Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-01-12

Pad Or9r+z GuIch had been a min
tn, coD,n. this the most superficial OBJ
spryer could see at glance, for the
little river was filed with the debris
from the thanking hills that had been
cnt and scared in the search for gold
fill at Il little distance the red seams
looked like unhealed wounds, that
never would cease bleeding.
in the upper part Of the valley,
there were still to be seen the dilapi-
dated log cabins where the miners
lad lived, and the wrecks of sluices
and cradles, where more fortunes had
been wsstel than made.
But though Red Quartz Gulch did
not pay as a gold field, many of the
miners saw that the fertile bottom
below the diggings held inexhaustible
wealth, and that they could make by
the DIoW what they had failed to do
with the pick; so a score of ranches
were established to raise food for the
ggeat army of gold hunters back in
the hills.
store and postoffice established, the
settlers began to see that they mist
have officers of the law, though what
the law was there were very few in
Red Quartz Gulch that could say.
There was a general impression that
man should enjoy the products of
his own labor; that killing, except in
SeIf-defense, was a crime; and that
horse and cattle stealing was an Of
Tense that combined every other wick
edness, and as such should be punish
ed by immediate death.
The people being agreed on this, it
struck them that the next proper
thing to do was to elect a sheriff, who
should represent in himself the jul
dicial and executive arms of the
law.
The election took place in the long
boxed bar at the end of the store; and
as Nelson Thorne had no opposition,
he was declared the choice Of Red
Quartz Gulch by reclamation. Nelson
Thorne was man of fifty-five; tall
grizzled and raWDoned, and, in addi-
ton to being the richest man in the
settlement, was one Of the two heads
of families in the Gulch, and as such
commanded a degree of respect that
would not have been given to a single
man.
Il don't know much about the duties
Of this office, friends, which Pm
thankful for your 'lectin' me; but l
amt too old to Farm. I'm in favor of
law and order; more particular when
there's horse thieves round, as we all
KNOW there is, not far from Red
Quartz Gulch. All I have to say is.
that if my own son was cotched TAX
III a horse that didn't belong to him,
Ia so in for hangin' him as quick as
ne was Digger Injun or a greas-
err"
1hls was Nelson Thorne's speech of
acceptance, and though it could not
1HInIuIIy be called thrilling nor elo-
quent 1t suited the audience, which
- more than can be said of more am
"'''o0S speeches, and was received
Win an applause that showed the
'oush fellows were sure they had for
once put the right man in the right
place
Nelson Thorne spoke fguratively
when lie said that he would hang his
own son If caught stealing horses He
n"u no son; his only child was a
W"Ushter, and though not the only girl
AZ ue settlement, she was so much
'ue pfettest and most intelligent that
Sne was known far and wide among
"1v red-Shirted miners as 1.-THE Pride
VI hed Quartz Gulch."
Neile Thorne was gipsy-like
'eaUty, tall, willowy, light of step and
'''sNI OF eye, and with healthy glow
"" 1er dark cheeks that made them
transparent. She had other
',"lNS to admiration besides beauty;
sue could read and write, and had Il
'oloheSS for books not peculiar to the
>',I"cnS Of Red Quartz Gulch.
NO doubt it was this fondnesS for
"o~0S' with her constant yearning
'' -H%her aud nobler life than that
- winch she found herself, that first
"',>"Iled her to Louis Blanchard.
- certainly was not Louis Blanch-
-" Wealth or success in that rough
""1| that interested Nellie. Though
IT,, "tn-oullt. good looking young fel-
~ ne seemed out Of his element at
n quartz Gulch: he had failed ig-
..,Io"'lAIousIy as miner, and his ven
r..., rs farmer threatened TO meet
",lA no better success.
. was Nelson Thorne's opinion that
-, ''''ie la"uin' was n necessity" At
~, same time he labored under the
P''>S'on that the tendency Of a