St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-07-13
MODERN PR0spEcToRs.
rhsir Gun Play Not Up to Tradition oi
Mining Towns.

tGUEEeSpouNGMcE VI LIE DUslOH ITAl-
script, the mining camp Of to-day ID
passably orderly; life and property in
reasonable security Hold-ups do oc-
cur now and then; shooting affrays
| gun plays take place asionally,
| but the members Of the community
see to It that an order OF things which
threatens their lives or pocketbooks
does not obtain d foothold. Dance
halls, gambling, women and drunken
ness are permitted, and these are yir-
tually impossible to eradicate in q
mining camp. But the business and
mining men who have their money
invested do not allow matters ike
murder and robbery to get headway, az
| well from sound business motives as
from those of self-security.
In our Republic camp there has
been only one man shot in the last
year, although a curious shooting af-
fair did occur some weeks ago. Two
prospectors got into quarrel about a
claim. Presumably unarmed at the
time, they separated, swearing trouble.
At eight o'clock that evening they
came in sight Of each other on the
main street of the town; one supplied
with Winchester rifle opened fire
from the middle of the road on the
other standing in a saloon door and
armed with long-barreled Colt re-
yolver. The street was crowded at
the time, the busiest Of the evening.
The men were now separated by 20
PAGES. They fred seven shots. The.
extraordinary point was that neither
hit the other, nor anyone else,
either on the street or inthe surround
ing buildings, although every place
was crowded. The bullets were found
in saloons and stores nearby, while one
went on so yards down The street to d
more distant gaming house. Themen
were fined 800 each the next morn
ing, and it was generally accepted
doctrine that they should have got an
other 500 each for not shooting
straighter.
This incident would point to the
fact that the present day prospeetoris
not SO formidable . shot as Deadeye
Dick Of 80 years ago. Indeed, the.
present day prospector as seen about
the streets Of Republic appears to be
more concerned with putting his claim
than in watching his gun. Let.us walk
up the street and talk to one of them
moment, but remember, easterner,
that this is the most democratic eoun-
try in the world, and that q prospector
IS as good as you are and rather better
for you are an easterner
We approach hairy individual,
leaning against the Butte saloon. He
is chewing tobacco with d certain slow
dignity. He impresses us as looking
resolute and dirty, When you get to
know him better you will find he isa
pretty good sort Of fellow, with many
Of the primitive virtues and all the
vices. i.
Well, how're they coming g I ask
as we stop beside him.
ooh! They're stacking up pretty
good. Ny partner and me was work
ing some last week up on them Bear
creek claims. You know them, eh ?
Look at that! HoW's that for pretty
rock e
He digs d bit Of stone ont Of his
.pocket and hands il to us: That
runs $3.50 to the ton, and we're only
down ten feet. 2
Got much Of that? 2? I ask.
Well, there amt such lot Of that
there stuff, but good average assay'n
run ten dollars OF SI2. We've got ]
ledge four feet wide, and she's going to
be a wonder. We're going to have an
other lie Roi there before we get
through. We wouldn't take SIC, 900
for her as she stands. No, $10, 900
wouldn't look at her.
The property our friends spoke Of
comprised, as / knew, two fair looking
claims, with d little low grade ore in
sight. Present value, on the chance
Of it getting better, perhaps $500.
But 50 It is With many prospectors.
There is no more visionary man, and
let him get any kind Of d showing at
al on his claim be straighfway be-
comes possessed Of the idea that lie has
one Of the great mines Of the world.
His head filed with Thoughts of fs-
nous mines, be asks a hundred times
the value Of bis claim. Sometimes he |
never1nakes a sale; metimes he holds
the claim until be gets hard up, when
be becomes more open to reason and
will often sell for fair price. Occa- |
sionalIy. With an uncommonly good
claim, be does get bis own fancy fg-
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