, the intruders reluctantly aban- |
coned the field. and it is safe to say /
that they did so with warm admira- /
ton for the man who had the nerve to /
stand out against two rifles in the en-
deavor to protect his own
1t is more than likely that other in
cidents Of this character occurred dur
ing the night of the first. and when
these aSs recOunted it is highly prob
2 bic that they VIII prove to be very
interesting to those who keep tab on
mining matters in this inter-mountain !
region.