Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-08-02
Copyright. 1918, BY Doubleday, Page : CO.

0S00sONoJe Vs0O - W.
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Filled with the wine of this new ex-
citement, we finally succeeded in get
ting ashore in one Of the ships boats.
We landed on q fiat beach Of deep
black sand. It was strewn from one
end to the other by the most extraor-
binary wreckage. There were levers,
cogwheels, cranks, fans, twisted bar
and JINGLE iron in all stages of rust and
disintegration. Some of these machines
were half buried in the sand. Others
were tidily laid up on stones as though
Just landed They were Of copper.
iron, zinc, brass, tin, wood. We rec
ognized the genus at a glance. They
were, one and all, patent labor saving
gold washing machines, Of which we
had seen SO many samples aboard ship.
At this sight vanished the last remains
Of the envy had ever felt for the
owners Of similar contraptions.
We looked about for some sort Of
conveyance into which to dump our
belongings. Apparently none existed.
Therefore we piled most Of our effects
neatly above high tide, shouldered our
bundles and started of up the single
street.
The street was, think, the worst
have ever seen anywhere. It was a
morass Of mud-sticky, greasy mud
Of some consistency, but full Of water
holes and rivulets. It looked ten feet
deep, and should certainly have ven
tured out on It with misgivings. And
yet, anonymously enough. the surface
ridges Of it had dried and were lifting
into the air in the form Of dust. This
was of course my first experience with
that common California phenomenon,
and I was greatly astonished.
An attempt had been made to supply
footing for pedestrians Bags Of sand
had been thrown down, some rocks, a
very few boxes and boards. Then our
feet struck something soft and yield
ing, and we found we were walking
over hundred pound sacks Of -four
marked as from Chile. There must
have been many hundred Of them. A
man going in the opposite direction
sidled past us.
cheaper than lumber" said he brief
", seeing our establishment
"Td hate to ask the price Of lumber"
remarked one of our ships compan-
ions, with whom and a number of 9TH
ers we were penetrating the town.
We walked on -four for a hundred
feet or so and then came to cook
stoves. I mean It. A battalion Of
heavy iron cook stoves had been laid
side by side to form causeway.
Their weight combined with the traf-
&c over them had gradually pressed
them down into the mud until their
tops were nearly level with the sur.
face. Naturally the frst merry and
drunken Joker had shied the lids into
space. The pedestrians had now ell
Their to step In and out Of fire boxes or
try his skill on narrow lodges. Next
we came to a double row Of boxes Of
tobacco, then to some baled goods and
so OF on to solid ground.
When we had gained the dry ground
near the head Of the street we threw
down our burdens for rest
"I'll give you $40 for those pineap-
PIES" offered a passerby. stopping
short
Our companion quickly closed the
bargain.
"What do you think Of that" he de-
manded Of us wide eyed and In the
hearing Of the purchaser.
The latter grinned little and hailed
q man across the street,
"Charley." he yelled, "come over
herer'
The individual addressed offered
some demur. but finally picked his
way across to US.
How do you like these7" demanded
the pineapple purchaser. showing his
fruit.
"Jerusalem!" cried Charley admir-
ingly. ''Where did you get them?
Want to sell 'em?"
II want some myself, but III sell
you three Of them"
"How muchT'
Fifteen dollars"
"Give 'em to me-"
The first purchaser grhned openly
at our companion.
The latter followed into the nearest
store to get his share Of the dust
weighed out His face wore a very
thoughtful expression.
We came shortly to the Plaza, since
called Portsmouth square. At that
time It was wind swept grass grown,
scrubby enough plot Of ground. On
all sides were permanent buildings.
The most important Of these were
low picturesque house Of the sun dried
bricks known as adobes. in which, as
It proved. the customs were levied;
frame two story structure known as
the Parker House and similar build
ing labeled "City Hotel" The spaces
between these larger edifices We're &C.
cupied by dozen or SO Of smaller
shacks. Next door to the Parker House
stood huge tapping tent The words
Ell Dorado were painted on its side.
The square itself was crowded with
people moving to and fro. The solid
majority Of the crowd consisted Of
red or blue shirted miners, but great.
many nations and frames Of minds
seemed to be represented.
We saw the widest incongruities OF