There wasn't much to do in Tuscarora during the winter except
drink, gamble, and try to stay warm. The camp would get its
spectacular fame from silver but that was later. In 1870, gold
was being panned in nearby streams in the spring and early
summer when melting snow water was flowing. The rest of year
found most of the miners and prospectors in other places marking
time until the water flowed again at Tuscarora. On a cold winter
night, many of the winter residents were either watching or
participating in a poker game. A big fire in the stone fireplace
was warming the saloon. As the night progressed, small piles of
gold flakes and nuggets in front of the players moved from place
to place with no one being a big winner. Finally, there was a
big pot. Betting went higher and higher. Everyone was intensely
concentrating on the game and didn't notice one of the
spectators quietly leave the building. He picked up several
empty assay sacks from a pile on the ground. climbed onto the
roof and stuffed the bags down t