davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04
A TALE OF BAD LUCK.
den. Cerro Gorao Williams' ExDeFi
emce In Pike Fishing.

den. CePro GoPdo willians' ExDeFl-
enee In Pike Fishins.
Several Of rs were at Kanawha Falls
enjoying the black bass fishing. which
at that time was very good. In tho
party, or rather he came after We had
arrived, was old Cerro Gordo Williams,
of Kentucky. There was an angler to
rlease the shade Of old Izaak Walton
himself. The general was not one OF
the kind who makes an occasional trip
in the summer time. He was ut it
at oil seasons of the year, had been to
Maine, Canada, Florida and the lakes
in the northwest, to say nothing Of
his experience in ocean fishing. One
day at the falls his luck had been bad.
and after fishing over at the old mill
for three or four hours without even
q bite, he came to the hotel and joined
the group on the porch. After little
bantering, he said:
"Well, / never get disappointed when
the fish won't bite. 1t IL unphilosoph-
ical and unsportsmanlike. was in
kentucky one spring, or rather one
6UU1kUCGs ~ ~ " W0S AA ~ 0ACS 0ASNA WIN
came to me that there was some fine
pike fishing in the Killikinnick. stream
that enters the Ohio about 100 miles
above Cincinnati. Now there in no bet
ter fishing than pike fishing. They're
game and big, and that stream was
at ono time filled with this noble fish.
Three or four Of us packed up and
drove over on Sunday. and fixed every
thing ready for = full weeks sport. On
Monday we tried one or two Of the
pools, but without bit Of luck. We
didn't complain. On Tuesday we took
another shy after going down the
stream Ave or six miles But q few
little, measly perch was tho net result
Of that days work. Then we went up
stream a few miles, far enough to tire
us out pretty thoroughly. when we got
home that night, without single thing
to show except lot of sunburned faces.
for the weather was growing hotter
and hotter, and our accommodation
were none Of the best. We thought we
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

The Eilorado 10 the richest mine Of
them. all. II has ~ claims, said 10 be
worth $500. Geo each. The total wealth
oi the Eldorado. Bonanza. Baer and Gold
Eottom mines is estimated at Sex. .000.-
COO. Lots are selling at Dawson City.
at the mouti, Of the Klondykc. for 81. 900
and upward. Across the boundary In
Alaska there are many mines in opera
ton. and the entire region northwest to
Forty-Alile creek contains q great deal
Of the yellow metal.
The wages paid to miners in the Klon.
dyke district are SIS day. Workers In
the sawmill of Joseph Ladue. who
claims to own the entire Dawson City
site. are paid ten dollars day.
Prices in the latter place are fairly
representative Of the amounts charged
for provisions aud articles Of wear. and
the following list will give interesting
information on this subject These
were the ruling prices when the miners
left Dawson City to return with their
immense wealth and entrance their
neighbors with the recital Of the story
- D,.,s~
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

higher up than Fort Cudahy. near Fort
Reliance. and It 10, therefore. within
Canadian territory for the whole OF its
course.
The Dominion government has an.
nounced that II will publish summary
CT some further reports which havs
been received ut the interior depart
ment from Mr.. Ogilvie. In these re-
ports Mr.. Ogilvie speaks at length OF the
great difficulties and dangers which
have to be encountered by explorers In
that land. The lack Of q mail service
seems to be felt almost Al great IN in
convenience ~ the want Of Q claims
registration bureau. with . court for
the collection Of debts.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04
YUKON GOLD FIELDS.
Events Which Led Up to the Pres
ent Boom
me N0ate 70 kloady esshops
to he Enco1ntered-Sarp
Figures N 10 Distances
Cost OF 1Ivta4.

The excitement caused by the dis.
eoverics of gold in large quantities. along
the klondyke river and the waters triL.
.ufary TO il. nca. the Alaskan boundary,
has aroused spirit Of wealth-hunting
which will not be allayed for many a
day. Determination to become pos
eessed of the riches of the cold and
dreary Yukon basin has impelled thou
oonds to go forth. in many instances
with very imperfect preparation. to &c
cure the yellow metal. which, It il
tnown. this region 70 largely conceals.
The gold fever has taken such a hold
alcng the Pacific coast that breathless
haste to reach this new land Of promise
has dominated oil considerations Of pru-
0ence and even of safety. The tales
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04
: NEW ARMY TARGETS
Old Dun's-Eycs to Give Way - Fig
ures Of Men.

Old Dul's-Eycs to Give Way - Fig
ures Of Men.
When the trained marksmen Of the
Transyaal routed the regular troops OF
Great Britain at Majuba Hill by shoot
ing with such marvellous skin n to
rick of the redcoats like SO many deer
on q hill. says the New York
Herald. great outcry was heard in
British army circles against the folly
of teaching . soldier to shoot by plac'
inghimsclf fopposite target and telling
him to place bullet as near to TIM
bulrs-cyc rs possible.
The United States army officers havs
just come to the same conclusion as
did the British after the disaster OF
Majuba Hill. Al q consequence of this
awakening. there will shortly be is
sued q set Of targets to be used at the
various rife ranges, that will revolu-
tionize the old system of training sol
diers to become marksmen. Instead OF
the bul;'s-eye in the center of square
target the object to be aimed at will
be black mark representing. a. near
~ as possible. the figure Of man as it
appears when he lies prone ON the
ground. rife presented, in the act Of
taking aim.
A second target will show the figure
of man taking aim while in a kneeling
position. The figure is mounted ON .
square background of white, ard n
carefully drawn to measurements 10
as to present q mark as nearly az pos
sible like that at which the soldier
would have to shoot were he fighting
for his life in actual conflict. This fig
ure will be used as . target at medium
distances. from 500 to GOO yards.
Still another target represents the
full figure Of man standing and firing.
This 10 for long-distance practice. and
will enable marlsman to see exactly
the effect produced by his skin in firing.
Every shot that hits the figure would
kill or MAIN were the target . living
mark.
The largest target Of al. and the one.
therefore, that win be used ct extreme
range, il intended to represent the fig
ure Of . mounted man. This Il moro
particularly designed for carbine prac-
tice by cavalrymen- The troopers will
be taught to shoot ut the target from
horseback a. weI ~ dismounted, and.
% in the case of the standing man tar
get. win be instructed to aim at the
center Of the mass. the idea being that
killing the horse Of cavalryman does
no less damage to the fighting effective
ness Of an enemy's force than shooting
the rider.
B A project for introducing moving tar.
gets based On the Same syssem a that
described above n being eorsidsrs6 bf
~ RiHtlH sytAeElli
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

The eKlordyke emPties into the Yukon
50 miles above the Big river. Bonanza
creek Is Z tributary Of the Klondyke
and Eidorado u asain tributary Of the
Bonanza. It Is along these two rivers
that the most extensive finds have been
made Prospecting on other creeks
along the Klondyke has resulted In con-
siderable success, and much is expected
from future operations In this part Of
the Yukon basin.
Circle City II 80 miles from the Klon-
dyke fields. Fort Reliance II $50
miles from Juneau. The mines Of
the Klondyks run from $ to 100
miles from the Alaskan bound
~, and ~ u ay|tise Columbia.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

Days sailinG from eeattls-Hon.
days and fhursdayA
Total distance In miles By 81. M.
ress esaf's di.,sne: aSSss In mile: Sy 6Sisi
re.si day; required 10; journey :!
total ST. dss: rearissd sSrs Tor journey 81
Chillkat Pass ......................... y
The dominion government at Otta-
wa, Ont. il now considering means to
preserve to Canadians the lions share
OF the profits which will dow from the
northern Eldorado. but It IL highly
improbable that there II any founda-
tiou for the report that the exclusion
Of al but British subjects 10 under con-
temptation. What the government
probably will do II to impose . royalty
on all ore taken from the soil
It II assumed that there does not ex.
list the slightest doubt ~ to the Klon-
dyke region being well within Canadian
territory. Although II II only within
the last few months that the Yukon die.
trict has sprung into notoriety, the
Canadian government surveyors have
been there for many years. In 1857 m
expedition was sent BY the interior de-
partment to explore that part Of the
northwest territories drained By the
Yukon river. The expedition was un-
der the charge Of DR.. George N. Daw-
son. now director Of the Dominica
Geological survey, and Of Mr.. william
ORilvie, who had had previous expert
cnce in exploring and surveying the
northwest. Their chief task was 70
mark out the one hundred and forty-flrst
meridian Of longitude. which II desig.
mated BY treaty ~ the boundary line
between the United States and Canada
from Mount st. Elias to the Arctic
ocean. Mr.. Ogilvis determined. By q
series OF lunar observations. the point
nt which the Yukon river Il Interested
by the one hundred and forty-arss
meridian. and marked the same on the
ground. He also determined where the
boundary line crosses Forty.Nile creek.
the western -afluent of the Yukon In
the gold-besring district The Canadian
surveyors reported at the time that I'm
proximity 70 the boundary line there ex-
listed extensive and valuable placer
mines," and In view Of this TACT they
made their observations With special
care. The United States government
was invited to make jolnt survey. and
the invitation has been repeated dnce.
but up to this time there has been no
to take advantage Of It
The boundary, seoording % the sur.
veyors, crosses Forty-Aile creek -
miles west Of the point where Il 9ows
into the Yukon. Fort CudaAy, which u
gituntod 1t the eonduenee Of the Yulcoo
and Dorty-llile creek. II. therefore, con-
sidefohly within the Canadian side OF
the boundary. The Klondyks river aoxs
Iato ths yutep 3Feu " sask = nils
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

traverse Icy plains, climb steep. snow
clad mountains, and invade treacherous
rivers"
In the shorter route. by way oi
Juneau, on the southeastern part Of the
Alaskan territory, difficulties are also
encountered. When the Pacific inlet.
and straits have been left behind and
the vessel enters the harbor Of Juneau
diversified method OF travel lies before
the gold hunter. It takes 90 days to
reach here from Semitic. Then Dyea,
At the extremity Of the Lynn canal. is
made. This town reached. the great
passes Of the Chilkoot. Chilkat. and
Moore. with their frequent snowstorms,
next invite the very traveller to con-
tinue his journey. This is not path OF
roses he Is about to tread.
To save themselves when caught IL
the terrible storms which overtake
wanderers in these passes above the
Lynn canal, men have been known to
crawl under some overhanging rock
and remain there without food unit;
the danger was past. The storms some
times last for reveral days. From
juneau to Dyea Is 100 miles. Crossing
the Alaskan line one goes to Lake Lin
derman, 30 miles. on foot. Then across
the lake for about five miles. after
which an overland journey to the head
waters Of Lake Bennett, 2S miles long;
on foot again to the Cariboo river; four
miles to TagiGh lake. from whence 81
miles may be travelled on boat. Con-
tinuing through . mountainous coun-
try, Mud lake Is reached; thence to
White Horse rapids, and on to Lake La
Barge, where 81 miles of navigable wa
ter Il found. After 4 further journey
Of 200 miles along the Lewis river the
the Yukon is reached at Fort Selkirk.
From Juneau to Dawson is a dis
tsnce Of ESQ miles. The following ad-
vice has been offered to parties intend
ing to take this route to the gold
creeks: '.No one should venture with
out eight months provisions. and these
should be bought AZ Juneau. He should
have 100 pounds Of -four. 100 pounds
of beans, l00 pounds Of bacon. 100
pounds Of sugar. 10 pounds Of tea. 80
pounds Of coffee. $50 pounds Of mixed
fruit, besides salt, pepper. and cooking
utensils. All these can be bought for
the sum Of $50. To convey them to the
head waters Of Lake Linderman would
cost SIS per hundred" A month of
perilous travel is ahead Of the prospec-
tor.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

and magnolius'' love letter. tellin me to
meet her there and we would 60 to
church together. And in regards to the
little messment between Bles Scrog-
gins and the three gentlemen from
fuckers MILL didn't have q blame
thing to do with that. From what I
have saw with my own naked eyesight
I couldn't say for certain that anybody
went down to the spring branch cross
in Sunday evenin. But If you take and
add up two and two together. you arc
more than probable to git four for the
answer. And from all the signs and
outside appearments have no earthly
doubts but what the widder, Dolly
Mayfield. and Blew Scroggins, and also
Squire Leatherwood, and Buck Collins,
and Babe Peterson all went down to
the crossin. and got there about first
dusk sharp.
They had sung one old familious
hymn. and the preacher had took his
text when Blew and Dolly Mayfield
come swashin through the side door
arm in arm, and took their seats right
up next TO the amen corner. Dolly was
all over in futter, and lookin as pale
light night Blew wore his best Sum
day clothes, q white neck tie, and =
smile as big as = crib door. When he
looked around and saw me his left eye
went shet slow and cautious like, and
he puckered his mouth to give . low.
soft whistle-come to his senses
caught his breath, and then looked at
the preacher as meek and lowly and
contrite and humble as q white kitten
with the sore eyes.
Fifteen or 20 minutes had wore
of when one of Squire Leatherwood's
boys come in, said something to old
DIR. Travis, and they went out together.
Blew looked at me. closed his left eye
and helt up one finger as much - to
say:
That's one"
Presently somebody come to win
dow and sent word to old Misses Peter
son-which you will recollect Babe Is
her onlyest boy. The old lady caught
her breath rale quick and scrambled
out the door.
Blev Scroggins shet his left eye oncst
more and helt up two fingers-which
said to me as plain as United States
language could speak it:
.sThat's two"
The next minute two of the Collins
boys, both full brothers to Buck. lit out
through window, and went on in .
lope towards the spring branch crossin.
Blew shct the same eye and helt up
three fingers-which seem to say to
me:
"That's three, dadblame 'em, and
Rocky creek sends her doublebreasted
compliments to fuckers Mill"
Blew Scrcggins maintains till yet that
the world amt square. and that three
of kind will beat two pair.
The gay and gorgeous widder. Dolly
Mayfield. is still healthy and happy. still
single and still "supinely beautiful to
behold"
Buck Collins has got one missin eye.
whilst Babe Peterson has shielded seven
Of his front teeth, and old Squire
Leatherwood has got one arm in sling
which all put together In o goodness
gracious plenty to make them remem.
Der the time when they all three went
to meet Dolly Mayfield down at the
spring branch crossin on Sunday even-
in at first dusk sharp in durin the three
days mcetin at old Sweet Water church
RUFUS SANDERS
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

hold By miners seturned from the Klon.
dyke fttingly rival the stories Of Cali
1ornia's golden period.
A. far back n 1850 deposit Of gold
Sras found in the basin Of the Yukon bJ
{ = prospectot named George Holt. He
oIso reported the finding Of coarse
specimens along the Hootalinqua river
But It was the discovery OF gold neaI
Gitta In Is73, followed by the finds In
1he vicinity Of Juneau in 1880. that drew
attention TO the possibilities OF the
Aewly-sequireds territory Of Alaska n
= goid-pfoducing country. The grea,
abundance of gold was first made known
By Joseph Juneau. who prospected in
the region around the city bearing his
name. In lSS5 mining prospectors be
gan to scatter themselves along the
Rivers peliy and Hootalinqua, aud In
the year following much mention was
made Of the Stewart river as field for
Che enterprising gold hunter. Rich
strikes were made in 1892 by prospec-
tors along Miller creek. tributary OF
Sixty Mile creek. The progress made In
1;hding gold along the Alaskan and
British Columbian rivers, although Civ
: ing high promise of future discoveries
oi gold. was not followed BY anything
y hich created widespread adventur-
Gus spirit among people who were out
sitle the mining region.
The Kiondyke and its aptly named
golden tributaries. the Bonanxa and the
EhOrado. have again turned the heads
Of Americans and Canadians, starting
them In pursuit of the metal which has
been described % bright and yellow,
hard and cold. heavy to get, and light
60 hold"
The reports from this locality Of
riches would indicate that the gold
diggers have comported themselves in
such an unexamp;cd manner in times
of great excitement Is to somewhat
Scvolutionixe the traditions of gold
mine prospecting. Systematically and
ordcrly did they go about their work,
aud when the harvest was reached each
one appears to have rested content with
The measure Of his luck.
Encouraged BY their tales of success,
thouxands OF others arc crowdinx the
outgoing steamers in the hope that sim
1lar good fortune may be awaiting
llem. So odaxxling appears the prospect
that distance and hardships are INSULT
cienily measured, and the long wiutry
nlaskan day which will have dawned
Apou the fortune seekers before they
beach their intended destination has. il
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

/ had been misinformcd, but we stayed
on only to find that Thursdays and
Fridays experiences were to be but a
repetition Of those We had had during
the other days.
Pretty tough luck, boys said to
them on Saturday morning, 'but we'll
try the thing once more, and IL we have
no luck to-day we will 60 home to-mor-
row and say nothing
saturday morning we went to one of
the best holes in the creek. We were
there bright and early. and we fished.
and fished and fished. l don't believe
there was pike within 10000. 600 miles
Of the creek. judging by our luck.
Along toward midday there ambled
down to the hole one of the typical
eastern Kentuckians-long, gaunt. sal
low and shiftless. He mosied down
through the sand bar without word
until he had taken in the situation.
"'How dye he said.
".Any pike in this blasted creek?' I
inquired.
~ dunno. Thar's some here sum-
times an a'gin there amt. DO you uns
mind II I take one Nv these baitF asked
he, N he pointed at . lot Of dead sinners
rotting In the sun.
"'No. Help yourself I said.
"Then he unlimbered his tackle. He
had hickory sapling with an old trot
line wound around and around. and
pom my word. he had hook ON the
end that country blacksmith had
made for him out Of . piece Of old
scrap steel It was about three or four
inches long and proportionately thick.
On this he stuck IN old sinner that
must have smelt, ~ It had been in
the sun long enough. Then he made
his cast. and the old pole and line
whirled through the mir with q swish.
But he didn't sit down, for he didn't
have to. Its the Gospel truth that in
less than ten minutes that old native
pulled out the finest pike ever saw
In my life and shambled over the sand
bar with the fish over his back and
then through the willows.
.'Well Ill be hangedi' was about
all our crowd could say. Let's 70
home And we did. From that time
/ nerr Kicked st my luclr."-Detroit
Free Press.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04
To A ~BROWN CRISP"
Blew Scroggins ond Three Gentle.
MAJ from fuckers NIL.
The Dis Meeting ~ Old Sweet Water
some ..EePvcnt and MaGnollous"
Love l.ettcPu-The ~Cay and
Gorgeoos W1aae1.~
Last Friday. Saturday and Sunday
they had the reglar three days meetir

down 0t old Sweet
Water church, with
three or four ser
monts . day and din
ner on the grounds.
The general crops
had been laid by, f0ti-
der want ripe. the
weather was sweltry
hot. and it was q
very good time Of
wear for n man about
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

Il sec the railroad Bunger has %
much stock In has gone into the hands
ot . receiver
Too bad. suppose he has lost
sveTythingT
-Oh. no. He has been appointed the
Eeeeiver."-Brooklyn Life.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-09-04

Lumber. per Loo feet $50 %
It Is now too late to reach the Klon-
dyke district this year; and a. mining
is possible only during the months Of
May. June and July gold-seekers are
advised by experts to delay the start
for the fields until April IS Of next
year. The following summary OF the
cost of the trip. from Chicago. and the
length Of time It will require to get
there il reasonably authentic: