Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-08-23

! ABOUT ~ O'Clock we were getting
tired, and probably the reaction from
the "42 caliber whisky" was making
us drowsy. We hunted up Johnny
still at his faro game, but he positive
ly and impatiently declined to accom-.
pany us. He said he was ahead-or
behind, forget which. notice both
conditions have the same effect of
keeping man from quitting. We
therefore left him and wandered home
through the soft night, wherein were
twinkling stars, gentle breezes, little
voices and the silhouettes of great
trees.
Johnny did not return at all that
night, but showed up next morning at
the diggings, looking blear eyed and
sleepy. He told US he had slept with
friend and replied rather CURLY 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
|
got two Of these. The remainder we
again divided into four. I took charge
Of Talbot's 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 enterpris-
ing individual had found our trail fair
~ practicable for wagons and ten
miles shorter than the regular road.
After that many followed, and soon
we had 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 different character.
We were apprised OF its approach by
hunter named Bagsby. He loped
down the trail to the river level very
much in hurry.
"Boys," he shouted, quit work.
Come see what's coming down the
trail!' 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. It differed little from 9th
ers Of its kind, save that the cattle
were in better. shape, and the men
walking alongside, 81 the tail, tompe-
tent backwoodsman type, seemed well
and hearty. But perhaps hundred
yards ahead Of the leading wagon
came horse. the only horse in the
outfit, and on it, riding sidesaddle, was
girl. She was a very pretty Fed
checked girl, and she must have stop
ped within half mile or so Of the
camp in order to get herself up for this
impressive entrance. Her dress was
of blue calico, with white yoke and
heavy aounces or panniers. 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 princess,
and we all cheered her like mad. Not
once did she look at u.s. but could see
her bosom heaving with excitement be-
meath her calico and her nostrils wide.
She was 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-
sions were about exhausted. We had
no desire to replenish our stock from
that of the local storekeeper. Viewer
doing pretty well in the diggings. but
we had also fairly healthy appetites,
and I am convinced that at the prices
that man charged we should have no
more than kept even. Williams. the
storekeeper, was levying double prof
its, one from us and one from the
overland immigrants. Don Gaspar
proposed we send out Vasquez with all
the horses to restock at Suffers Fort.
We We're triie doubtful as to wheth-
er Vasquez would ever come back, but
Don Gaspar seemed to have confidence
in his man. Finally. though a little
doubtfully, we came to the plan. Don
Gaspar sent out also to Mcclellan for
safe keeping his accumulations Of gold
dust, but we did not 60 quite that far.
In view of probable high prices we In
trusted him with eighteen ounces for
the purchase Of goods. i yeHf j.
While he was away we came to an
other decision. 1t had been for some
weeks preparing. The diggings were
becoming overcrowded. Almost every