The San Francisco call., 1907-06-23

was in Goldfeld that I met my
old friend, Bill Gordon miner. As
We toyed with our glasses turned
to him inQuiringly. bill, what ever
became Of John Langan. Who csme
down 70 this country from Butte four
or i've years ago." Bits eyes lighted
up with pleasure at the memory. John
Langan," he unused, with reminiscent
chuckle, sure. an there was the boy
that had somethin' on his mind besides
his hair; a fine man, indeed he was.
Wen, sir. old John is down in Cali
torny a-livin' on a fruit ranch an
days. Sure an John has plenty o.
money now an I'll be after tellin' You
how it was. You remember about five
years ago he come down here pros
pectin: started out UP north some-
where with an outfit an g couple o.
burros. Walked in here when there
was only a couple o cabins by Rabbit
springs over there on the Malapi.
Pretty rough goin them days. I guess,
from all John has told me about it,
but he said them red hills oyer there
10 the northeast. behind the 1'lorence
an the Mohawl- alius did look go0A
20 him.
Well he han6 around an pres-
pected an located few claims. an
more people drifted in ar located more
claims. an pretty soon somebody made
q strike on the Jumbo or The Sand
storm or some O. them mines you can
see along the hfiis there. john never
old much work on bis claims-an' ne
had some good locations too-just sold
'em al for a little money an took ID
dyinkin Didn't asnoun- - uothin fos
over year
by that iirae tlse Noiaau.- began to
be q producer nj old John took a brace
an went to swipgirs a single jac.. inths
mine. stayed Win it TOO. an when
Hayes and Mon struck higa grade
in the Moli.-is. Jolm was shift boss
for 'em an al good miner he was to
be sure. Pvettv soon the men begun
high gradia, and Jean begun 70 nre
'em. out taey wouiG come. the bully
boys loadcl Getsr with > and so
pounds q the r.en stuf-eVery shift
WAS the same way an Of they would
90 10 some o these bum assaye-s an
sea rock tha1 5ud 80 SO to the pound
for $40; then of [ ey would 90 again
with their money to the dance halls or
the saloons o. TO bnci the wheel, an
they'd be good fciiers an spend it all.
L was one O ticn an the biggest
fool in the lot Ne z carryin' away 25
pounds OF the bes: Of it every shift, an
I knew the good rock when seen it.
Tso hundred and fifty and $500 every
day 7 made. All man, / should be
worth thousands O dollars today an
look at me: just enough to buy
drink now an then like I allus had
In Cosmopolitan Goldheld
We had wandered out on to the
crowded streets of Goldheld. elbowing
our way through the ceaselessly mov-
ing throng. humping strange members
Of one OF the most cosmopolitan crowds
ever coDgregated in a mining camp in
search of golden treasure. A strange
crowd it was indeed. filling saloons
and gambling houses that stood side
By side for solid blocks or pacing rest.
lessIy up and down the rough board
walks loos-ing for excitement and
events . Rich and poor, bold and timid.
straight and crooked. Capitalist rub
bing shoulders with the man who had
spent his last dollar to get into the
country; gambler poking elbows into
the ribs Of mining engineer and pros
pector while ia their midst a painted.
and high heeled wo-
man, swingin' along with the bold
assurance Of one who knows that her
path will be cleared, leaving in her
wake the glsnces of these rough sons
Of the desert and a cloud OF incense
as from a perfume factory.
out in the narrow streets huge motor
cars pushed their clamorous way
through the crush OF the traffic or
pzused noisily beside ten mule teams
ready to start with their freight for
outlying camps Strange contrast, this
mingling Of the past and present; the
chauffeur and the old mule skinner
cussing each other with the right good
will OF the mining camp as freight
wagon blocked the road. or skittish
mules tried to climb neighboring tele-
graph poles at sight of some red mons
ster scuttling heedlessly by
Tanned and bronzed were these argos
nsuts, khaki suited and leather coated:
bluff, honest, strong, save where here
ana there through the throng, as al
ways, hard faced, hollow eyed men. the
rinran Of humanity, broken down gam &
bIers, sports. politicians. political agi- 4
tstors and thieves shufied their furtive
yay, hoping against hope that here at n
sst in thisgolden city they could make t
he long deferred strike; meanwhile they p
Dceged the bar tender for a drink, or Il
a the early hours Of the morning sank t
YEARLY 10 sleep on bench and chair. &
behind the stoves and under the tables
whea q lull was on tho KameS- E