Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-01

and as he could utilize the water OF
the Natoma ditch as motive power
Folsom afforded him an excellent field
for his experiment. Very soon after
his arrival he became convinced that
the bluffs across the North Fork of
the American river, opposite Folsom,
contained gold in large quantities. and
on the strength of his conviction 9
company was formed and chartered
under the title of the Ross Bluff Min
ing company with the colone- as pres
ident and myself as secretary. The
shares were put upon the market. and
sold like hot cakes. Men were set to
work sinking a shaft, and superficial
IN it looked all right. After some three
weeks work at the excavation ] con-
cIuded ii was about time to know
something definite with regard to the
prospects, l visited the shaft and
found it was about hundred feet
deep. Taking passage in the bucket.
I went down to investigate, and after
thorough examination | was convinced
that there was no more gold TO be
found at the bottom Of that shaft than
there was on top. I ordered the men
TO Quit work right there and then and
to say nothing of the prospect and |
would see that they were paid. 9th
erwise. the chances were they wouldn' t
get a cent The colonel was then in
San Francisco and | wrote him detail
ing my visit TO the shaft and ihtirna ted
that l had made an important dis
covery / requested his authority to
advertise the delinquent shares to be
sold, and he lost no time in issuing
the order Meantime it was whisper
ed that my Important discovery" was
one of untold wealth and the delin-
uuents came tumbling over each
other in their haste to put themselves
in line to share the prospective divi-
dends Upon the return of Colonel
Russ to Folsom, a meeting Of the
shareholders was called at Patterson's
hotel, and a majority put in an APP
pearance. After the usual routine
business had been transacted and an
account of receipts and expenditures
rendered, : proceeded to furnish a
complete report Of my inspection Of
the mine l told them plainly that
there was not a whit better prospect
of finding gold at the foot of ne shaft
than there was at the top -nf the bluff,
and thar being satisfied of the use
lessness of the work | had ordered
the men to quit forthwith. The shock
Of the announcement was painful TO
behold when something 50 different
had been expected, but | Informed
them that there was money enough on
hand to pay the miners what was due
them as we'll as the modest salary Of
the secretary. and leave sufficient
surplus to order UP wine for the COM
pany SO their spirits revived and
the affairs of the Russ Bluff Mining
company were wound up quite cheer
fully. considering the unpleasant dis
appointment. The question then
arose Of what disposition should be
made Of the shaft. when it was voted
to dig carefully around it, turn the
other end up. and sell it to the gov
eminent for a lighthouse. Thus end
ed my mining experience the prom
ise and fuifillment Of which were so
far apart that they never came In
sight Of each other.
I am reminded however, Of auothe
episode IN connection with the mines.
nora was in the midst of its famous
boom. l went up there. and on my
arrival was the guest at the Miners
hotel for one night / retired early
and about eleven O'Clock was awaken
ed by loud rapping a the front
door. There were two miners in the
adjoining room. and as there was only
a canvas partition between ] could
easily hear all they said and did. One
of them went to the window which
was above the front door and the
other inquired:
What's up
Pedro has come home stabbed"
Shortly afterWard | heard a heavy
fall on the floor below. ] dressed has
tily and went down. and there. strctch-
ed on a cot. Law Pedro. the town
Waterman. with d hole in his back
the size Of a dollar, where the assas-
sins knife had been turned Tounu IN
the wound, taking out the piece of
flesh. They turned him over and in
about five minutes he drew his last
breath. A son of the proprietress Of
the hotel was standing near me. and
said he
That's the fourth man I've seen
die on thar cot in The last three months
and one of them was my father"
Yes 81 said Re that ainSu' is So.
Then said I. what time does the
first stage leave here for somewhere
else?"
"At four o'clock in the morning he
answered.
Then said l. book me for an in
side seat" and | left deeply impressed
with the uncertainty Of life in a. min
ing camp. particularly in Sonora.
In 1857 I was granted a leave Of alb
sence by the railroad company. and
went to my eastern home for my fam
ily-my wife, two daughters and two
sons. They were delighted with the
prospect Of the reunion and the new
home, and accompanied me to Sacra-
mentO, where some o. the happiest
years Of my life have been spent.
1t was during my railroad expert
ence that | made my first appearance
as a public lecturer. Folsom at that
time had the unique reputation of
having more churches than saloons
within its limits. but unfortunately
the churches were all in debt while
the saloons were doing a thriving bust
ness. A new minister had been in
stalled to preside over one of the deat-
burdened churches and he inaugurated
course of lectures in order to reduce
the Indebtedness. Lecturing talent
was not very plentiful in those DAYS
which viii account for my being called
upon. The minister had been success
ful in securing the services of A A.
Sargent. j. Ross Brown. DR.. Briggs
DR.. Peck and a few others more or
less well known as public speakers
At the close of DR.. Peck's lecture.
which was delivered to an audience
that about half filled the house. the
doctor inquired Of the new minister if
this was about the size of the audi
ences- that generally listened to the
lectures. and was told that it was an
average house.
Well" said DR.. Peck. how are ,ou
coming out?"
oh, we are more than paying ex-
penses."
Now" said DR.. Peck. you Just get
Mr.. Bromley to deliver a lecture for
YOU"
DO you think he would" inquired
the minister
you just try him advised the .loc
tor. and the first thing knew there
came a letter from the minister tell
ing me all about the course of lectures
and asking me when it would be con-
venient for me to deliver one Of the
course. My first thought was that
somebody had been guying him. but