The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-03-29
The Mining Prospector.

The genus prospector is q man of
medium height, rather lightly,
but firmly knit frame, age any
where between % and 30, fine
face, gentle but firm, bronzed with
exposure to many fierce storm,
stamped with that un1nistakable
expression impressed on the fea-
lures of those who, day after day,
stand face to face with danger and
death, a face that girl in distress
will turn to without hesitation;
that a rowdy will turn from with
fear and hatred. His first move
ment betrays the frontiersman. A
rapid piercing glance around the
park; neither human foe nor edible
game being in sight, his next glance
is to the sky. Apparently satisfied
with the inspection, his first care is
to a tend to his jack or ''burro," to
use the mountain phrase; then,
having liberated the burro with
drag on the end of his rope which
will effectually prevent his straying
from that park, he turns to his fire,
blows it into a blaze, puts on his
coffee pot to boil, and then to his
toilet. Three inches of comb, two
square inches of looking-glass, a
coarse towel, piece of yellow soap,
toothbrush and the toilet table
is finished. Now follow him to the
dressing room; a dozen steps down
the creek takes him to where lit
tie dam has formed a crystal pool.
Down on the moss covered rocks
goes the broad, white hat, the col
lar of the blue flannel shirt is rolled
back disclosing the neck and chest
of an athlete. Oh how cold, how
refreshing, how invigorating that
water is, fresh from the snow above.
The toilet finished, breakfast is the
next consideration. The coffee
having boiled is placed on one side
to settle, the bacon fried, the batter
for a pile of ''slap-jacks" beaten up,
he fries one of the denominations,
throwing it into the air and catch
ing it on the reversed side with the
precision of IN old-timer, and now
he plunges into the tent and emer-
ges with the "chuck box" or III
English, ''ness chest into the in
most recess of which he dives, and
from conglomeration ofcartridges,
buckskin thongs, steel traps, needles
and thread, sailors palm, mineral
specimens, three or four letters, a
Seaside Library book very torn and
dirty, pair of Mexican spurs, odds
and ends of strings, ETC., produces a
small canvas sack of salt, ditto of
sugar, halfa a gallon can of syrup,
and breakfast is ready and the table
set. To dispatch the meal takes
but little while. Short as the
time is, however it is not wasted,
for observe the upturncd face, the
eager searching glance; peak after
peak is scanned, formation, color
noted, until apparently satisfied
with the inspection. The meal is
finished, plate and cup washed and
put away; the morning pipe is Lit
and smoked while he goes through IN
his pockets to sec if his outfit is
complete, matches, compass, knife,
magnifying glass, all safe. Catch
ing up the burro and pickcting him
on fresh grass, finishes the morning
chores and we are ready for the
days work.
Texas sheep men report heavy
losses from the cold rain OF last
week. Some Of the largest owners
say they lost one-third Of their
stock, and there is a total loss OF
the lamb crops. The loss west OF
the Neuces river will reach $780,