Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-04-07

q err envied the fellow
who was then collect
ing a pretty good share of everything
that was being cleaned up on the Big
Divide.
You guessed his name the first time.
It was Black Bart Me held up? Yes,
once, and that was when he was haV-
ing things pretty much his own way
up here. In fact, he had kind OF
monopoly in sticking up folks on these
higher trailS.
Forest Hill was a camp then, ali
right. Everybody coming in and no.
body going out. Everybody getting a
little gold, a dozen games ready TO
take it away from them, and dance
halls a-plenty. Snow on the ground OF
course, but not very cold.
It wasn't because I wanted to get
away from Forest Hill that l went
down to Auburn. I would rather nave
stayed here; but had to go to meet
the owner of the Fan Tan, of which
was superintendent that year 1t was
such an unusual thing for me to leave
the camp, something I hadn't done In
q wear, that it actually attracted some
attention. I we'll recall how Bill Pape
spoke about it on the day before l.
started.
"You a-goin' to Auburn" he said.
.'eWhy, I never heard Of such doin's!
You amt been down there since you
landed on the divide. Stay at home,
IF a trim q
O. thousand-mile one and dangerous all
the way. Then as an afterthought he
added: eff I'd known you was go1n' l
wouldn't have sent that hundred
ounces out by the express folks. L
could trust you to bank 'em for me
end I amt sure I can depend on any
of these big companies
can see him yet as he squatted
down on the snow, poked his arms
through the shoulder-straps OF his
mack. gave it a final lurch to settle 1t
into place and then went swinging
away toward the woods shaking his
head and waving "Good-by'' to me.
Poor chap! He had reason to fear
Companies. Less than two months be-
LOTS one vi GLSll1 LLcLu JCi1pON $500
claim, the Golden Annie, on techn1-
cality, thrown him off because they
had money to hire little army OF
men, and then carried 1t to the courts.
The law was just then being recog-
niZed as a means of settling disputes
In this part of California, but the low
ar court gave a decision against him.
Naturally, Bill was a little bitter and
80 were the boys. They offered to
help him get his claim back by the
use of a few rifles, but he stuck to the
law and appealed the case
Bill was a homely sort, long and
4ean but unafraid. He never had ia
zen water before that time, so all the
bows pitied him and were surprised.
The only thing he ever complained OF
was that the men who grabbed the
Golden Annie kept right on mining 1t
while it was in litigation. He certain
V did talk some about that and SO did
all of us. It wasn't a square play.
The grounds a pretty safe place to
Keep gold when it's in dispute.
However, about this trip and the
4old-up!
got up pretty early on the morn
ne I was to go. Had to because the
stage left before sunup. 1t was be-
Fore the camp was awake, or the
Eance-halls swept out. Away out in
he west the air looked muggy and
sold. while IT the east, high up over
8aldy, the stars that had been up all
Night were just going to bed. In all
he little clearing where the snow was
tracked with trails there wasn't sign
IF any one moving Even the trees
hat stood around the edge, loaded
with snow above and black beneath,
were quiet as If still asleep.
Yawning and shivering, I hiked it
Yown to the stage-station just as she
pulled up. Jim Upton was on the box
and had about all he could do to hold
In the four horses that were dancing
around on their hind legs and trying
TO throw themselves out of the har-
ness. A stableman was hanging to
the leaders heads and buck-jumping to
keen away from the sparring hoofs.
4 shotgun messenger that l had
never seen before helped the agent
hoist the stronghold aboard, and by
that I knew there was dust being
shipped out. The agent was new ar
rival in camp, too.
Got much in it?" I asked him, and
he nearly swelled up with his own i'm
Dortance as he answered: ''Oh, not
much. Golden Annie cleanup. That's
all"
thought of poor old Bill being
robbed every day Of his life, and even
at that minute swore wouldn't give a
crss if Black Bart showed up and took
che whole poke
A woman came out with small
shaver of a boy and tiny little girl,
and several bundles such as women
usuaflv carry. Being some polite