Year: 1870

most laughsble incident occurred on North


fork last week, which goes to show how easy


sometimes the most cute persons are gulled.


An individual stopping, towards night, at a


cabin on the east side of the creek occupied by


three persons but lately arrived from San Fran


cisco, got into conversation with one of the oc-


cupants "a gentleman we'll advanced in years),


during which he finally succeeded in extracting
from the old gentleman his native State, the
length of time from home (about % or % years.
and sunG-y family matters. At last his name


was readily given, at which the traveller threw


up his hands with apparent great delight and
exclaimed: "Why, is that you, cousin l have
been hunting you for the last ten years. Mother
told me never to come home unless found you
and here you at last" winding up with
prOtestations of love and affection, &c. The lost
and found, being away from home so long and
knowing his relations to be numerous, swallowed
the bait shook the stranger warmly by the hand,
Offering, o. course, everything he had. The
blk now let himself out. He had 800 head Of
cattle, 40,0 900 pounds of bacon and God only
knows how many sheep and hogs, besides cash
capital of 10000; knowing the roads to be in
tested with highwaymen had left all his money
at Douglas City, with some of his friends was
on his way to Humboldt county to buy grazing
land tor his stock wanted his cousin to go with
him, as he Intended to set him up in business.
Come right along now. I'll settle all your
debts at the store" Away they 90 across the
bridge; they meet the owner; introduction :;
blk wants to know if the bridge is strong enough
to cross $500 head of cattle, four four-horse
teams loaded with bacon and lard. Satisfactory
10 n ha


another introduction; cousin wanted his ac-
counts made out as he going with bis
wealthy relative below TO buy some property !;
be back in about two or three weeks. Wealthy
cattle drover asked the stOre-keeper if he wanted
to purchase bacon and lard. Yes, he would.
Sold fifteen thousand pounds of bacon to be
delivered the next day. Blk was very dry, took
Il tumbler of whiskey. little more gas dis
covered his boots in an unbecoming delapidated
state for man of his means must have "a new
pair, pay next day in settling for the bacon
got the boots took another horn full to the
brim more talk in comes the proprietor of
Hydraulic hill introducton followed. The
rich traveller had heard of the gentleman by
reputation wanted to make his acquaintance
long ago understood he had travelled the lower
counties in search of stock range, wanted to
consult him on the subject there comes repe-
tition of the $500 head &c.) The person
addressed, elated at meeting a gentleman
claiming so much stock, drew some of
Uncle Joes best and treated him and in
vited him up to the claim. 1t soon be-
came reported around that the stranger going
up the hill was worth more money than all of
Northfork. On reaching the summit of the first
hill, being fatigued, they sat down to rest. The
gentleman acquainted with the lower country
took pains in describing certain localities, but
observing that the person he was addressing
was paying no attention to what he said was
t,,la ..u.a ttb. olo. ,I.o
stranger was introduced as gentleman from
Virginia. Preliminaries being over they went
to the honse. One of the hands remarked he
believed that the new conner was ''sOn of a
gun, but was disputed by the others because
he rather thought he was a friend of the pro-
prietor. The drover' made proposition to
buy the dog on the place, offered hundred dol
lars, which was accepted Then wishing the
gentleman from his knowledge of Humboldt
county to accompany him to select proper
place for stock range, offered him the follow
ing inducements: To hire man in his place,
pay him big wages besides, furnish mule and
detray all expenses which were readily agreed
to. Mixing cider and whisky is bad, blk there
fore felt the effects of his folly 1t began to tell
on his speech, and his actions showed pretty
plainly to those around him that he was sailing
uuder false cOlors. Suspicion once awakened it
was an easy matter to detect the imposture and
he was forthwith told to al sit up and GIT" By
that time things had changed little 10 town
from the appearance of the Deputy District As
SCISSOR, who knew him in Douglas city, cutting
the same figure there. The aforesaid deputy
cautioned everybody not to trust him. The
store-keeper got alarmed, dnd, in company with
the hill claim-owner, hunted up the rich man
and made him disgorge, informing him that the
best way to save his bacon was to leave town as
soon as possible. When last heard from, at
about half past ten O'Clock that night, he made
his appearance at wood ranch near one mile
from town. Telling the men he had bought out
the store-keeper at Northfork, he tried to nego-
tiate for thirty cords of wood. Was also willing
to furnish the wood merchants with thirty milch
cows if needed. The wood man not being easily
taken in aud not liking the appearance of the
man told him it was time to go to bed and ad-
vsed him 70 do the same. On leaving conf
dence man inquired whether well-known resi-
dent sf that vicinity was at home. He and
so were all miners that night. OBSERVER.