The National tribune., 1900-01-18

utes the news was all over camp, and every
one was wild with excitement Estimates
were made Of how much silver that ore
would yield to the ton.
One of the prospectors claimed such
large amount that my fireman, who had a
taste for mathematics, taking the weight
of a silver dollar as basis. figured it out,
and found that for ton OF ore to pro-
duce that amount in silver it would have
to weight $500 pounds! This rather stag
eered the enthusiast, but while he admitted
that his estimate might have been "a little
high" he stoutly asserted that photo
graph of them Tombstone mines would
produce more bullion than the whole Com
stock Lode!"
Indians were plentiful. The Yumas
and Cocapahs did nothing but ride on the
trains between Yuma and Texas HILL
Our agent at Texas Hill was nervous,
irritable man, and nothing would, set him
frantic quicker than an Indian singing.
He interfered with one of the brakeman one
day in an officious, offensive manner
Tim, the brakeman. was typical tramp
brakeman: thorough railroader, perfectly
independent, and quick TO resent any IN
reference. Tim learned of the agents
antipathy to Indian music, and vowed TO
get even with him. An interview was
held with Yuma Charley" the situation
explained, drink of whisky given, and
bottle promised That night after the light
had been extinguished in the agents
car the sound of an Indian chant came
from a little gulch near by. In wild
minor key it rose, "Hi-yi-yi-hi-yi-yi-
hi-yi-yi-yah-h-h." then down, deep and
eutteral, "Ou-ou-ou-"; then e short rest,
only to be resumed again and continued
at intervals all night. The agent slept but
little The next night 1t was the same.
When daylight came the agent was wild
eyed and frantic. The third night 1t was
resumed, but the teamsters had had enough,
and opened fire with their revolvers, which
brought the concert to an abrupt termina-
tlon. No one was hurt, but there was no
more Indian music.
CHINESE LABORERS STRIKE.
In the middle Of the month . heavy
shower came up which lasted several
hours. The roadbed of the railroad was
like dry ashes, and every drop of water
washed it away. The result was that the
track, nearly back to Yuma, was in horri-
BILE condition, totally impossible in many
places The situation was an exceedingly
grave one. The water supply would not
last more than As hours at the most. At
least 1000 men, nearly as many horses
and mules, and two locomotives depended
upon the railroad water-cars. To be sure,
water could be hauled from the Gila River,
10 or u miles away, enough to save the
lives of man and beast but the engines
must stop. and all work cease. All the
men We're brought from the front to repair
damages. And now, when We needed them
most, the Cinnamon, 1000 or more, all
"bucked'-quit work. l don't know that
they had any particular grievance, but
they "bucked," every man of them.
The bosses threatened, stormed, argued,
and entreated 1t was of no avail Men
no likee work; two, tree day, mabbee, men
go work" was all that could be got out of
them. The dangers of water famine
were explained to them. They had their
water-barrels full, "a heap full and they |
didn't care whether any one else had any
wafer or not The white gang bosses held |
a consultation, and a simultaneous charge |
was made on the Chinamen's wateT-barrels, |
and they were overturned and all the water
spilled. This was not accomplished with |
out severe fighting; pick-handles and
spades were freely used, and men knocked |
senseless. Then the head foreman told the |
head Chinese boss, Men no go work, men |
no catchee sull; pretty quick men die; |
coyotes eat EN- DOleS stay mere, no go
back to China" There was a great chat
tering and ki-yi-ing among them, and then |
they began to wrap cloths around their
heads and put on their basket hats; took |
their spades and went ohedientiy to WORK. |
The break was not repaired until the second |
day, and We were all glad to see the train |
from Yuma, with its long line Of water
cars. |
On the LIST of March the track had reached |
a point 80 miles away, and a station, to be |
known as Stanwix, was located. The |
terminus was again moved, and all the |
town followed. When we left Texas Hill |
nothing was left behind but the sidetracks |
and the dirty debris Of an abandoned camp. |
CTo be continued.)