The Banner-Democrat., 1901-08-10
Mike and The BanShee,
AN INCIDENT OF LoccINc.cAMP LIFE
I'M THE SIERRA NEVADA.


Scattered throughout the Sierra Ne
sada Mountains arc numerous saw-milis
which are making extensive inroads up
on the magnificent tracts Of timberiand. |
The chain of mountains abounds in pic
mresque scenes, evergreen trees, gigantic
md medium sized, and fuzzy little thick
ITS of diminutiyc saplings clothe the en-
ire range, barring the bald, snow-capped
peaks, and the acres cleared by the hand
of man.
The State Line Saw Mills are, per-
hans. as well known as any other mills
,n the Truckee River, stream that fur-
nishes power to dozen or more like IN
;titutions along the eastern slopes OF the
Sierras. For a matter of convenience
he site of the State Line Mills is situat-
ed on the banks of the Truckee, and
within few hundred feet Of the South
.rn Pacific Railway, insuring an abund
ancc OF water power and ready means
Of shipping lumber. But the logging
camp is perched way up near the snow
ine. and access to it is impossible by We
hiclc. on account of the steep, broken
contour of the mountainous district. Of
course it is very essential that the log
ring-camp be kept well supplied with
provisions, and as there are never fewer
han thirty hearty and vigorous men en-
ployed at their various tasks preparing
The virgin forests for the saw, you can
imagine what quantity Of food is re-
auired to keep the larder well stocked.
The mode of conveying all kinds OF
supplies to the airily located camp is by
4 train of seven pack-mules-small,
wiry creatures that are strong and agile
and quite capable of carrying burden
equal to their own weight up the ardu-
BUS mountain trail that coils in tortu'
ous fashion from the mill up the hlgf
mountains to the rough log-cabins which
constitute the loggers' domain. A sigh
long to be remembered are these donk
eys laden with cumbersome pack-sad
dies, piled high with miscellaneou
goods, carefully picking their way VI
the dizzy trail. You wonder that sucl
tiny creatures can stagger under tn
loads, let alone their climbing an almos
perpendicular ascent.
1t is no easy thing to pilot train o
mules up a narrow mountain trail; the
ran not be hurried out of slow, slo'
walk, frequently coming to halt, an
occasionally lying down in the middle
the trail. This last act is exceedingl
aggravating, as the pack has to be rt
moved before the donkey can arise again
With all the trials and tribulations cor
nected thereto, French joe got alon
splendidly as muleteer of the State Lii
pack-train- a big, cheerful man, with
deep sonorous voice that each individu
donkey had grown to understand. n
"Holloa. Jinnyf' rang out like ric
toned bell, and urged on the mules WHIT
a lash would not have availed in Il
least.
Every day the trip had to be mad
besides the provisions for the men, the
were twenty head of oxen and as MAJ
horses to be supplied with provend'
One day the superintendent OF the 10
ging-camp, while down on a visit to
mills, happened to observe drove
Digs roofing about the boarding
He suggested to his employers that
would be an excellent idea to have Il
of them up at camp, as there was pler
of refuse from the tables to keep tn
fat. and his men would appreciate ire
pork now and then. The mill-own
agreed with him, and so begins the r
motive of this tale.
1t is next to impossible to drive p
along wide, level roadway; It
utterly impossible to drive them up
mule trail. How, then, could these
fat Young porkers, weighing from n
to seyenty-hve pounds each, be ira
ported from their present field to
Iogping-camp? The men gave it up
an unsolved riddle; just then trel
Joe's voice sang out loud "Holl
linnyr' and the superintendent excia
ed: "The pack-mulesl That's the thi
Box the pigs up and load 'em on j
donkeys What could be more simple
Easily said; but the weary corps
men that caught and boxed the slipp
noisy shoats declared that it was
hardest days work they ever exp
enced. French Joe wore look OF
gust. "Morbicm, / nevair before SCI
DIG packed re mule on. Nevair!'
Nevertheless, the Grated porkers v
hoisted upon the pack-saddles, two
each mule. Barring an occasi'
grunt, or flint squeal, the pigs, t
out after their valiant struggles aga
capture, gave no signs of displeasur
their peculiar position. The funny
donkeys. accustomed to burdens v
mo from fresh meat to cord-wood, 81
ed quite Indifferent to the oddnes
their live freight.
French Joe's good-natured S
wreathed his broad face once NOR
ne beheld the comical array OF pig-l
mules. .It ees vera funny-zis
but il ees again like what | nevaiI
before. Ze mule will not pleased
&c pig squeal in re ears"
The afternoon was well advs
when Joe sang out his "Holloa, j
Como, Cayusew which started the I
train on its difficult climb up the n
tain trail. The trail zigzags be-
towering pines up very steep
then il winds along canon for a
ascends another pitch, and finally
verses broad, wooden plateau,
paratiycly level. at the extreme e'
which, on slight rise, is the log
camp.
French Joe always rode IN the
Of the train on mouse-colored az
The narrowness of the trail PREY
- ....e;,,rr the hurdeped an