OCR Text |
Show BLACK HAWK. 103 its euphonious title from the fact that the first pay dirt from this magnificent gold-bearing fissure was hauled down to the gulch for sluicing by a bob-tailed ox in harness, the quartz wagon being a forked stick with a raw-hide stretched upon it. This unique vehicle caused the miners much merriment, and suggested the name " Bobtail." THE BOB-TAILED OX. This is one of the richest gold mining districts in the world. It is recorded that the first forty pans of dirt from the Gregory lode, taken in 1859, the year of its discovery, yielded forty dollars. The sight of the gold in the bottom of the pan caused a mercurial nature like Gregory's to effervesce fluently, and his expressions of delight, if given, would be pronounced very profane history. Many amusing stories are told of that early gold excitement. It is related of a prospector from the Emerald Isle, whom we will designate as Pat, that while attending a funeral, he picked up some of the dirt that was thrown from the new grave, and just from force of habit examined it. He suddenly arose from his knees and commenced staking of a claim. The minister observed this, and concluded his prayer in this manner: " Stakejne off a claim Pat, this we ask for Christ's sake-Amen." Pat afterward became one of the bonanza kings of the period; exchanged his suit labelled "superfine flour," for |