The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-18

HUHey HllHe Alloi ioIho''"o
hills and valleys two or three summers
his faithful rods as he imagined, led MIN
to deep, rough looking valley; on de-
scending which, he noticed among the
nnumerable huge rocks that had tumbled
in from the Mountain on the east, large
cakes of ice, which evidently remained
there through the year - it being then
about the first of September. AS the
geological appearance of this place cor
responded precisely with that described
by the Spaniard, John was confident That
he had finally discovered the long-looked
for place. Having procured liberty OF
the owner of the soil to dig, he engaged
two faithful Irishmen, and commenced
crawling between the prodigious rocks
backing out feet first, and taking out
stones, dirt, &c., in clearing passage.
They continued this mode OF working
about seven years, but succeeded in reach
ing the distance OF only 20 yards. John
always exhibited a Yankee perseverance,
and according to his own expressions,
was "neuer born TO be discouraged" He
succeeded in forming company OF ~
individuals who paid in quarterly regu-
lar fee for prosecuting the work. A
committee was appointed to visit an old
"fortune.teller," who resided in an ad-
joining town, TO get such Information as
they could respecting the location of the
mountain of precious metal. The old
woman from time 10 time ordered them
to dig in different directions, leading to
the east, west, north and south.
After working under her directions
about five years, the neighbors were as
founded at the tremendous cheering and
firing of guns, which proceeded from the
of the money mine. Many
rushed TO the spot to learn the cause of
so much commotion, when they were
shown rustySpanish dollar, pewter plate
and spoon, which had just been taken out
Of the extreme end of the southern pas
sage. This was prima faci@ evidence
that the story Of the old Spaniard was a
true one; and they calculated that in about
three weeks fortune would smile upon
hem. The interchangeable John now Or
dered fifty men to commence cutting a
road through the thick ana craggy forest,
and seventeen OK teams to be kept in
readiness, to use at a moments call in
away the silver.
The money.diggers continued toiling
with their usual determined energy for
some months, when Luke Huler, who
lad labored five years, creeping on his
hands and feet, in and out of their subter-
,anean passage, and finding it rather un-
business began 10 appear faith
ess He would often declare, that the
olate, spoon and dollar, were never found
n the "creep hole" And he would
sometimes contend that they rained down;
n had been lost by some unfortunate
hunters, and were carried there by wild
nimals. To prove the propriety of his
asst assertion, he one day trapped young
OK, and stuffed large fish -hook and line
n his mouth - took the animal alive 10
heir hut, and exhibited him 10 the COM
any, declaring that "wild animals were
rome to commit extensive depradations
n domestic articles.' The drollery of
luke so much annoyed the company that
hey decided he was too insincere; and
hey proposed to buy him out, provided
e would leave that part of the country,
nd never say or do anything against
heir laudable employment. To this prop.
sition Luke readily agreed, and large
UNI of money was paid over TO him,
When he cleared for the far west.
Soon after the departure of Luke Huler,
Their members of the company began to
e quite troublesome, and the never to.be.
discouraged John was obliged to use great
xertions to quel their impotence. He
taled that large wheels move slow; and
hat no great and important object was
ver accomplished without The endurance
If extreme hardship. He urged that as
industry was the true key to the great
of wealth, he hoped every