Sierra County CA Archives History - Books ....."Pap" Harris' Sale 1882
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 20, 2006, 10:09 pm

Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

"PAP" HARRIS' SALE.

   Back against the side hill on Durgan flat, in Downieville, were a large
number of Missourians engaged in sinking shafts; hence the locality came to be
known as Missouritown. The inhabitants were not generally overfond of hard work,
and quarrels frequently occurred with members of companies who wished to shirk
their duties on somebody else. Three of these parties had a claim there in
partnership, two of whom were hard-working, industrious men, but the third was
afflicted with the epidemic that sometimes prevails, called laziness. He spent
his time over town gambling and drinking, squandering what was wrested from the
earth by his companions. One day they told him to go to work or to make himself
scarce in those diggings. He took the latter course, while the others took
another partner and continued at work. Being induced by the lawyers to resort to
the law, the expelled partner entered a suit to recover the claim, in Tom
Graham's court. That functionary issued a summons on the others, which was
served by Garland Harris, afterwards county judge. Pap Harris, as he was called,
performed his duty as constable, at which the miners were alarmed, and a meeting
was held to decide what was to be done. It was argued that if this indignity was
submitted to, none of them would be safe hereafter from the lawyers and
justices. So the owners of the claim were instructed to pay no attention to the
summons, but to keep at work. This advice was followed, and when the case came
up in court the defendants failed to appear; consequently judgment was entered
against them for costs and the claim, an execution sale was ordered, and Pap
Harris posted the notice on the windlass at the mine. A conclave of miners was
again held, and informal resolutions adopted that threatened a broken head and
other dire calamities to the man who should dare to make a bid on the property.
At the appointed time the high constable of Downieville appeared, invested with
full legal authority to sell the mining claim. After reading the whys and
wherefores, he said, "And now, gentlemen, what am I offered for this 'ere claim ? "

   The crowd was numerous, but did not seem to be in a buying mood.

   "Gentlemen, I am prepared to sell this claim if it brings nothing more than
the court costs and my fees. Make me an offer."

   Not a bid was made; even the lazy partner kept a discreet silence. Again and
again Harris pleaded for bids. Knowing that his fees were jeopardized, he was
willing to take anything for the claim, however small. But not even the
customary bid of "two bits" was offered; and finally he gave up in despair, and
left the flat. The miners resumed their work, the lazy partner slunk back to his
customary haunts, and the two whom it was impossible to sell out again delved
with renewed spirit on their claim. The shaft soon paid large returns, and
having made their pile, the defendants in the above suit were in the course of
time lost sight of.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sierra/history/1882/illustra/papharri291ms.txt

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