An Impressive Yield
GoldenEyeNumismatics
Posts: 13,187 ✭✭✭
<<
Denver City, Pike's Peak
Jefferson Territory, March 7, 1860
... When the theatrical troupe visited the mountain towns, during the past winter, on a "starring" expedition, miners which had not the necessary two dollars--the price of admittance--took their pick and pan and went out and dug the amount; so I, beholding the dilapidated condition of my beaver [cap], which had done me good service in sunshine and shower, heat and cold, for the previous twelve months, but now absolutely demanding repose, began contriving how to obtain another. After looking over my dues, and other property, in these tight times, equally unavailable, I hit upon the idea and immediately put in execution. Providing myself with a pan, whisk broom and a turkey's wing, I rushed, not for the mines, but to the ticket office of the Apollo Theatre, which had been unused for a number of weeks, and there commenced prospecting. Upon the floor were scattered scraps of paper, tickets, checks, cigar stumps, tobacco cuds, dirt and [gold] dust. With the wing I gathered together these contrarieties, "even as a hen gathereth her brood" &c., tunneled the cracks with the broom, and in the pan placed the compound. I then commenced analysis. First that appeared on the surfaces, after a vigorous shaking, was the paper scraps, tickets, checks and a little delicately folded note, which read thus:
" Dearest Willie: My husband started for the Park yesterday, and, if agreeable, please call around at ten o'clock this evening. Yours anxiously, Nelly. P. S.--Knock at the back door three times. N."
Next came the cigar stumps and tobacco chews. Removing them, I began to shake carefully and examined more attentively. Now a pair of sleeve buttons "turned up"--pure metal. Elated with my success, I continued shaking and removing dirt, till soon the auriferous "color" began to exhibit itself to the extent I could no longer refrain from exclaiming, in Pike's Peak parlance, "a right smart prospect." I then introduced a little water and began rocking, and each moment the "color" became more and more distinct, and the "prospect" still more flattering, until the fabulous accounts of gold on Cherry Creek last spring were, in comparison, of minor significance. After all substance foreign to the object of my anxious quest was duly dismissed, I found, on submitting it to the test of the scales, a clean yield of $13.56 which is the largest pay to the single pan I have heard of.
Let me add, I soon found my cranium mounted by a respectable beaver [cap], and "Richard is himself again." ...
>>
Libeus Barney, in a letter to the Eastern States.
Denver City, Pike's Peak
Jefferson Territory, March 7, 1860
... When the theatrical troupe visited the mountain towns, during the past winter, on a "starring" expedition, miners which had not the necessary two dollars--the price of admittance--took their pick and pan and went out and dug the amount; so I, beholding the dilapidated condition of my beaver [cap], which had done me good service in sunshine and shower, heat and cold, for the previous twelve months, but now absolutely demanding repose, began contriving how to obtain another. After looking over my dues, and other property, in these tight times, equally unavailable, I hit upon the idea and immediately put in execution. Providing myself with a pan, whisk broom and a turkey's wing, I rushed, not for the mines, but to the ticket office of the Apollo Theatre, which had been unused for a number of weeks, and there commenced prospecting. Upon the floor were scattered scraps of paper, tickets, checks, cigar stumps, tobacco cuds, dirt and [gold] dust. With the wing I gathered together these contrarieties, "even as a hen gathereth her brood" &c., tunneled the cracks with the broom, and in the pan placed the compound. I then commenced analysis. First that appeared on the surfaces, after a vigorous shaking, was the paper scraps, tickets, checks and a little delicately folded note, which read thus:
" Dearest Willie: My husband started for the Park yesterday, and, if agreeable, please call around at ten o'clock this evening. Yours anxiously, Nelly. P. S.--Knock at the back door three times. N."
Next came the cigar stumps and tobacco chews. Removing them, I began to shake carefully and examined more attentively. Now a pair of sleeve buttons "turned up"--pure metal. Elated with my success, I continued shaking and removing dirt, till soon the auriferous "color" began to exhibit itself to the extent I could no longer refrain from exclaiming, in Pike's Peak parlance, "a right smart prospect." I then introduced a little water and began rocking, and each moment the "color" became more and more distinct, and the "prospect" still more flattering, until the fabulous accounts of gold on Cherry Creek last spring were, in comparison, of minor significance. After all substance foreign to the object of my anxious quest was duly dismissed, I found, on submitting it to the test of the scales, a clean yield of $13.56 which is the largest pay to the single pan I have heard of.
Let me add, I soon found my cranium mounted by a respectable beaver [cap], and "Richard is himself again." ...
>>
Libeus Barney, in a letter to the Eastern States.
0
Comments
Good fun read,
bob
<< <i>Dearest Willie: My husband started for the Park yesterday, and, if agreeable, please call around at ten o'clock this evening. Yours anxiously, Nelly. P. S.--Knock at the back door three times. N." >>
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
<< <i><<
Let me add, I soon found my cranium mounted by a respectable beaver >>
Dug the whole town up mining gold which fell between the cracks of the floors at the saloons and gambling houses!
The name is LEE!