The west shore., January 01, 1887, Page 52, Image 42

THE WEST SHORE.
During the miuing priod referred to, whisky straight, supplemented, at times,
such a cAinp as I have described stood by the rasping tones of a tortured fiddle,
upon one of the larger tributaries of the squeaking out its enlivening accompani
Klamath, flowing down the southern ment to a reel, hornpipe or a genuine
hIoj of the mountains. It occupied an " stag dance," made up the sum of the
hbUcvuttd flat at a bend in the stream, night's entertainment, which very sel
firht known as " Sailor's bend," because dom ended before the brightening of
- color " was originally found there by the eastern sky heralded the approach
two adventurous seamen, who had de- of the Sabbath sun. Sunday was a day
(K-rtl their vessel to experience the haz- of rest, if not devotion. Avaricious in
anls, privations, excitements and golden deed was the man who worked in his
inabilities that made up the sum of claim on the Sabbath. This much of
the. pioneer miner's existence. Later, the influence of the habits of other days
when half a dozen brush and shake shan- still clung to them. They observed the
ties centered almut a larger and more fourth commandment, bo far as to "re
pretetitious structure of logs, shakes and member the Sabbath day," but almost to
ran van, which did duty as a store, saloon, a man they neglected the injunction "to
jxmt office, gambling hall and general keep it holy." Sunday was a day for
wxrd rendezvous for the miners along doing all sorts of odd jobs for washing
the strenm for several miles above and clothes, splitting wood, buying provis
Ih'Iow, it wns christened " Hetsyville," ions at the store, mendiijg tools and
by Home facetious miner, in a moment clothing, and, in the afternoon and even
f witty inspiration, and wore the title ing, resuming at Johnson's the thread of
proudly until its last occupant deserted enjoyment where it waa broken off the
it, and left its dilapidated structures a night before. Sunday night was very
prey to the elements. similar to its predecessor, though the
Although a night never passed with- zest and freshness that had marked the
out the exhibition of considerable ani- revelries terminating the week's labor
nation at Uetsyville, Saturday night had passed away,
was the one bright particular Btar " of It was in the midst of such a scene as
U joptuary round. It was then the this, late one Saturday night, that a
whole illation of the neighWhood stranger entered the door, which stood
Kjth,.red t the rendezvous, and partook hospitably open, though, if the truth be
ofwrh good cheer as " Dig Johnson" told, Johnson, in opening it, did so less
r u, M, dispense, n was an from the promptings of a spirit of hos
rwnn of much good natured hilarity, pitality than with a desire to exchange
J , , TT' ,nt lK),Htr0U8- mme of the foul whisky-laden atmos-
i T f Uie COn" Pher60f the interior for th c,ear and
umciently i
iK"ty to keep down the The
, J Z I" ihDrn,B iet,y-tching the hilarious company,
ZZ ! T M long attractin? but a casaal 6lance from tbe
."mmanlZri ' I T in Bet8 to be objects of curiosity.
Beason, were thronged
Ck M,, HUi,rvZ y pRtron8- With men' nBtantly coming and going,
K-th,r ith finHnln1"1 R,n'1 8CRrcp,y nig" passed that half a
" 111 ""H-encP. ,u dozvn of them did not sample Johnson's