The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-07-30
FORTUNE AND MISFORTUNE.
Struck it Rich at LaSt-Truthful ExI
rianra nF the

Struck it Rich at LaSt-Truthful EXpe- |
rience of the Writer.
After six or seven years of "roughing
it, in Colorado, Simonton and l con
cluded we would cast our lot in with the
pioneers Of the new carbonate camp and
settle down to solid business. So after
climbing the hills for a couple of months
N the spring, and waIlowing through
snow neck deep, dragging down house
logs and roof poles until pretty well
worn out, we welcomed the increased
heat of summer that gave promise of
bare mountains and a chance TO prospect
for the rich carbonates that lie buried in
the mountains all around. George"
said SimOnton one day when the snow
had pretty well disappeared from the
exposed slope of the hills, ''isn't it about
time TO do some prospecting?" at is,
for fact" said l. 'Well," said he,
''you prospect, and I'll work." to which
l agreed, and the next day l sailed
forth in search of the precious ore. Then
l experienced the changeful caprices of
luck-for luck it is. Day after day
went out in the morning hopeful and
vigorous, and day after day returned at
eventide worn and weary. l accom-
plished nothing. | clambered over rug
ged cliffs and broken slide rock; |
searched the gloomy depths of sombre
forests, where the snow was piled in
vast drifts and the bosom of earth was
hidden from sight; / toiled in the search
ing rays of the June sun where there
was not breath of air to cool the fever
ed brow, or a drop of water to Stake the
burning thirst; but twas ever the same I;
the leads were not there, or the prospect
or had been there before me. Days
grew into weeks and weeks into months.
! Holes grew into the knees of my over
| alls and my feet grew out of the toes,
and heels, and soles and uppers of my
boots; we quit having puddIn' for Sun
| days; didn't shorten our biscuit, and
kept them made up week ahead, for
economy had almost abandoned hope.
At last, one day as Twas passing neg
| lected gulch, saw few pieces of float
| indications Of Il mine. After digging
awhile l struck the ore body, a fine
bed of carbonatcs. At night
| brought down some samples for as
saying and showed them TO S.. who
was getting supper. He looked at the
rich specimens moment, then picked
up the Dutch oven and threw it out
against q rock, TemarkiDg quietly
We'll 20 over to the City hotel and
board :" then, looking at me, said, ''yOU
ought to wash before you go over and
your clothing Is terrible ragged. Here
I'll give you this other Indian shirt
and after supper we'll buy a couple o.
stylish suits.'' "All right" says /. s,
/ washed and donned the goods, Will,
S. hove the biscuits and plates into tbs
river that runs by the door. Then, rs
I Frz-s inn tn ols tho cnlnl, f1trn4ttria
hair, he SAID: Where arc you going Il
} spend your winters - 1 told him l.
take trip to Indiana, then 90 TO Bos
ton or New Orleans. ''Wcil,' said he
"I'm going to spend my summers il
Scotland and my winters in Italy
well, Pm hungry" said /. Let us e
OVER So over we went and left ou
, finest specimen 'at the assay Office $,
; as TO get Il return away up in Tia
/ thousands. Then we invited everybOd,
on the streets TO come along. We wen
and filed up several tables, then sa
down and got away with about sever
dollars worth of grub apiece, and receiy
: ed the congratulations of our friends
After supper We stFollcd with the air o
2 Vanderbilt down toward the assay Office
which we soon reached, and the assaye
: gave us the result Our ore assayed jus
7 one ounce! We looked at each other
} moment, then silently wendell our wa
4 TO the old dirt-roof log cabin, picked "a
( the fragments of the oven, looked a
: them ruefuily a moment, then 5. said
ibid you ever bake bread ON board
| I've heard feIlers say it was Il good DIES
: sweeter than the hotel bread" / fishe
!. out the old battered camp kettle froI
f the river and said, sadly: mo: I'r
5 tired OF bread. Don't you think mus
5 is healthier" why, | know it isl b
e replied. I'D rather eat mush than ID
:, best meal any hotel can put up, besides
J, [ like a quiet life. If l had ever s
0 much money I'd live in some quiC
y place like this" Then, as We carrie
b our debris into the house, he said
It "Look here! l want that Indian shir
}. 1 just let you take it to try il on and 81
I it don't fit you" So did not con
T, out that much ahead, but we were nc
e for an hour. X.