The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-19
THE nFoUNTAIN OF YoUTHu
in the Northwest Territory of Canada.

Contributed to the Ns1 North. West by &c. s.
On or about the 18th day of Noyemb Der
1879, we were travelling, en- route from For,
Walsh, in the Northwest Territory, to a
small trading post owned by Johnny Ken
needy, just beyond the boundary. Having
crossed the Cypress mountains, we left all
beaten trails and shaped our course, over a
billy and cut-up section Of country, by land
marks we'll known to K, who was with us
and generally rode in advance, acting as
guide. This day, when We were nearing the
north fork Of Milk river, and were at point
about twelve miles west from the regular
wagon road. Johnny stopped and requested
me to diverge from the course and follow
him with the team . short distance, to wha,
he termed
"a NATURAL CURIOSITY"
We soon arrived at small spring branch,
the water Of which was running, although
every whsre else in this region the streams
were frozen solidly. This was in itself .
novelty, and / supposed a hot spring. Dip
ping up cup full Of the sparkling water,
upon which and surrounding objects the sun
seemed to shine with unusual brilliancy,
Johnny asked me to take q good square
drink. First inserting my finger into the
cup As precautionary measure, Il had been
fooled once before), and then taking slight
sip, found nothing extraordinary about it
and emptied the cup in few swallows. You
will taste it after awhile, said X, and upon
desiring an explanation, he stopped and
handed me several pebbles, blades of grass
and pieces Of hard ground, all Of which 1
found, upon inspection, to be
COATED WITH SOME METALLIC SUBSTANCE
resembling in appearance new cast iron.
thus plated. 1 placed several trifes in my
pockets to find out the nature of the matter
by analysis when returned to Montana and
forget all about the cup full 1 had imbibsd
for several hours. Then began to perceive
q strong taste of metal in ny mouth, which
grew stronger as inhaled the frosty air, and
q vague suspicion began to pervade me that
my interior was
UNDERGOING TIE PLATING PROCESS,
and that the natural channels and rscepta-
cles inside Of me were receiving "hard
finish" Ny voice alss assumed change,
and when in camp that night hastily swal-
lowed a cup Of boiling hot tea, and it did not
scald mo In the least, but seemed to distrlb-
ute An even and generous warmth, owing to
the conducting power of the metal with
which felt convinced new that was lined.
Upon statement Of my condition to X, he
remarked that he guessed it would
not kill me, and that he had purposely selec-
ted me for An experiment. As time went by
THE INoRUsrATIoN HARDENED,
and could swallow pins, needles and pieces
Of chewsd up tumblers with the IMMUNITY Of
an cstrich-and l was not very sorrow now,
because, being an "old-timer," the natural
coating Of my stomach and bowels had been
burnt out by early frontier whisky, and the
spring had given me renewed
Touth, as 1t were, and power Of endurance
lnequalled BY any old topper of my acquain-
ance. Arriving at Benton in December, 1 |
began to experiment In earnest. I could |
AXE
THREE DRINKS OF TRADE WHISKY
n rapid succession, without wincing; and a |
Pint or 30 Of raw alcohol impaired only a |
icklish sensation, and I was admired fer my |
'cast-irsn" qualities. Unfortunately my cen.
lition created taste for experimenting g, and
lpon every chance and occasion would i'm
'ibe the NEST fiery stimulants to make sure
hat my armor was not yet impaired.
y
i Five years have flown since took the
draught, and was happy in my
ndulgences. But last year the Ceur d'Alene
managers introduced liquids, distilled on
purpose to stimulate the mining stampede.
dany poor fellow was dswnsd by wett.ng
rs whistle-and Ishould have been cautious;
nut had become careless Of conssq uencss-
nd after listening to long and dry Demo-
ratio speech, In last October, recklessly
'oured down immense quantities Of the new
'oisons, and found myself next morning
smpletsly used up with
MI METALLIC INSIDE DISSOLVED.
Compelled to 20 II on Geld water nov.
ave nevertheless resolved to revisit the r..
fsrativs spring 1t the earliest possible on
srtoI'ty, and before II II appropriated .by
ome selfish monspolist, and then and there
TN sunicisnt quantity Of the water to
49,, me arnor = last a. long = IL may Be-