Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-13
n SHOT FOR LUCK.
How q DespOndent Miner at Last
Filled His Sack With Gold.

Boulder (Colorado) News and Courier.
Some time last spring the owner Of the Emer.
The Concord. When only five feet down they
sold out-one-third interest to s. b. Sutherland
and the other two-thfrds to G. F. Greer. Of
Boulder, and brother Of his who lives in Og-
densbuTg, New York. Mr.. Sutherland was a
poor man, but practical miner. His labor was
put up against that OF two men furnished by the
OF development went on. For the first ten or
fifteen feet good pay was taken out in the form
OF rusty and free gold. Then the ''streak' was
either lost or played out. Confident that he
was on true extension Of the Emerson crevice
MIR. Sutherland continued his work all summer
and fall without faltering, though the tollsome
days yielded nothing but barren rock. Week after
week and month after month wore away, each
more weary than the last, and still no returns.
He was getting In debt and had to borrow
money TO pay taxes on his little house. Still
the plucSy miner picked away at the obdurate-
ly worthless granite. breaking and blasting a
road in the direction where he felt sure the
treasure lay. Christmas and New Years came,
new dress or the baby new rattle His friends
advised him to give 1t up. "Knowfng ones" de-
clared it was only a "blow out, ;" and he mad ex
hausted the pay the first fifteen feet-would
never get another cent, ETC., ETC.. All through
January he worked on with ul,abated energy,
but with heart growing heavier as each day
be forced to abandon the undertaking and yield
his hopes of fortune. February came. A mort
gage was coming due on the little home. Credl-
UOfS grew impatient. Inc Vile, grown nervous
and respondent on '.hope deferred which
'maketh the heart sick, "spent days In weep
ing and every night plead with her husband to
quit and go to work where he could earn some
thing. At last he began himself to be dis
cOuraged and made up his mind to give up the
Concord, but-he would work the week out. On
Tuesday he stood in the bottom of the shaft,
looking disconsolately at the pile of worthless
gang rock'' and rubbish that must be hoisted to
the surface before he could go down;any further.
He picked up drill, drew sigh and said tG
himself: "While the boys are cleaning out I'll
put in a shot here, just for luck" BY the time
the boys had the bottom cleared the shot was
In, and when 1t went OIL he put the rock In the
bucket and told those above to dump that on
one side till he should come up. This was on
Tuesday, but he never thought to look after the
product Of bis ssshOt for luck" until Thursday.
Careleesly examining it then his practiced eye
taxable marks that made his heart leap with
new hope. He hurried down the shaft, got
things In shape, and by Saturday put in blast
where he now felt sure the lOng-lost streak lay
hid. When that shot went off he gathered up
sack full Of gltttering specimens that, to look
at, would make old Midas himself smile again.
We saw few pieces at Mr.. GreerS rooms, and
could not rest until we had looked at the whole
bag full. So, in company with a friend to in
were kindly permitted to overhaul the lot
about half a bushel-of pieces ranging in weight
from an ounce or two up to seventeen pounds,
and not piece that does not show free gold or
the still richer vein of telluride OF gold. Experts
estimate the value OF the sack at not less than
$1,000. And now Mr.. Sutherland is sure that
he can work right back toward the surface-as
well as downward and latterally along the lode
and find the rich streak all the way.