Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-15
THE RIVER OF UllN,TRUTH.
BY WINFIELD CLARKE.

Across Arizona from east to west,
like great artery, flows the ella river.
Down from the north comes the Hassa-
yampa and empties into it. There is ali
odd tradition connected with the llassa-
yampa, 1t is that he who drinks OF its
waters will never thereafter be able TO
tell the truth. Politicians sometimes
come long distances, it is said, just out
of curiosity, and if, perchancc, found
drinking Of the water, claim that they
had heard it was beneficial to the liver.
Newspaper men flee from its vicinity
as they would from plague; yet ii is
only tradition and no person knows
whence it sprung.
Some years ago, George Washington
Thompson, 4 most carefully reared and
altogether exemplary young man, came
to California from an eastern state. He
came for the purpose of making his
fortune. In this he has been successful,
but oh! at what q fearful cost. The
story is sad one, indeed,
Previous TO his coming to California,
and, in fact, for some time thereafter,
George Washington Thompson had
never even heard of the uassayampa
river. How different might his fate
have been had he never heard of it.
In choosing the mining company pro-
motion business as an occupation Mr..
Thompson was actuated more, perhaps,
by the thought that he could thus
achieve sooner the goal of his ambition,
than by the loftier thought Of the good
he might 90 the mining interests Of the
great and growing west. But be was
young and fired by al those various de-
sires which crowd the mind of TIC
young.
His first venture in the mining COM
pany promotion business was also bis
his last one. lie secured an option upon
some very promising mining claims in
Arizona. Some wealthy men in Los An
geles, under the spell of his glowing en-
thusiasm, having joyfully consented to
back him, he set out upon the journey
to Arizona TO examine the property anG
Chance threw George Washington
Thompson into the company of an elder
ly cattleman from the ArayaiPa coun-
try soon after he left Los Angeles. They
occupied the same scat in the smoker.
The cattleman conceived q violent dis
gust for the young man because he
smoked cigars which the trainboy had
for sale. George bought six Of these
alleged cigars, for which he paid half
dollar, and gave one to the cattleman.
The cattleman lighted it, heroically
stayed by it through three puffs and one
profuse cxrectoration, and then tossed
it out Of the window.
However did We git imbucd with tie
notion this yere pertic'ler slice of coyote
pasture needed distinction ?" he asked.
George looked at the massive shout
ders and square-turned jaw of the cat
tleman, and decided that if any insult
was intended by this remark it was rot
intended fer him, but fer the train
hoy. So he overlooked it, and very
kindly told the cattleman all about HIM
self ard his mining company promo
ton vcntare, while the train sped on
across the glistening sand wastes that
stretch out on either SIDE from the
S;lton basin to Yuma. The cattlenan
lad taken PIPE and some tobacco
from his pocket, and the smoke seemed
to soothe him, so that he Was able to
curb q strong desire 10 throw George
cut OF the window. II was an cid pipe,
which the cattleman had used fora long
time, and he had not been smoking long
before the screws in the window cHs!Egs
Logan to start and the verccring on the
ceiling commenced to peel UP, but the
smoke was very Guieting-vcry quiet
ing, indccd-to the old cattlcmap.
"Assumin' that gilt ye correct inter
rreted," he finally observed, you'll
eventually round up, opinion, sonie-
where JPN tn Hassayampa country,
CHI? That the idea? You'll! observe the
layout concernin' some likely pros
poets fer mineral, With the intention of
dicltcrin' Off 'em to u flock o tender
feet, up in The city, cf I'm follerin' yer
conversational trail anyways close. Do
l seem to git my brand on your plaa all
proper"
Il think so-yes. am almost sure
you do" replied George Washington
Thompson, wishing he had at least some
sort of an idea of what his companion
was talking abcnt-
"Ropcd yer notion the first throw,
aid /? Ever infested them parts to any
ala1nnirii..extent afnre9"