" DEAD MAN'S GULCH."

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5107, 30 May 1885, Page 4

" DEAD MAN'S GULCH."

The following inoident occurred during the early days of the Califomian goldfields, and is characteristic of the state of things that existed among the diggers at that time. A miner had died in a mountain digging, and, as he was much respected, his acquaintances resolved to give him a " square funeral," instead of putting the body in the usual way in a roughly made hole, and saying by way of funeral ser« rice; "Thar goes another bully boy under! " They sought the services of a miner who bore the reputation of having, at one time of his csreer, been " a powerful preacher in the States." And then, far Western fashion, they all knelt down, while the extemporised parson delivered a prodigiously long prayer. The miners, tired of this unaccustomed opiate, to while away the time, began, digger fashion, fingering the earth that had been taken from the grave. Gradually looks were exchanged; whispering cemtnenoed and increased, until it became loud enough to attract the attention of -the parson. He opened his eyes and stared at the whispering miners. "What is it, boys?" Then, as suddenly his eyes lighted on sparkling ' scales of gold, he shouted, " Gold, by jingo! and the richest kind o' diggin'— the congregation is dismissed." Instantly every man began to prospect the new digging, our clerical friend not being the least active of the number. The body had to be removed and buried elsewhere, bat the memory "of the incident long lived from the name given to the locality, for "Dead Man's Gulch" became one of the richest goldfields in all California.—Household Words.