The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-11-17
IN SEARCH OF a GOLD MINE.
ny =. =. BOYNToN.

ny =. =. BOY NroN.
in search Of "a gold mine. We followed
mp Gold creek. "a large tributary tn the
Columbia river. Our tools, provisions
and blankets were upon our
backs.
We found AN old bark canoe. and i'm
This attempted to cross the stream. We
put our things carefully in the bottom of
the little vessel and pushed OH upon our
hazardous voyage. The stream. though
smooth and CLASSY at this point. had a
strong currcnt. and to avoid being carried
down too far We padded for "a small is-
land.
This we had nearly reached. and l was
just saying tn my comrades. "Wcll make
il all right. boys when suddenly u wide
slit opened i'm the thin bark. In "a second
orr craft was filled with water.
l spraug into the stream, and finding
that I could touch bottom. tried to pull the
boat ashore. Hill sat upon The bottom
crying Justify that he was drowning.
and speedily had everything upon the
island.
We wcrs. wet throun Ia. Our provisions
were waters oaked. IL part of them ruined,
and our canoe. utterly useless. The island
contained no logs suitable for IA raft. We
60 uld SWIM ashore. but our tools ANA pro-
visions would have to- br left. and the
whole object of the expedition would be
defeated.
After repeated trials we found "a spot
where we could wade ashore. This done.
To dry and then set to work building ~ raft.
For this purpose We used dry heinlock log,
binding them together with stong willow
witlcs. The next morning We crossed in
safety. though carried some distance down
the stream. Leaving the raft securely fas-
tened tn a young trer,w We marched through
dense groves of pine. hcmlock and cedar.
Signs 81 bear. elk and carbon deer were
plentiful. Having no fire arms except "a
pistol. the only thing We managed to shoot
was a grouse or two.
We followed mp tn" stream for several
days. The trip was extremely difficult
and fatiguing. Now We were. climbing
along the steep face of the mountains and
now making our way through the dense
buoy.si up by the thought that we should
soon find IA rich mine that would reward
our q Forts.
Splendid views OF snow-cappcd noun
tains. deep Iorges and dashing torrents
were almost hourly seen.
Storms were frequent, and ON two MORN
ings our beds were covered with SNOW.
One day "a heavy rain storm came on and
Ia protect ourselves We hastily stripped
come bark from the hcmlock trees and
with il built IL little hut into which we
crept for shelter.
not cease as night drew near. We col
lected SO ne dead limbs. built "a fire AT the
as best W. could. and then hurried back
to our rude bat comfortable shelter. Here.
spreading our We lay down for
IN night.
So mo hours lat n I was awakened by "A
tremendous roaring. and rushing out
found the fire had burned through the
shell. and til" big cedar being hollow,
the whole tree was ON fire. Great sheets
of flame We're shooting from the hole fully
was brilliantly lighted by the mass of fire.
saw the tree must soon fall. SD called
4" my COMPANIONS To run To- the base Of
the tree the safest spot. We had barely
gained Ibis point when the forest mon
arch fell with "a Numbering crash. fairly
jin1an tn. Of " onr fr,i, l. ho s.rir an Within =
the limbs pierced the bark covering. The
rain still poured down. so We fixed our
hut as best We could and again sought it's
shelter.
The next day I met with AN adventure
that camc n~"arend,ng~ fatally. Wcr.ached
rough and PERCEPTIONS. Huge granite cliffs
rose upon every hand, and the higher
mountain submits were white with new
fallen SNOW. Slowly we climbed from spot
TO spot over rocks and fallen trees. every
moment getting igher amid the craigs and
ellis. till AT length the courage OF Hill ut
tcrly failcd.
Finding il useless to argue with him, I
told Holmes to- remain and | would go on
alone. II il was possible tn reach the sum-
init I would shout for him, and he must in
duce our cosnrade to attempt the ascent.
Hill legged me not To go. saying l would
surely he killed.
made my way up the cliffs slowly hut
lodges, now digging my ,ass into the
snow hanks, and gradually nearing the
top. l at length reached what I took To
he the summit, but was disheartenctl to
find n still loftier range of mountains
just beyond.
Knowing that my timorotis friend would
never he able To scale their mighty sides I
turned To descend. This I found mors.
difficult than l had anticipated. ! used
every precaution, for il was IA situation of
the utmost peril. A single slip. and i
would go over precipiccs hundreds of feet
in height.
After descending some distance i AT
length reached "A long, smooth drift of
SNOW, which ! was Obliged To cross tn at
tain a point whence 1 could descend to my
friends. This crift lay at "a steep angle. ter
~Ininating i'm a precipice 10 or 40 feet high.
Over this was certain to he dashed il my
footing gave away.