Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-10-26

NMR3ksea 20, !. ~
''Where can we dig a little of this gold
ourselves?"
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 sun and plas-
tered literally with the red earth. We
saw some queer sights, however, as
when we came across a jolly pair
dressed in what were the remains OF
ultra fashionable garments up to and
including plug hats! At one side, work
were small groups Of native CalifOr-
mans or Mexicans. They did not trou-
BILE to carry the earth all the way to
the river, but, after screening it rough
ly, tossed it into the air above a 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 bus1ly
engaged and with our own eyes saw
pan after pan show gold, actual metal
lie guaranteed gold, such as rings and
watches and money are made of, a
growing excitement possessed us-the
h
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
can dig a little Of this gold ourselves
The man Strengthened his back to ex-
hibit rowing humorous blue eye, with
which he examined Yank from top to
toe.
"If," said he, 1T 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,
then?' asked Yank, nodding at an un-
broken piece Of ground just upstream.
The miner clambered carefully out
of his waist deep trench, searched his
pockets, produced pipe and tobacco.
After lighting this he made Yank a
low bow.
Thanks for the compliment; but, l
warn you, this claim Of mine is not
very rich. I'm thinking Of trying
somewhere else"
Don't you get any gold?'
ooh, few ounces a day."
''That suits me for beginning" said
Yank 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 pick
and shovels 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 | We'd with each other in being
the first to get our shovelfulS into that
| receptacle. AS a consequence we near
| ly swamped the pail first off and had
| to pour 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 spot 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.
eve forgot to screen it." I pointed
out.
eve 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 none of us succeeded
in creating out of our desires any of
that alluring black sand
81 suppose we can't expect to get
color every time" observed Johnny
,lisappointedly. "Let's try her again"