Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/03/2014 08:18 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/03/2014 08:18 AM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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What Happened in 1865?
Angels Camp, CA...It was the summer of 1865 and Calaveras County was a booming, roaring, mining frontier camp. The roads were bad and travel was slow, and so the miners did not go far for amusement. This was the setting for Mark Twain's first published work, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" - the story of a gambler named Jim Smiley. ...
Jim, a miner and gambler, paraded the streets with a basket under his arm, boasting about the ability of a certain frog. The local gambling houses, taverns and their proprietors all were acquainted with Jim's tales.
About this time, two slickers from New York arrived in town just ahead of an arrest warrant. They made their rounds to the gambling halls and such. On one of those occasions, they had the fortune of meeting Jim Smiley and were subject to Jim's boasting. The New Yorkers poked and prodded at Smiley until a contest and wager
ensued.
Old Jim was easily distracted and left his prize frog, Dan'l Webster, in the care of the strangers who quietly filled Jim's frog with buck shot. So you can guess the rest: the city slickers' frog out-jumped poor Dan'l, and Jim lost $40 in gold.
Mark Twain, an up-and-coming American humorist who lived just across the Stanislaus River at Jackass Hill, was a frequent visitor to the Calaveras County mining camps.
Local legend has it that he heard the tall tale from Ross Coon, the proprietor of the Angels Hotel. Some believe Twain was encouraged by Greek Mythology. Visit Historic Angels Camp at Gold Rush Day on October 18. Find Gold in Angels Camp!
"The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers if a man only tells them with all his might."
- Mark Twain
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