Sonora Union High School - Green and Gold Yearbook (Sonora, CA)

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-...--- canon AND com -ii- Gold, or Friendship? hy EARL DAMiN 'l8 URING THE GOLD excitement in the carly fifties, Spring Gulch attracted its share of fortune seekers, and became a camp of more than ordinary importance. It was there that Jim Thompson and .lack Nelson met for thc first time and not long after became partners in the Bald Eagle Claim. They were quite different in manner and appearance. Jim, of middle age, measured six feet in height, had a luxuriant growth of chestnut brown hair and dark blue eyes that reflected kindness. Jack was shorter that his partner by several inches, but more robust in build. His action and mode of expression lacked the quality of refinement that was a winning characteristic of Jim. Jim and Jack worked early and late at their claim, and in a few weeks had removed enough of the covering of dirt, beneath which the gold bearing gravel lay, to begin washing . Hopes of a brighter future had spurrcd them on until this time, and now the aight of gold assured them of success. At intervals of three or four days, the partners gathered the oright yellow metal from their long line of sluices, and with each succeeding clean-up the men more fully realized that their dreams of wealth were being fulfilled. Jack had a weakness for gambling,and like the old saying,the fool and his money soon parted. The sight of gold tempted him to plot against his partner He planned to rob the sluices the night before the clean-up and to make his es- cape by leaving with a party of miners who were to depart early next morning for new gold fields. Accordingly,Jack went to the claim to carry out his evil plan. Now and then the moon was hidden by rapidly passing clouds,whilc he-rc and there a small star twinkled in the dark heavens. The stillness was broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl. Hesitating only to satisfy himself that he was not being followed, he busied himself at the sluices. With his loot pulling heavily at his pockets, Jack stealthily retraced his steps toward the camp. I-Ie entered 9. gambling house where the departing miners were to meet. In one corner of the room some men were busily engaged in a game of cards. Jack advanced toward the lable, and on being asked to join in the game, readily accepted, gold once more tempting him. He was encouiagingly successful for a while, but his luck changed suddenly, and he soon lost most of his ill-gotten wealth. His great losses caused him to wonder what good the money had done him. He felt in a bad humor, and suspecting one of the players of marking the cards. he started an argument. One heated remark provoked another, until it had reached its climax, when Jack, suddenly rising, swung his hand toward his scabbarrl on his left side. His opponent was the quicker and in another instant Jack fell heavily to the floor, with nn ugly wound in his chest. -Page 28-

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.....l.-. GREEN AND Gow -i---- An Adventure In a Stage-Coach - ALMA FITCH '16 T WAS THE year 18- on a delightful summer morning, when a crowd of miners were all talking together and exclaiming over the large pocket just taken from the Bonanza. It was so large that a human being could not lift it alone. One old miner said, The messenger will have to keep a pretty careful lookout or I miss my guess. Yes, that's so Bill, ehimed in another minerg I fear there will be a little trouble with the highwaymen. They always seem to get wind of it some- how, when a big pocket has been struck. Well here comes the stage, shouted the men, the little group broke up to gn down to the hotel and watch the passengers off. The old stage coach lumbered up to the door, and a thin old lady and a florid faced Dutchman got in. After the treasure was snugly packed into the boot , under the driver's feet, the express messenger got in, and with a crack of the whip the old stage went down the street. The driver told the messenger to keep a sharp lookout near the bluff on table mountain and in the bend of the road a little this side of Milton. There is where we usually meet the robbers, he explained. The stage had gone along with nothing happening over half the way to Milton, when coming near the bend in the road, two masked men jumped out of the bushes and with pistols leveled at their heads ordered hands up . The stage came to a standstill, und one robber stood at the horse's head with his pistol leveled at the driver, while the other climbed upon the wheel and demanded the passengers' money. The old lady was terribly frightened, but the Dutchman said, I'll geef you theses, and with a blow knocked the robber off the wheel. Quick ns light- ening the driver lashed the horses, and was nearly thrown out by the pulling on the reins. The messenger, who was armed to the teeth, fired a shot, then both climb- ed into the bottom of the stage, while bullets whizzed over their heads, and around them, The old stage was lurching from one side of the road to the other, but the horses kept up their mad mn, till all arrived in Milton, badly shaken up, hut with the treasure untouched. ' The driver now follows another calling, but still proudly wears a gold watch and chain, presented to him by the Wells Fargo K: Co. for his oct of bravery. --Page 27-

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1---il GREEN AND GOLD --- - The men crowded around the prostrate form, and later the wounded man was conveyed to his cabin. Jim arrived at the claim at the usual hour the next morning. To his amazement he found neither partner or gold. Half discouraged, he sat down on a rock, wondering who the robber might be. Presently he went to Jack's cabin, in a hollow across the ridge, to inform him of the theft. The sun was just peeping over the tall pines on the hill, and everywhere around sparkled the dew drops as they clung to the tips of the long blades of grass. Not a bit of life was to be seen: even Sport, the dog, was gone. Jim wondered what this meant. Opening the cabin door, Jim's gaze fell on the almost lifeless body of his companion. There he lay, bloodstained and pale as death. In Jacl:'s side pocket was a sack partly exposed. Seeing this, Jim knew where the missing gold had gone. Although wronged by his partner, he gave all the attention possible to Jack, who was on the verge of death. Weeks passed, and Jack had fully recovered. He was sitting in the warmth of the early winter sun, just outside the cabin door. Jim, he said to his partner, whose friendly hand he felt resting lightly on his shoulder, Your friendship is worth more than the world's gold ! -,sur-T :' L,- A . -f. ' .4-my my . I, 1 elif? 45,149 ..f.. U , lf'-pr ,V -. - V' gf ' ' W-,-1 ,.,., .. Y ,.-l'--1-. -s ...fa , ,MAJ f'fD ':....Qa..1v-.-. P 1 fu U - Page 29-