Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

man GuIcn, except LudL
they were rather more extensive and
branched out more into the tributary
ravines. The men working there were,
many Of them, of much better type
than those we had seen in town,
though even here was large element
of rough looking, wild, reckless Gus
toners. We wandered about here and
there, our hands in our pockets, vast
leisure filling our souls. With some Of
the more pleasant appearing miners
we conversed. They told US that the
diggings were rich, good "Ounce a
day" diggings. We saw a good many
cradles in use. It was easy to tell the
old timers from the riffraff of newcOm-
ers. A great many Of the latter seemed
to lack the steadiness of purpose .char-
acteristic of nearly all the first rush.
They worked haphazardly. spasmod-
ically, pulling and hauling against each
other Some should not have been
working at all. for their eyes were
sunken in their heads from illness.
We've got to hustle now" they told
us. I'VE can take a good rest when
the rains stop work.
We noticed especially a marked
change in demeanor among some of
the groups. In the early part of the
summer every man answered every
man good naturally, except be hap
pened to have next days head or
some other sort of a personal crouch.
Now many compact little groups of
men worked quite apart. When adj
dressed they merely scoWled or looked
sullen, evidently quite unwilling to fra
ternize with the chance conner.
We sauntered along peering into the
various buildings. The saloons were
here more elaborate than at Hang
mans, the gambling places larger and
with some slight attempt at San Fran
cisco splendor-that is to say, there
were large gilt framed mirrors on the
walls, nude pictures and in some cases
a stage for musical performers. One
of the three stores was devoted entire
ly to clothing and motions" to US a
new departure in specialization. We
were sadly in need of garments, so we
entered and were at once met by a
very oily, suave specimen of the chosen
people, When we had escaped from
this robbers den we looked at each
other in humorous dismay.
"Glad Yank don't need clothes, any
, way" said Johnny.
We were, it will be remembered, out
of provisions, so we entered also one
Of the general stores to lay in a small
supply. The proprietor proved to be
an old friend, Jones, the storekeeper
at Hangman's.
(which said Johnny shreWdly, sis
a sad commentary on the decline of
the diggings at Hangman's."
Jones was evidently prosperous and
doing business on q much larger scale
than at the old place, for in his COM
modious building were quantities of
goods displayed and many barrels and
boxes still unopened. He did not rec
ogniZe us, of course, and we had to
await the completion Of a tale he was
telling a group perched on the counters
and on the boxes.
We turned into the entrance of the
hotel, to find ourselves in the well re-
membered long, low room wherein we
had spent the evening few months
before. 1t was now furnished with a
bar, the fiimsy partitions had been
knocked out, and evidently additions
had been constructed beyond the vari-
Gus closed doors.
The man behind the bar looked
vaguely familiar to me, but l could not
place him.
"Where's the proprietor of this
place." l asked him.
He indicated a short, blowsy, trucu-
lent looking individual who was at the
moment staring out the window.
'There used to be an Italian l be-
gan.
The barkeeper uttered a short bark
ing laugh as he turned to attend to
customer.
''He found the climate bad for his
heart and sold out said he.
On the wall opposite was posted a
number of printed and written hand
bills. We stopped idly to examine
CuCI 1uCy udu Ill SCuCldl " uO WILL
lost property stolen horses and re-
wards for the apprehension of various
individuals. One struck us in partic-
ular. 1t was issued by citizens COM
mittee of San Francisco and announced
a general reward for the capture of
any member of the "Hounds.''
"Looks as if they'd got tired of that
gang down there" Johnny observed.
'They were ruling the roost when we
left. Do you know, saw one Of those
fellows this afternoon-perhaps you
remember him-a man with a queer
sort of blue scar over one cheekbone.
l swear / saw him in San Francisco,
There's our chance to make some mon
ey, jim"
The proprietor Of the hotel turned t0
look at Johnny curiously, and several
of the loafers drinking at the bal
glanced in the direction of his clear
young voice We went on reading and
of rr-hiaE