The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1898-01-21

ALWAYS interesting and usually instruc-
tive when told, says the Western Min
ing World. If the history of men who
have explored the wild regions for pre-
cious metals, since the days of 40, were
written, it certainly would silence flc
ton and sensational story; the men
who venture into wild mountain re-
gions, fighting their way against the
painted savage and wild animals, often
enduring cold and hunger that words
cannot express, and probing the earth
for her hidden treasures, that nations
may have money and the people jewel
ry. When the old prospector opens
the way, and new mines are found by
himself or green teuGerfoot, most pc
caliar crowd settles in the vicinity.
About the first business to hang out a
sign is the saloon. But saloon with
out gamblers and games is worse than
a grub claim. Then comes the dance
hall. A mining town without a hurdy-
gurdy is a dead place This is the
place where the miners spend their
money and their evenings.
Says S. H. McKernan "Often hay G
1 seen the old miner with hair rs white
as the snow on the mountain tops, and
whose attire consisted of an old SLOUGH
hat, gray shirt, starched with clay, and
flour sack pants with the brand on,
dancing with the prettiest girl in the
hall. An old miner with plenty ofdust
is the drawing figure among women.
Department and dress without dust
don't draw in FIRST class mining camp
The old man, above all other men, is
the most liberal, to a fault; drunk, he
lets the proprietors help themselves
out of his sack. | remember seeing
bartender in a camp in Idaho, called
Hogem, take five ounces of gold dust
for five drinks of "sure shot" whisky.
l asked him why he took so much dust
Said he: "Just to save Bills life; you
see he has been on three days drunk
and has spent a $1,000; he has $1,000
more to spend but we must take it
quick or he'll die before he gets sober"
That very saloon keeper is millionaire |
to day, and Old Bill has gone to the
happy hunting grounds.
Mining the working miners is the oc-
cupation of many who settle in the |
mining camps, and the bigger the min
er's sack, the bett + it pans out for this
class. Joaquin Miller uses this to il
lustrate the fabulous riches of the
Klondike, when he tells the story of the
Portuguese, who pays woman alG0 il
day on condition that she does not
speak nor dance with certain miner
This reminds me OF the woman who
came to Placerville, Cal, in 1880 and
opened the Hotel dc Rustic. The fol.
lowing Sunday the miners turned out
by the hundred to dine at the new ho-
tel. But they all wanted the very dis
tiuguished honor Of dining at The pro-
prietor's private table. Finally il was
decided that the man who would pay
the most should have the honor. The
first bid was three ounces. Some one
doubled that. Then the bidding went
by leaps and bounds and reached so /
ounces. Finally Long Tom, the taliest
and most shabbily dressed and richest
Of them all, bid 100 ounces and won ;
the distinguished honor. Talk about /
generosity and big pay! l remember
when Florence lone Of the first mining
camps in Idaho was at its best, fine {
looking woman came Into the camp and {
opened first class restaurant. One {
lay the establishment burned down l
and left the woman penYiless. John q
Kelly, the great violini5t and singer, {
was then playing at Little Bostou's big ]
gambling house. He heard OF the wo- q
mans misfortunes ann went to see what |
ne could do for her She told Kelly
she was the daughter af wealthy
French merchant in Paris and had run >
away from home because her father !,
lad wanted her to marry Young noble
nan. She had been teaching music :,
md singing in San Francisco und had ;,
aved up $1,000. She had come to Flor
nee to make fortune, hut now she
vas penniless. Well, Kelly made ar
that she should appear at 81
he big gambling hall AMI sing few "
popular songs AMI trust 10 luck At O
he appointed evening she appeared t,
nd the hall was crowded. She sang"i is
lave No Mother Now" Ere she had o.
nished the first verse every game was o.
topped and every eye ailur,d by the Il
weet, sad voice aud beautiful form of p
he singer. She finished Then the Il
amblers abandoned their tables ana cl
ressed forward with the miners to the St
tage. They called for REPETITION. Ell