davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1916-10-25
MANHATTAN
Morning Sales

White Caps-1000, AZ; 500, AZ.
Afternoon Sales
White Caps-1000, Al.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

We tried her again, and yet again
and then some more, but always with
the same result. Our hands became
puffed and wrinkled with constant i'm.
mersion in the water and began to feel
sore from the continual stirring Of the
rubble.
Something wrong" grunted Johnny
into the abysmal silence in which we
had been carrying on our work.
"We can't expect it every time"
reminded Inn.
"All the others seem to-"
Well, maybe we've struck a blank
place. Let's Try somewhere else" sug.
gested Yank.
Johnny went over to speak to cur
neighbor, who was engaged in tossing
out shovelfuls Of earth from an eXca
walton into which he had nearly dis.
appeared. AT Johnny's hail he straight.
ened his back, so that his head bobbed
out of the hole like a prairie dog.
mo, it doesn't matter where you
dig" he answered Johnny's question.
'The pay dirt is everywhere"
So we moved on a few hundred feet,
picked another unoccupied patch and
resumed our efforts. No greater sue.
cess rewarded us here.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
Chapter ~ Continued

old Plush rants doesn't Intend TO
do any work if he catches sight of it
first" observed Johnny.
probably the other man is d serv-
ant?' 1 suggested.
More likely a sort of DEPENDENT"
amended Johnny. "They run a kind
of patriarchal establishment, I've been
told"
Don't use them big words, Johnny"
, complained Yank, coming up with the
horses.
Il meant they make the poor rela-
tons and kid brothers do the h%ustling,"
said Johnny.
"Now l understand YOU" said Yank.
II wish l could see what they do with
their bosses nights. ! bet they know
how. And if l was a boss thief I'd
surely take a long chance for that
chestnut gelding."
You might wander over later and
FIND out" l suggested.
And get my system full of lead
sure" said Yank.
The two camps did not exchange
visits. We caught the flicker of their
little fire, but We We're really too tired
to be curious, and we turned in early,
our two animals tied fast to small
trees at our feet.
The next day lifted us into the
mountains. Big green peaks, across
which hung a blush haze, showed
themselves between the hills. The lat
ter were more precipitous, and the
brush had now given way to pines Of
better size and quality than those seer
lower down.,
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
.::tiner.s law" he replied.


We almost Immediately got trace of
our straycd animals, as a number OF
men had seen them going upstream.
In fact, we had no difficulty whatever
in finding them. for they had simply
followed up the rough stream bed be-
tween the canyon walls until it had
opened UP to Il gcntlcr slope and a
hanging garden Of grass and flowers.
Here they had turned aside and were
feeding. We caught them and were
just heading them back when Yank
stopped short.
"What's the matter with this hcre?"
he inquired. Here's feed and water
near, and it amt so very far back to
the diggings."
We looked about us for the first
time with seeing eyes. The little up
sloping meadow was blue and dull red
with flowers, below us the stream
brawled foam tlecked among black
rocks, the high hills rose up to meet
the Sky. and at our backs across the
way the pines stood thick scrried.
Far up i'll the blue heavens some birds
We're clrcling slowly. Somehow the
leisurely swing of these unhasting birds
struck from us the feverish hurry that
had lately filled III souls. We drew
deep Drcaths, and for the first time
the great peace and majesty of these
California mountains cooled our spirits.
II think it's IL bully place. Yank,"
said Johnny sobcrly, land that little
bench up above is looks flat"
We clambercd across the slant of the
flower spangled meadow to the bench,
just within the fringe Of tho pines. 1t
proved to be flat, and from the edge
Of it down the hill sccped a little spring
marked by the feathcry bracken. We
entered Il cool green place, peoplcd
with shadows and the rare. considered
notes of soft voiced birds. Just over
our threshold, as it were. was the sun
lit, chirpy. buzzing. bright colorcd busy
world. Overhead a wind Of many
voices hummed through the pine tops.
The golden sunlight flooded the noun
tains opposite, flashed from the stream,
lay l%anguorous on the meadow. Long
bars Of it slanted through an unguess-
cd gap in the hills behind us to touch
with magic the very tops of the trees
over our heads. The sheen Of the pre-
cious metal wa V e the land.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

81 belie!2 OF we ought to 90
deeper" surmised Yank.
Some of these fellows are taking
their dirt right off top of the ground,'
objected Johnny.
However, we numbered the pickaX
and went deeper, to the extent of two
feet or more. 1t was good hard work.
especially as we We're all soft for it.
The sun poured down Oh our backs
with burning intensity, III hands bis
tered, and the round rocks and half
cemented rubblc that made the bar
were not the easiest things in the
world to remove. However, we kept
at it. Iank and l, having in times
past been more or less accustomed to
this sort of thing, got off much easier
than did poor Johnny. About two feet
down we came to a mixed coarse sand
and stones, a little finer than the ton
dirt. This seemed to US promising, so
we resumed our washing operations.
They bore the same results as had the
first. which was just the whole Of
nothing.
We've got to hit it somewhere"
said Johnny between his teeth. Lets
try another place"
We scrambled rather YEARLY, but
with Il logged determination, out Of
our shallow hole. Our blue eyed. long
bearded friend was sitting on a con-
venient bowlder near at hand, his pipe
between his teeth. Watching our op-
erations.
Got any tobacco, boys?" he inquired
genially. Smoked my last until to-
night unless you'll lend"
Yank produced a plug, from which
the stranger shaved some parings.
"Struck the dirt" he inquired. mo;
l see you haven't" lie stretched him
self and arose. you aren't washing
this stuff!' he cried in amazement as
his eye took in fully what we were
about.
Then we learned what we might
have known before-but how should
we?-that the gold was not to be found
in any and every sort of loose earth
that might happen to be lying about,
but only in either a sort of blue clay
or a pulverized granite. Sometimes
this "pay dirt" would be found atop
the ground. Again, the miner had to
dig for it.
"All the surface diggings are taken
up our friend told us, 80 now you
have to dig deep. It's about four feet
down where I'm working. It'll prob
ably be deeper up here. You'd better
move back where you We're"
Iank stretched himself upright.
Look here" he said decidedly, let's
get a little sense into ourselves. Here's
our pore old bosses standing with their
packs on and we no place to stay
and no dinner, and were scratchin'
away at this bar like n lot of fool hens.
There's other days comm"
Johnny and l agreed with the COM
mon sense of the thing. but reluctant
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
SYNOPSIS

Talbot Wards challenge to Frank Mum
roe to a personal encounter to determine
whether A1unroe is tit to make a trip to
California in search Of goli! is accepted.
Munroe gets a hammerlock on Ward and
wins the bout.
They choose the Panama route. Ward.
1t develops, is an Old cam%paigner. On
board ship they meet Johnny Fairfax and
Iank Rogers. The four become partners.
Arriving at Chagres. Talbot Wards
knowledge of Spanish and his firm treat
ment of the native boatmen help wonder
fully. h party enters i tropical forest.
They reach Gatun, and, after passing
through several villages where Ward al
ways automatically handles the natives.
they arrive in Panama.
Ward forces steamship agent to refund
passage money! because ship isn't ayaila-
BILE.
1anN mas prnNIueI Recommendations tor
all on board a sailing slip. They arrive
in San Francisco.
Ward puts it up to each man to get
500 in one day. Munroe makes S25 as a
laborer. Johnny CANDLES and gets $3.50.
Ward astounds the party bv term.
now. by shrewd business deals in one day
In the Golden City, he accumulated sew.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

engaged and with our own eyes saw
lie guaranteed gold, such as rings and
watches and money are made of, a
growing excitement possessed us-the
excitement Of a small boy with a new
and untried gun. We wanted to get
at it ourselves. Only we did not know
how.
Finally Yank approached one Of the
busy miners.
stranger" said he, "we're new to
this. Maybe you can tell us where we
a dig a little Of this gold ourselves"
The mar Strengthened his back to ex-
hibit a rowing humorous blue eye, with
which he examined Yank from top to
toe.
"1f," said he, at wasn't for that
eighteen foot cannon you carry over
your left arm and a cold gray pair of
eyes YOU carry in your head I'd direct
you up the sidehill yonder and watch
you sweat. AS it is, you can work
anywhere anybody else isn't working.
Start in"
Can we dig right neXt to you,
them? asked Yank, nodding at an IN
broken piece OF ground just upstream.
The miner clambered carefully out
of his waist deep trench, searched his
pockets, produced u pipe and tobacco.
After lighting this he made Yank a
low bow.
Thanks for the compliment; but, 1
warn you, this claim Of mine is not
very rich. I'm thinking Of trying
somewhere else
Don't you get any gold?"
ooh, q few unc a day"
"That suits me for a beginning" said
4ank decidedly. Come on, boys"
The miner hoped back into his hole,
only to stick his head out again for
the purpose of telling us:
Mind you keep fifteen feet away!!'
With eager hands we slipped a pick
and shoyels from beneath the pack
ropes, undid our iron bucket and with
out further delay commenced feverish-
ly to dig.
Johnny held the pail, while Yank
and I We'd with each other in being
the first to get our shovelfuls into that
receptacle. AS q consequence We near
ly swamped the pail first off and had
to Donr some Of the earth out again.
Then we all three ran down to the
river and took turns stirring that mud
pie beneath the gently flowing waters
in the manner of the pot panners"
we had first watched. After a good
deal of trouble we found ourselves pos
sessed of a thick layer of rocks and
coarse pebbles.
"We forgot to screen it," l pointed
out.
1--WE haven't any SCREEN" said
Johnny.
Lets pick 'em out by hand" sug-
gested Yank.
We did so. The process emptied the
pail. Each of us insisted on eXamin-
ing closely, but one of us succeeded
in creating out of our desires any of
that a}luring black sand.
Il suppose VIC can't expect to get
color every time," observed Johnny
disappointedly. Lets try her again."
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

Don Gaspar, still in his embroidered
boots, his crimson velvet breeches, his
white linen and his sombrero, but
without the blue and silver jacket, was
buslly welding Il pickax a hundred
feet or so away. His companion, or
servant was doing the heavier shoyel
work.
WHY, oh. Why" breathcd Johnny at
last, u you suppose, if he must mine,
he doesn't buy himself a suit Of dun
sarccs or a flannel shirt"
III bet it's the first hard work he
ever did in his life" surmised Yank.
"And I'll bet he won't do that very
long" 1 guessed.
But Don Gaspar seemed to have
more sticking power than we gave him
credit for. We did not pay him much
further attention.. for we were busy
with our w affairs, but every time
we glanced in his direction he appear
ed to be still at it. Our sack of sand
was growing heavier, as, indeed, were
u limbs. AS Il matter of fact we
a been at harder work than any of
us had been accustomed to for very
long hours, beneath a scorching sun,
without food and under strong excite
ment. We did not know when to quit,
but the sun at last decided it for us by
dipping below the mountains to the
/ west.
The following days were rcplicas of
! tho tiTSf w, nf~ 1,;~1l, ~ IL
times; we worked feverislly; we sank
into our tumbled blankets at night too
tired to Wigglc. But the buckskin sack
of gold was swelling and rounding out
most satisfactorily. BY the end of the
week it contained ove Il pound.
But the long hours, the excitement
and the Inadequate food told on our
nerves. We snapped at each OIL II
lmpatiently at times and once or twY e
came near to open quarreling. Johnny
ana were constantly pecking at each
other over the most trivial concerns.
One morning We were halfway to
the bar when we remembered that we
had neglected to picket put the horses.
1t was necessary for one Of US to go
back. and VIC We're all reluctant to
do so.
III be - If I'm going to lug way
up that hill" l growlcd to myself. II
tied them up yesterday, anyway"
Johnny caught this.
well, it wasn't your turn yester-
day he pointed out, land it is today.
I've got n"tlin" to do with what you
chose to do yesterday"
Oh any other day." | muttered.
whats that" cried Johnny trucu-
lently. 81 couldn't hear. speak up!'
We were flushed and cying each 9TH
ar m~alevolentlr.
"Thatll do" said Yank. With an UNI
expected tone of authority. Nobody
will go back and nobody will go ahead.
Well just sit cuWn on this log we're
while we smoke one pipe apiece. I've
got something to say"
Johnny an'l | turned on him with d
certain beili%"rcnry mingled with sur
prise. Iani had so habirually acted
the part of taciturmity that his decided
air of authority confused us. His
SLOUGH had Strengthened; his head was
up; his mild eye sparkled. Suddenly I
felt like a bad small boy, and l believe
Johnny was the same. After a mo
ments hesitation we sat down on the
log.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER XII.
The Gold Trail.

wv YE came upon the diggings
NA/ quite suddenly. The trail
wv ran around the corner of a
hill. and there they were
below US! In the wide, dry stream
q bottom perhaps fifty men were work
ing busily, like a lot Of ants. Some
were picking away at the surface of
the ground; others had dug themselves
down waist deep and stopped and rose
like legless bodies. Others had dis
. appeared below ground and showed
occasionally only as shovel blades.
From SO far above the e was very
lively and animated. for each was
working IKE Il beaver. and the red
shirts made ga.r' little spots OF color.
On the hillside chung Il few white tents
and log cabins, but the main town it.
self we later discovered. as well as
the larger diggings. lay around the
bend and upstream.
We looked all about us for some
path leading down to the river, but
could find none. SO perforce we had
to continue on along the trail. Thus
we entered the camp OF Hangman's
Gulch, for if it had been otherwise
I am sure we would have located
promptly where we had seen those
red shirted men.
We wandered about here and there,
looking with all our eyes. The miners
were very busy and silent, but quite
friendly, and allowed us to examine
as much as we pleased the results Of
their operations. In the pots and era
dies the yellow flake gold glittered
plainly, contrasting with the black
sand. In the pans, however, the resi-
due spread out fan shaped along the
angle between the bottom and the side,
and at the apex the gold lay heavy
and beautiful all by itself. The men
were generally bearded, tanned with
working in this binding SUI and plas-
tered literally with the red earth. We
saw some queer sights. however, as
when we anne across a jolly pair
dressed in what We're the remains of
ultra fashionable garments up to and
including plug hats. At II side, work
ing some distance from the stream,
We're small groups Of native Califor-
mans or MeXicans. They did not trou-
bic to carry the earth all the way to
the river, but, after screening it rough
ly, tossed it into the air above n can
vas, thus winnowing out the heavier
pay dirt. l thought this must be very
disagreeable.
AS we wandered about here and
there among all these men SO busily
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
We Actually Planned Our First Gold!

". Now that VIC knew how. our en-
thusiasm surged up again. We want
ed to get at it. The strangers eyes
tWinkled sympathetically.
Here, boys" said he, 81 know Just
how you feel. Come with me-"
He snatched up our bucket and
strobe back to his own claim, where
he filled the receptacle with some of
the earth he had thrown out.
eco pan that" he advised us kindly.
We raced to the water and once
more stirred about the heavy contents
OF the pail until they had foated off
with the water. In the bottom lay a
fine black residue, and in that residue
glittered the tiny yellow particles. We
had actually PANIED our first gold!
Our friend examined it critically.
That's about a. twelve cent PAN"
he adjudged it.
Somehow in q vague way we had
~unreasonably expected millions at a
twist of the wrist, and the words,
80 cents" had a rankly penurious
sound to us. However, the miner pa
tiently explained that a twelve cent
pan was a very good one, and indubi-
tably it was real gold.
Yank, being older and less excitable,
had not accompanied us to the water
side.
well, boys he drawled, chat u
cents is highly satisfactory, Of course,
but in the meantime we've lost about
5000 worth Of boss and grub"
Surely enough. u animals had tired
Of waiting for us and had moved out
packs and all. We hastily shouldered
our implements.
Don't you want to keep this claim
next me!" inquired our acquaintance.
We stopped.
Surely" | replied. But how do
we do it?'
Just leave your pick and shovel in
the hole"
won't some one steal them?'
mo"
whats to ]prevent?" / asked n little
scientifically.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

"Now," said Yank firmly. Its about
time we took stock. We been here
now five days. We amt had a decent
meal of vittles in that time. We amt
fixed up our camp Il mite. We amt
been to town to see the sights. We
don't e know the looks of the man
that's camped down below us. We've
been too DANCED busy to be decent.
Now were goin' to call a halt. +
should jedgc we have IL pound of gold
or t~harabouts. How much is that
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

worth. Johnny? You can fggcr in yore
head"
".Alons about $50" said Johnny aft
er Il moment.
well, keep on tiggerin. How mnch
does that come to apiece"
"-\h"ut $50. of course"
".Ald dividin' eighty by fve?" per-
sisted Yank.
sixteen"
well" drawled YaEk, his steely blue
eye softening to a twinkle, SIG a day
is fair wages, to be sure, but nothin'
to get wildly excited over" He sur
veyed the two Of us with some humor.
Hadn't thought of it that way, had
you"' he asked. "Nuther had l until
last night. 1 was so dog tired I
couldn't sleep, and l got to figgerin> u
little on my w hook
'Why, 1 can do better than that in
San Francisco, with half the work." I
cried.
Maybe for awhile" said Yank, but
here We got a chance to make q big
strike most any time and in the mean
time to make good wages. But we
amt goin' to do it any quicker by kill
in ourselves. Now, today is Sunday.
l amt 10 religious man, but Sunday
is u good day to quit. I propose we
go back to camp peaceable, make a
decent place to stay, cook ourselves up
a squar' meal, wash out our clothes,
visit the next camp, take a look at
town and enjoy ourselves"
CONTINUED Next Week.)
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER XIII.
The First Gold.

V W YE arose before daylight, pick
NX/ eted our horses, left u
wv dishes unwashed and hur-
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-10-12

CONTINUED Next Week.)
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17
.sOURCEsOF INCOME
Secretary Of State Makes Re-
port for Two Year Period.
INCOME IS NEARLY DOUBLED
Large Number of Automobiles In Iowa
Helps To Swell States Income
Which Has Been More Than
Doubled In Two Years.

Des Moines.--W. S. Allen, secretary
OF state, received s3,420,470.0S in fees
in the various divisions of his office
during the biennial period which end
ed July /, 1916, according to the report
he is now preparing for the general
assembly. This is more than double
the amount taken in during the prev
ious two years period.
The collection of the secretary OF
states office from July 1, 1912, to July
!, 1914, were $1.070,552.50.
The increase in number of automo-
biles in Iowa is responsible for the in
crease in revenue to the secretary of
states office, in part The automobile
revenue, however, does not go to the
support of the state government, but
is returned to the counties for use on
the roads.
OF $3,420,470.0S taken In by this Of
fee in the last two years, s3,127 ,069.32
received as auto registration fees, was
returned to the counties, less the cost
OF operation of the auto registration
department and the highway commits
sion.
Mr.. Aliens report gives the follow
ing sources of income during the BIZ
ennial period: Filing articles of in
corporation, $141,966.39; filing amend
ments, $29,495.S5; certificates. s1,469.-
co.; copies, s1,0S7.25; land Office fees,
$2S,656.77; oil inspection fees, s67,S34,-
A; trade marks, $144; rendition war
rants, $116; commissioner of deeds in
other states, $35; sale Of laws, $4,3S2.-
80; corporation reports. $4,000; mis-
cellaneous, $40; blue sky law, ST.
345.S3; motor vehicles, $S,127, 069.32.
During the last period the duty OF
collecting, oil inspection fees was TAX
en- from the secretary of state. The
oil inspector now collects and reports
the fees direct to the legislature.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17
PRAISE FOR IOWA SOLDIERS
Letter To AdIutant General Of United
States Claims Iowans To Be Best
Troops On the Border.

Brownsville, Tex.-Major q. c. John
son, commander Of the First battalion.
First Iowa infantry, is the proudest
man in the Iowa bridgade.
He has received letter from L. F.
Smith, travelling passenger agent OF
the st. Louis and Southwestern Rail-
road. in which was enclosed copy OF
letter sent to the adjutant general
Of the United States by Smith.
Mr.. Smith told the adjutant general
that out Of the many troop trains he
had accompanied since mobilization on
the border began, the First battalion
of the First Iowa was the best outfit
by far"
He told the adiutant general that
the First battalion was the most ORDER
ly, most obedient SET of soldiers he
had travelled with, that they were the
most gentlemanly and the cleanest.
Mr. Smith further said that the DIFF
ference between the Iowa troops ana
those OF other states was so marked
that he thought he would not be doing
his duty II he failed to acquaint the
proper authorities with the facts.
All of which Is additional evidence
that Iowa has the best troops on the
border.
Witness General Parker's declara-
ton following the big infantry review
at Fort Brown.
He did not stop at declaring the
Iowa troops the best on the field.
He declared them the best he had
seen since 1898 when the militia of
the country was modified and train
ed for work on the Spaniards.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17
Child Is Cholera Victim.

Fort Dodge.-The first fatality in
the fifty cases Of cholera infantvm
was reported in the death of the little
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. c. Emerson.
The child had been sick but few
days. Physicians are urging greater
care in the feeding of children during
the hot weather. Improper diet is
given as the cause of this complaint.
Peaches and cream" has been the
cause of many of the cases.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17
coIIeae instructor Promoted.

Ames.-L s. Gillette, who has been
in the animal husbandry faculty staff
of Iowa State college for two years,
has been put in charge of the work of
Associate Professor Kildee of dairy
husbandry by the state board of edu-
cation. 9k
Gillette takes big job on the
faculty.
He has made good in his short time
there. Professor Kildee, widely known
as an animal husbandryman, resigned
to take professorship at the Uni
yersity of Minnesota.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17
Ralse For Cement worksr..

Fort Dodge.-A threatened strike OF
500 cement mill workers was averted
when the mill operators conceded the
requests of the workers for five cent
an hour raise and recognition of their
union. This means that the lowest
paid worker in the mill will get thirty
cents an hour for ten hours or three
dollars day for unskilled labor, time
and half for overtime, holidays and
Sundays for those who work six daCs
a week.