Therefore, until
the advent of railroads they chose to perform their annual assessment
work only.
Two of these gentlemen were substantial business men and the other
was their confidential secretary or affidavit man. It was his duty to
make an affidavit before a magistrate that his employers had
performed the labor required by law, which is not less than one
hundred dollars per claim and incidentally he cooked for the outfit
and attended to the horses. Of course, they might have hired mine
laborers to do this work, but they said they enjoyed the outing and
exercise, especially as this was the time of house cleaning and they
were glad to get away from home. "Yes," affirmed the affidavit man,
"and so are your wives."
These gentlemen rode horses and carried a supply of provisions on a
pack mule. The most conspicuous object of their pack was a keg
labelled "dynamite." When the clerk placed this dangerous thing near
the fire and sat on it, I became fidgety, but was reassured when
subsequently I saw him draw the stopper and fill a bottle labelled
"Old Crow" from it. They advised me to go prospecting and gave me
much valuable information and kindly offered to sell me a prospecting
outfit, "for cash," at their stores.
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