The Project Gutenberg EBook of Down the Mother Lode, by Vivia Hemphill

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Down the Mother Lode

Author: Vivia Hemphill

Posting Date: February 12, 2009 [EBook #3315]
Release Date: July, 2002

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOWN THE MOTHER LODE ***

Produced by David A. Schwan

DOWN THE MOTHER LODE

PIONEER TALES OF CALIFORNIA

By Vivia Hemphill

Copyright, 1922

Foreword

So many inquiries have been made as to exactly where, and what is the
"Mother Lode"!

The geologist and the historian agree as to its location and
composition, but the old miners and "sojourners" of the vanished golden
era give strangely different versions of it. Some of these are here
set down, if not all for your enlightenment at least, I hope, for your
entertainment.

That is, after all, the principal aim of these tales of the old days in
California, that are gone "for good." Mark Twain says in his preface
to "Roughing It" that there is a great deal of information in his work
which he regrets very much but which really could not be helped, as
"information seems to stew out of me naturally, like the precious ottar
of roses out of the otter"!

These stories make no such particular claim! They are merely historical
fragments of their everyday life, gathered from a passing generation
before they shall be finally lost. Each one is based upon truth.
Somewhere, sometime, some place, certain characters lived the scenes and
actions here described.

The title "Mother Lode" has been used in its broader sense as
exemplifying the source of all gold in California, and the life which
arose from it.

The mining engineer said: "The Mother Lode runs south from El Dorado
County to the lower boundary of Mariposa County. It stretches past the
towns of Sutter Creek, Jackson, San Andreas, Angel's Camp and the road
to Yosemite far down below Coulterville. The lode begins suddenly and
ends as suddenly, and though we have searched up and down the state we
have never been able to pick it up again."

"Has it any relation to the Comstock Lode?" was asked.

"None whatever. Curiously enough, in Nevada City and vici