The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-05

night, but showed up next morning at
the digginEs, looking blear eyed and
sleepy. He told us he had slept with
a friend and replied rather curtly that
he was "little behind the game"
believe myself that he was cleaned
out, but that was none of our business
Every night we divided the dust into
five parts Don Gaspar and VasG1ez
got two of these. The remainder we
again divided into four. took charge
of Talbots share. We carried the dust
always with us, for the camp was no
longer safe from thieves.
About this time the first Of the over
land wagon trains began to come
through Hangman's Gulch was not
on the direct route, but some enterprls-
ing individual had found our trail fair
ly practicable for wagons and ten
miles shorter than the regular road.
After that many followed, and soon
we had a well cleared road. They
showed plainly the hardships of long
journey, for the majority Of them were
thin, sick looking and discouraged.
Few of them stopped at the dlggings,
although most had come west In hopes
OF gold, but pushed on down to the
pastures OF the Sacramento. They
were about worn out and needed to
recuperate before beginning anything
new. Some were out of provisions and
practically starved. The Yankee store
keeper sold food at terrible rates.
remember that quinine, a drug much
In demand, cost dollar grain! We
used TO look up from our diggings at
the procession of these sad faced, lean
men walking by their emaciated cat
tie and the women peering from the
wagons and be very thankful that we
mad decided against the much touted
overland route.
One day, however, an outfit went
through OF quite u different character.
We were apprlsed of its approach by
hunter named Bagsby. He loped
down the trail to the river level very
much In a hurry.
"Boys," he shouted, "quit workl
Come see what's coming down the
trailT' with which he charged back
again up the hill
His great excitement impressed us,
for Bagsby, like most Of the old time
Rocky mountain men, was not ordinar-
lily what one would call an emotional
individual. Therefore we dropped our
tools and surged up the hill as fast as
we could go. think we suspected
Indians.
A train OF three wagons drawn by
strong oxen was lurching slowly down
the road. II differed little from 9th
ers of its kind, save that the cattle
were In better shape, and the men
walking alongside, of the tall, compe-
tent backwoodsman type, seemed well
and hearty. But perhaps hundred
yards ahead of the leading wagon
came a horse the only horse I'm the
outfit, and on 1t, riding sidesaddle, was
girl. She was n very pretty red
checked girl. and she must have stop
ped within n half mile or so of the
camp In order 90 get herself up for this
impressive entrance. Her dress wdS
of blue calico, with white yoke and
heavy aounces or panncrs. Around
! her neck was black velvet ribbon.
On her head was big leghorn hat
with red roses. She rode through the
town, her head high. like n princess,
and we all cheered her like mad. Not
once did she look at u.s. but could see
her bosom henvlng with excitement be-
meath her calico and her nostrlls wide.
She was Il remarkably pretty girl, and
this WAS certainly the moment OF her
triumph.
| About this time we had to come to
some sort OF decision, for our provi
slons were about exhausted. We had
no desire to replenish our stock from
that OF the local stOrekeeper. We were
doing pretty well in the dlggings, but
we had also fairly healthy appetites
and l am convinced that ut the prices
that man charged we should have nj
more than kept even. Williams, the
storekeeper, was levying double prof
It's, one from us and one from the
overland immigrants. Don Gaspal
proposed we send out Vasquez with al
the horses to restock at suffers Fort
We were trine doubtful as to wheth
or Vasquez would ever come back, bu
, DOH nuSuuT Sttiutti W HuNc NOllutht'
In his man. Finally, though llttl,
doubtfully, we came to the plan. Doi
Gaspar sent out also to Mcclellan 70
safe keeping his accumulations of golC
dust, but we did not go quite that far
In view OF probable high prices we in
trusted him with eighteen ounces 70
the purchase of goods
. While he was away we came to an
other decision. II had been for som
. weeks preparing. The dggings wer
Q becoming oyercrowded. Almost ever
loot of the bar was occupied, and NOR
!, men were coming in every day. n
/, longer could the newcomer be sure o
/ his color the afternoon of his arrlya
but was forced TO prospect here an
+ there up aud down the river until h
k found patch of the pay dirt Mos
r trusted simply to luck, but some ha
c systems on which they worked hay
J. seen dlvinlng rods used. The believer
: IN chance seemed to do NJ well "a un