TO an old-timer who is socially inclined, and I believe this is a trait of character peculiar to the most of them, there is nothing, at least of a social nature, that can be more agreeable or pleasing to him than to meet with the old-timers with whom he was acquainted, or with an old pard with whom he lived and worked nearly forty years ago.
It was upon a certain occasion, but a short time ago, when, having to pass through an old mining locality, that I met by chance at a miner’s cabin in the now dreary and almost deserted mining camp a company of old miners, and among them found five old-timers whom I had known nearly forty years before in the mining regions, where they were engaged in mining.
For instance, here was old Mike, a rare specimen from the “old sod,” who was one of our company when at work at Kanaka bar upon the South fork of the American River, in the winter of ’50-’51. He was a man overflowing with humor, of rare intelligence and generous to a fault.
Here was Tennessee also, who was a fine specimen of manhood from the State which gave him his sobriquet, a man who was true to his friends and with few enemies, and they were careful to keep out of his way, although he was always ready to forgive an injury.
Another one was Jeff, who was a happy-go-lucky specimen of an old-timer, who delighted to tramp around among the deep cañons and high rocky cliffs for a prospect; not, however, that he expected to derive any benefit from the rich discoveries that he might make, but, as he expressed it, it did just make him feel awful good to see his friends and relatives enjoy it.
Here was Jim also, a character similar in many respects to Jeff, and who like the latter had washed from the soil a respectable fortune but had scattered it among his friends and relatives in the East, this manner of using it affording him the greatest enjoyment.
And last, though not least by any means, was Jersey. The latter in early mining days had been very fortunate in all his mining enterprises; had made and lost several fortunes in assisting others, and even now in his old age was confident that it was to be his good fortune to once more strike it rich in some far away and remote mining region, for to his mental vision distance seemed to lend enchantment to the view.
There were present old Pike and Boozer, who were yet in harness, tramping about among the various mountain ranges of the coast, wherever the indications were in their opinion most favorable for another raise that was to exceed all previous ones.
Here also was Julius, a venerable colored individual from Boston, an old-timer, too, and who had, like Mike, and for similar reasons, abandoned mining, and was engaged in ranching.
The day after our meeting was a rainy one, and was spent in relating our experiences for the past forty years in the various mining sections of the coast; narrating our prospecting adventures among the various mountain ranges that we had climbed over, and the deep, dark cañons through which we had tramped in hopes of once more making a raise.