Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18
THE PROSPECTOR.
Written for tie Tribune.

les, there he Is, In the store there. NO
mistaking him in any country and especi-
ally in a mining country. His half COW
face unshayen, open necked shirt, the
pistol belt which don't hold up his over
alls half tucked into the heavy boots, pro-
claim him to be a man of the mountains.
If there's a mining camp, or ever has
been n on this broad continent, from
British Columbia down to Mexico, or from
California to Colorado and New Mexico,
just mention it and from out of the treas
ures of his memory-or Imagination, he
will tell Of wond'rous finds made there by
him or his partner.
1t may be that as regards the formation
and country-rock his version may not ex-
actly agree with perhaps your experience
and knowledge Of it, but that don't mat
ter much to lin. Possibly the claims on
Otter creek were worked by fume sluices
according to his story, though miners who
took out the golden nuggets declare it
was ground sluicing, but great men will
differ in opinion, you know. And then, a
man who has climbed untold numbers.of
for hundreds of miles, who has traced
veins from one territory into another, to
whom a trail on a dark night is as famili-
ar as the street your house is on may be
to you, who can give you day and date for
every place he has been in during his
gold and silver hunting career, it isnot at
all strange that occasionally he will get
things a little mixed.
Any time you Lave from three to ten
hours to spare, just take him aside into
well, q back room, or at a side table in a
saloon, order the drinks, casually mention
some we'll known mine or camp and then
YOU have him started. Be careful not to
attempt to tell anything yourself, simply
suggest an occasional name of a mine or
a miner, and once in a while a long
while, remark, eyes, | belive Eve seen
something like it," Don't forget that you
are in a saloon, and that the proprietor
has TO pay license, rent, etc. A few drinks
partaken of at j%udiciously chosen inter
walls, and at such places in the course of
his remarks as are fitting, and before the
first half hour is gone, you have him-or
rather he has vou. Now, if you are an
attentive and much interested. listener,
you may prospect him as fully and fairly
as did ever he, a vein, ledge, lode or de-
post. IF during his stay in town he has
possessed himself Of any filthy lucre, and
has any left, you will see some of it in
sight pretty oon The barkeeper will be
called, and with a wink and "a leetle of
the same" you will be asked, whats
yours:' From this time he will likely go
turn about with you On the drinks as long
as his cash holds out. As ne warns to his
subject, with ready day and date, condi-
ton of the weather, and most accurate es-
innate Of distances, he will proceed to I'm
fold most startling and wholly unexpect-
ed incidents which have occurred in his
travels. His discourse will in time assume
the manner and tone Of an expert. Your
ears will be forced to give attention to
every known and some till now, unknown
formations. Cleavages will form one
chapter. Ores in veins, assures, conracts, /
seams, Iodes and deposits will successive
" form others. Chlorides, sulphides, |
~carbonates, sulphurets, quartz, horn, wire
and native forms, will each in turn receive
a glowing tribute from his tongue. From
gold to silver, from lead to iron, from
copper to tin, will he leap with the agili-
ty of his mountain friend, the goat. AS
he talks, his fore finger will trace upon
the table top the direction of veins, from
which in like imaginary and uncertain
manner will be drawn dips, spurs and an
giles. Repeated libations will render him
confidential, and as the fellow feeling
him wond'rous kind, he will, in
secrecy, impart to you his latest
discovery, in which untold b~onanzas lie
needing but the magic touch of
for development. When, as you,
upon plea of urgent business or oppoint-
cd engagement, take your leave OF him,