The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-07-27
STARTLED THE CAMP
A PRANK THAT ENLlvENED A SNOW
BOUND MINING TOWN.

The Resurrection OF Supposed
Dead Lawyer was n Mutual Sur
prise 10 the Community and to the
Victim of the TrIcksters.
Life in mining camp when It is
snow bound" said prominent mining
man of Chicago the other day, "is a
dreary time, and men will do anything
for the sake of n little amusement.
The story am going TO tell you actual
ly did occur, and at that time we all
welcomed the Joke as godsend and
made hero of its perpetrator.
"rhe winter Of 1893 rested an appall-
Ingly heavy hand on the CBur dAlene.
Buried many feet deep under mass OF
heecy snow, Che country lay prostrate.
SO intense was the cold and so heavy
the weight Of the snow that IL was pos
sible to work none but the richest
claims. Ingress to and egress from
that bountlfully rich territory was
feat that none but the hardest man
dared essay, for II was an even chance
that death from exposure might be the
lot OF the one who attempted II.
"Wallace at this time was thriving,
busy, prosperous town where the arti-
ficlal excitement of mining boom ev-
erywhore betrayed itself. The shutting
down OF many Of the mines had left a
large number of men living in Wallace
with nothing TO do. Time hung heav-
lily on their hands, and nothing was OF
too small Importance TO attract interest
provided II held out the hope OF killing
few hours OF the dreary time Of walt
ing.
Just at this period the most proml-
nent young lawyer Of the town fell Ill.
There wasn't anything particular the
matter with him except n heavy cold
and impending fever; but, being some
what OF hypochondrlac, he at once
believed himself 10 be I'm dangerous
condition. lie promptly took himself
TO his bed In the rear OF his office, de-
MED himself to all but two or three OF
his intimate friends, Installed n nurse
to look after his wants and promptly
gave himself over 20 that luxury of be-
llevlng himself 10 be really III which is
so dear TO the hypochondriac's heart.
1.-The three men who were his friends
and who were admitted TO his apart
ment took advantage OF the conditions
surrounding him TO perpetrate prac.
tlcal Joke that has since become Ia
nous In the northwest. They gave out
the news that the lawyer. one Jack
Greene, had died, and as his mourning
friends they received the camp, which
called In body 20 express It's regret
"In the meantime Greene, IN the next
room, heard nothing, the visitors being
naturally quiet In the presence OF
death. One of his friends went 10 the
local undertaken and, informing him
that Jack was dead. purchased cof-
fin. Alleging the hard winter and con.
sequent hard times. he beat the under
taker down one-half In his price. The
undertaken, however. got even by sup
plying plain pine box painted n deep
black. This was placed I'm Jacks office,
and In the dead of night lumber care
fully weighted TO the weight OF
Greene's body was packed inside II by
the three consplrators. The I'D was
then screwed down. and the following
day John Greene. followed by the en-
tire population OF the town OF Wallace,
Ida. was laid away In the cold, cold
ground.
About ten days later Jack, having
recovered his pristine health,
appeared upon the street. TO say that
his advent created a sensation is 20 put
II mildly. Three or four superstitious
miners, thinking II was his 'ha'nt'
took TO their cabins on tho
hillside and 10 prayer and fasting.
The only woman In the camp had ft
OF Mysteries and tainted dead away,
Greene. however. stopped the general |
panic that his appearance was precip-
ltating by stepping into the Crystal
Palace saloon and there absorbing his |
four fingers OF red eye in a perfectly |
natural and eartblike manner.
ut was hard 10 tell whether the town |
Of Wallace or Jack Greene was the |
more astonished by the explanations
that there ensued. AZ length, when
those present had become convinced |
beyond cayil or doubt that Il was /
Greene In the flesh and not Greene In !
the spirlt-although by this time Il
must be confessed that spirit In great /
plenty was In Greene-they sent for 1
The three cOnspiratOrs.
"'What did you do II forP was the /
question addressed In blunt and simple /
terms 20 the ringleader
"'Well, I'll tell you. You see We
wanted to run Jack for town Office
md we thought In this way we could
set a line on how be stood with the
But-and here be slapped
! wad OF newspaper clippings down
"a the bar In front Of the astOnished
lnd aggrieved Greene. Jack, you won't
10. Just read those obituaries and see
What the people think OF you. Why
after such q send on as that We
wouldn't dare 10 run you for the ONCE
VI picking deas on a yellow dog that