A Hundred Years of Rip and Roarin Rough and Ready By Andy Rogers (1952)(Hathitrust) (117 pages)

2 NN ed cae tis oe wom ie case for him in Grass Valley. Jatt was sued and got a charge of venire to Rough and Ready. lis lawyer was ‘/illiem Stewart. The courtroom was a small space, partioned off from 3i Brown's saloon. It was agreed by both parties that all liquors inbibed by the court, jury, parties, lawyers, and outsiders, should be charged as costs. The plaintiffs proceeded with the case, and frequent use of the bar was made by all hands. dhen it came the defendants turn, it was found that the main witness, an old Scotchman, had been made staggering drunk by the otner side, and it seemed doubtful if he would regain his senses in a week. The only chance for the defendant was to break the whole thing up in a row. Two members of the jury, a big Kentuckian, and a New Yorker, both pretty far gone, began boasting of their native states, and came near to fighting it out then and there. The court took a recess until evening, but when they again met, the jury was in such a condition that the plaintiffs wanted to adjourn until morning. "If getting folks drunk is your game,” said Stewart, “there will be enough of it.” He argued to the Justice that if an adjournment were had, the verdict would be good for nothing. The stupid old Justice, who was trying his first case, accepted this view of the law, and refused to adjourn. The trial continued, and after the Jury drank to their heart's content, when it: came to Biddle‘'s turn to speak, some of the Jurymen told him to “dry up." After the Jury retired, they asked for whiskey, and a demi-john was sent in. The next morning’s sun saw the Jury lying loose all around the town; they had separated without agreeing on a verdict. By the law in those days, in case ‘of a mistrial, the plaintiff had to pay all costs before he could have another trial. The costs were $1,400.00, 31,200.00 of which were for liquor at Si Brown's bar. The plaintiffs were unable to pay the costs. William iatt kept his claims. He later became a wealthy and influential citizen of Grass Valley. TOWNSHIPS RANCHES IMPROVEMENTS-1850 Rough and Ready 99 2. ’ ° Nevada City 35 21,950.00 Grass Velley 72 34, 250.00 Bridgeport 23 16,620.00 Washington 6 7,400.00 Eureka 29 16,750.00 Little York 7 4,550.00 In 1850, Rose Bar Incident Editor of a popular newspaper. Sonifas Waring, in vain, no cook, Editor broke, not even having a dime, completely stranded, saw his chance, Claimed he was a famous French cook, dickered at $250.00 per month, settled on 4175.00 per month. Several deserted sailors were boarders. One old Mine Mule was taught to chew tobacco. How good it is to think that if you live in Rough and Ready, when they put you in the grave yard, you will be sleeping in gold dust instead of gravel. Think how glad St. Peter will be to see you coming in, covered with gold dust, he will dust you off, and pave a street in a new subdivision with the stuff. (Written in THE VALLEY OF THE MOON, by ii. Armstrong.) Go gle John Ferkenpine -While mining on Rich Flet, ground so rich, a rule was made to allow each miner fifty feet of ground. The fellow next to Frerky worked his claim out and started to work Ferky's ground. Perky got the Vigilante Comittee to come out. The Committee arrived and told the fellow he would have to quit; that he was on ground not claimed by hin. The fellow told Perky that he could lick him, and started in doing so. Perky had heavy boots on, which slowed him up. The other fellow had light boots on and could move faster. Perky asked the Committee to stop the fight long enough so he could take off his heavy boots. Then Perky knocked the other fellow cold, and he said that he had enough. Perky was a lucky fellow; mined at Kentucky Flat, and with others took out j1500.00 in nuggets, besides gold dust. He was telling of his luck while leaning on a garden spade, hitting something hard, said, "I have a nugget,” and sure enough, he struck a nugget. His folks at home in the east were rich, and they sent for him to come back east. One day, Mrs. Asa Fippin looked up the road and said, "If I could believe my eyes, here comes Perky," as he could be no one else. Sure enough, Perky was back, with a topper. hard doiled shirt, nugget in his tie, anda gold cane. So glad was he to be back in his little one-room cabin, that tears were in his eyes. He said all he had to do was to read newspapers and take it easy back’ east, which did not suit his strenuous life. Perky and Trucks took a basket over to Joe Thomas’ cabin, and with old man Trucks, went over the hill to the diggins and found a cache in a rock wall in an iron pot and coffee can, containing 1,700.00 in gold coins and nuggets, making about 33,400.00 in all. Perky used a sluice fork, which was the size of his sluice box, to take out rocks. In picking for gold nuggets, a nugget was picked apart, one piece worth 391.00. Some time later, Lucky Perky, in looking up the Sluice box, a gold nugget was noticed. Upon examination, it was found with a pick hole in it, which was the other half, and worth #110.00. Another nugget worth »252.00 was forked out. Perkenpine and Lizzie Grant were known as the "Standing Couple." They were called upon for most Rough and Ready weddings, to be best man and bridesmaid. Fight between Smock and a certain limb of the Law Grizzly bear chased Robinson into Deer Creek, which was cold enough to freeze the ears off a brass monkey. Donations in 1875 to celebrate the fourth of July Rough and Ready Lodge 7512.00 1.0.0.F. $22.00, and B. Schwartz $280.00. Rough and Ready district contains nearly 2000 acres, well watered, good soil, foothills, rolling knolls, gentile sloped, excellent drinking water, elevation 1800 feet, excellent climate, very little wind or fog, fishing, hunting, and gold. James Downey Last Chance Mine After many months of effort, Downey exclained, "ell, this is the last chance, if I don't strike it, I give up." He jumped into the shaft, worked vigorously, and struck a solid ledge of glittering sulphur of copper, about 47

2 NN ed cae tis oe wom ie case for him in Grass Valley. Jatt was sued and got a charge of venire to Rough and Ready. lis lawyer was ‘/illiem Stewart. The courtroom was a small space, partioned off from 3i Brown's saloon. It was agreed by both parties that all liquors inbibed by the court, jury, parties, lawyers, and outsiders, should be charged as costs. The plaintiffs proceeded with the case, and frequent use of the bar was made by all hands. dhen it came the defendants turn, it was found that the main witness, an old Scotchman, had been made staggering drunk by the otner side, and it seemed doubtful if he would regain his senses in a week. The only chance for the defendant was to break the whole thing up in a row. Two members of the jury, a big Kentuckian, and a New Yorker, both pretty far gone, began boasting of their native states, and came near to fighting it out then and there. The court took a recess until evening, but when they again met, the jury was in such a condition that the plaintiffs wanted to adjourn until morning. "If getting folks drunk is your game,” said Stewart, “there will be enough of it.” He argued to the Justice that if an adjournment were had, the verdict would be good for nothing. The stupid old Justice, who was trying his first case, accepted this view of the law, and refused to adjourn. The trial continued, and after the Jury drank to their heart's content, when it: came to Biddle‘'s turn to speak, some of the Jurymen told him to “dry up." After the Jury retired, they asked for whiskey, and a demi-john was sent in. The next morning’s sun saw the Jury lying loose all around the town; they had separated without agreeing on a verdict. By the law in those days, in case ‘of a mistrial, the plaintiff had to pay all costs before he could have another trial. The costs were $1,400.00, 31,200.00 of which were for liquor at Si Brown's bar. The plaintiffs were unable to pay the costs. William iatt kept his claims. He later became a wealthy and influential citizen of Grass Valley. TOWNSHIPS RANCHES IMPROVEMENTS-1850 Rough and Ready 99 2. ’ ° Nevada City 35 21,950.00 Grass Velley 72 34, 250.00 Bridgeport 23 16,620.00 Washington 6 7,400.00 Eureka 29 16,750.00 Little York 7 4,550.00 In 1850, Rose Bar Incident Editor of a popular newspaper. Sonifas Waring, in vain, no cook, Editor broke, not even having a dime, completely stranded, saw his chance, Claimed he was a famous French cook, dickered at $250.00 per month, settled on 4175.00 per month. Several deserted sailors were boarders. One old Mine Mule was taught to chew tobacco. How good it is to think that if you live in Rough and Ready, when they put you in the grave yard, you will be sleeping in gold dust instead of gravel. Think how glad St. Peter will be to see you coming in, covered with gold dust, he will dust you off, and pave a street in a new subdivision with the stuff. (Written in THE VALLEY OF THE MOON, by ii. Armstrong.) Go gle John Ferkenpine -While mining on Rich Flet, ground so rich, a rule was made to

allow each miner fifty feet of ground. The fellow next to Frerky worked his claim out and started to work Ferky's ground. Perky got the Vigilante Comittee to come out. The Committee arrived and told the fellow he would have to quit; that he was on ground not claimed by hin. The fellow told Perky that he could lick him, and started in doing so. Perky had heavy boots on, which slowed him up. The other fellow had light boots on and could move faster. Perky asked the Committee to stop the fight long enough so he could take off his heavy boots. Then Perky knocked the other fellow cold, and he said that he had enough. Perky was a lucky fellow; mined at Kentucky Flat, and with others took out j1500.00 in nuggets, besides gold dust. He was telling of his luck while leaning on a garden spade, hitting something hard, said, "I have a nugget,” and sure enough, he struck a nugget. His folks at home in the east were rich, and they sent for him to come back east. One day, Mrs. Asa Fippin looked up the road and said, "If I could believe my eyes, here comes Perky," as he could be no one else. Sure enough, Perky was back, with a topper. hard doiled shirt, nugget in his tie, anda gold cane. So glad was he to be back in his little one-room cabin, that tears were in his eyes. He said all he had to do was to read newspapers and take it easy back’ east, which did not suit his strenuous life. Perky and Trucks took a basket over to Joe Thomas’ cabin, and with old man Trucks, went over the hill to the diggins and found a cache in a rock wall in an iron pot and coffee can, containing 1,700.00 in gold coins and nuggets, making about 33,400.00 in all. Perky used a sluice fork, which was the size of his sluice box, to take out rocks. In picking for gold nuggets, a nugget was picked apart, one piece worth 391.00. Some time later, Lucky Perky, in looking up the Sluice box, a gold nugget was noticed. Upon examination, it was found with a pick hole in it, which was the other half, and worth #110.00. Another nugget worth »252.00 was forked out. Perkenpine and Lizzie Grant were known as the "Standing Couple." They were called upon for most Rough and Ready weddings, to be best man and bridesmaid. Fight between Smock and a certain limb of the Law Grizzly bear chased Robinson into Deer Creek, which was cold enough to freeze the ears off a brass monkey. Donations in 1875 to celebrate the fourth of July Rough and Ready Lodge 7512.00 1.0.0.F. $22.00, and B. Schwartz $280.00. Rough and Ready district contains nearly 2000 acres, well watered, good soil, foothills, rolling knolls, gentile sloped, excellent drinking water, elevation 1800 feet, excellent climate, very little wind or fog, fishing, hunting, and gold. James Downey Last Chance Mine After many months of effort, Downey exclained, "ell, this is the last chance, if I don't strike it, I give up." He jumped into the shaft, worked vigorously, and struck a solid ledge of glittering sulphur of copper, about 47