The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22
JOE MATLOCK As SEEN IN THE SPIRIT

water had fniled In the mountain Culchos. Ny
seasons work Of placer mining was over. Time
began to hang heavily. I had tired Of walking
through tho forests looking at game had no
need to kill. The work OF family OF beavers
that had greatly interested me was almost
completed. and their houses were we'll above
the wator OF their dam whom bado them good
by for the winter.
had walked up to the base Of the Snowy
Range. hoping to find herd OF elk that had
seen there in the summer. but they had mi
grated TO the bare hills through which the
North Platte River flows. Coming down the
rugged mountain TANKS I mot Jim Clark
miner trapper. prospector. whom had known
years ago in Idaho. towing white donkey up
the log-encumbered trail that led through the
lofty pass in the Snowy Range.
Jim and l were stanch friends. We had
camped together on the Crur d'Aloue Noun
ains: we had fshcd in the clear. rapid water
OF Thompson's River; we had poled n rude
raft on Bond dOrcillo Lake. Once. hidden in
recess among the rocks We had looked out
on the Spokane Indians. and debated whether
to 60 into their camp at the fishery for the
purpose OF buying a fresh salmon. or to stay
whore we were in safety. Clark had suggested
that the chief. Spokane Garry might be drunk
and he was trifie disagrccablc, not to say ma
licious. when in his cups; and in addition to
this possibility. there was an unsettled affair
concerning u spotted pony between Garry and
Clark. Naturally the latter was disinclined to
meet the dusky cheftain when surrounded by
five Or six hundred braves. As Clark tersely
expressed our movements. I'VE skipped for
the Bitter Root Mountains and Fish Creek
Pass as soon rs it became sufficiently dark to
mask our movements.
/ was glad to meet my old comrade. We sat
on n sunny log and talked. He told me that he
was going across the range to search for a
placer that his comrade Joe Matlock had dis
covered when on his way to California in 1850
They had been driven from the overland route
Ute Indians. They had crossed the n nonDyo ins
and entered the North Park. While there Mat
lock had prospectod, and found good pay
range. II was this gulch nv friend was going
70 search for. AS he talked the desire to join
come home with me tonight. Tomorrow [
VII 70 with you. | want To- see that country.
s %nI ySe s as re"by agreed to
ticcd that the old-time FIRE and JOY were
lacking in my comrade. He was nervous, He
pine trees rubbed against one another He
seemed TO be depressed in spirits. Vainiy l
times we had had together in northern Idaho
and Moptana. He smiled almost sadly in reply
said: All. Frank. am co years old. Lie tI IS
not as enjoyable "a 1t once was. The comrades
Of ,, my youth are mostly dead. some Of them
wrecks that every stormy. mining excitement
strands on the tanks OF those rugged noun.
in Isolated cabins Hidden in lon lonely i suiches u
They are patiently waiting for death to lay his
That might Clark sat by my open fire smok-
ing IIa and gazing int the rudy blaze As he
conveyed to me the impression Of a man listen
ing for an expected sound. Seeing that he was
book 1f Irish tnles mud Wus t.nI ., n II
Of the outrageous conduct 81 ghost that lived
in in, the great bog Of Allen The story WIS well
said. II have been reading ghost story
Quickly, and with more interest than he had
the early afternoon. he looked ct me. Seeing
that he was interested asked, Do you bc!ieye
The eyes He took his ppe f from his mouth and
held i. lightly between his fingers then answered
IL I HI in f ,sS SS
tated an instant. then looked at me intently:
He passed his hand oyer his face iGhtly and
oomrade joe Mati9ck. who WAS k:!lai in a
during the past thirty months. have heard
his voice several times and his step frequently.
1s nss sng On mind L TnS
drank hard; never INDUCED in any excuses:
y health Is perfect, my memory Il bright
what have seen and heard. and want you to
tell me frankly what you think Of ny case. !
He drew his chair around. and. leaning his
as though he was w.grary. In a low. aim1st sad
camp helped 70 build on the hcadwnters Of
the ,Wcndtcheo River. The trail from Seattle
Cascade Mountains. canned that night on
the bank OF the Snopua!liuio River at the point
whore the trail leads across the narrow stream.
hathinS in tho clear cold water after pickcting
my horse. 1 spread my blankets and after
awokr It VA. daylight. hut tho sun was not up.
wa iiFhtin- Are, preparatory to cooking
stantiy recognized 10 b. that of my long dead
comrade;, calm. clearly. hut not loudly. Jiml
fee, and loo ked cqnfnscl:y around M. saw s
,iimI turned and looked across ithe river
On tho other bank mighty FIR tree lay promo
in dameter. Behind it. clad in red shirt
stood Joe Mat,ocs. / could see his figure from
r., r. Val. up; Ills arms were lying folded on
81 ,he,ni He WAS smiling pleasantly at me /
was no, more than twenty-five yards. from
y y' a"Eco n" that as d ns" St q the large zee
6inck buttons on his shirt front was broken,
And, Frank. he added in q lower tone Joe
morning he WAS smothercd in the snow. His
face was as fresh and MS hair ~ black n. when
he was Young. / spoke to him. Ho did no;
answer; simply leaned on tho log and smiled
srayc'y at me. sprang into the stream and
Wahcu acrOss. ~ approached the other bank
the figure grew DINNER and DINNER and when
came close to the tree it was gone, II did not
disappear suddenly, but gradually faded away.
When il was but Il faint outline could see that
IL was smiling. sadiy 1t seemed to mo. |
searched thoroughly. but could find no foot
tracks. The long. soft moss growing on the
tree where he had rested his arms was un-
broken. recro-Scd the stream, ate my break
fast. aud rode on my Journey"
Claw; vas silent for a few minutes. and thcn
resumed IN nusing. puzzled tone: have
hoard Joe's voice several times since i first
saw him His fpotsteD hear frequently, |
have never. excepting ono time. heard either
the tootStrp or the voice when ! am on the
plains or in the unclad foothills. joe loved the
mountains when lie WIS alive. and now his
spirit apparently refuses to dwell elsewhere.
This morning | heard him walk UP to my
camp fire and scat himself by my side. Until
met you to-day the stcathy footstrp had fol-
lowed mo steudiy | have noticed that the
weather affects these manifestations sharply.
During damp. stormy Weather never hear the
footsteps or The voice. During bright weather
/ always expect to hear the footballs. and on
those rare days when the air seems 10 he alive
and the aged feel young and active j expect to
hear the voice and lnaybc to see tho phantom"
Inlerrupting my friend. l asked, Does not
TINS unseen presence annoy you ~ Al first 1t
troubled me greatly but now take pleasure
in its company. actually miss it if it is long