The new North-west., 1891-06-05
AVERYS START IN LIFE.

boyhood in which 1 had been kept busy in
myfather's store, by terms attending school
aud working out my mathematics at odd
hours until was able to enter college,
where took the engineering course, much
to the surprise OF my father and his wife,
who in consequence gave me but slight
help; but pcrsevered, and by hard strug-
gle won my degree. and Immediately start
cd west.
While yet on the outward bound train,
near the great Rockies, there was q delay
caused by the wreck Of q freight train, and
], fresh from the lecture room OF master
mind in the science of engineering, was
able to make some suggestions which
proved of practical value, and attracted
tho attention of one of the solid looking
passengers who was also travelling west. ]
found he was interested in my history, and
I soon told him who and what I WIS, and
what hoped to accomplish, first hoping to
secure employment as civil engineer in
some railway company, and then strike for
the mines
! found I was talking to practical civil
engineer, who had been in the employ OF
the Union Pacific railway when it was be-
ing built, and he related anecdote after an
ecdote OF the early days as the train rat
tied over the boundless plains,
On the limbs of certain tree he had
seen victim of Judge Lynch swinging in
the breeze, There he had witnessed 4 rail
road construction gang, consisting OF three
hundred men, imprison contractor in n
railroad tic pen and keep him in the hot
sun. on bread and water, until ho had
signed their pay checks.
Parks Fort was celebrated as the scene of
the Parks massacre; the three Parks
brothers found dead in their "dugout,"
while a dead Indian pony and pools of gore
on the ground outside showed how dearly
they had sold their lives.
As we sat in the smoking car that even
ing Mr.. Thompson told me many a tale Of
camp life, and finished his sketches by a
thrilling tale of how he made his fortune.
~ had,i he said, .donc very we'll at my
profession rs civil engineer, and after
some years took to mining to make 4
speedy fortune l worked hard only to
find that I had planted nll my savings.
some fifteen Thousand dollars, in wild cat
mines and barren prospect holes. About
this time ] received my little Inheritance
and was made guardian to my young sis
ter. Her small fund, two thousand dol
lars, invested in small tenement houses
carefully secured to herself and l. having
an opportunity to buy cattle ranch at
tleman's business and tried to forycs that
fortunes are sometimes made ut mining,
fearing lest lie tempted and lose all had
again. .".-.
However, found l was considered TO
be quite an authority on mining matters
and engineering, report, With its usual
accuracy, investing me with an imaginary
fortune made at those pursuits, and | was
often consulted BY amateurs and looked
up to as an authority upon those topics
"One day Frank Cotton, who had been
my first instrument man in engineering
days, but was now q miner, came to me-
with u bit of ore, which he handed to me
with the question, What do you think of
that, Mr.. Thompson
1T is the finest bit OF ore | have seen
since came to Colorado replied, with
enthusiasm. Where did you get it,
From the Mascot mine I own the
hole, and this is n sample Of wha; have
struck
"'If there is more OF the same mineral,
and enough of it, you are in for a fortune.
wish You luck, my boy, said l.
Yes, but need money to 60 on with,
Come out and see what it looks like In he
bed
''The next morning Frank and | mounted
IL couple Of bronchos and set forth. Some
six or seven miles from town we turned off
abruptly to the right, followed q narrow
trail up short gulch across n beautiful
little park, up q narrow winding canyon,
and over the crest OF hill Nestled among
the ccdars stood |; low cabin.
Here is my cabin, and yonder is the
mine. said Frank, pointing to windlass
over hole in the ground some two hun
dred feet distant. But let us have some
grub before we go further. WAX IN ana
make yourself at home
1.-The interior OF the cabin was dark,
dirty and forbdding. and uninviting MS
place OF human abode. There was one
pane of glass set into the wall for lighting
the domicil, and good big fireplace. y
rough table, Two or three benches and
some rude berths fastened to the wall COM
pleted the furniture. Help yourself to
pot luck, professor, said Frank. Fat
bacon, hot biscuit and untrimmed black
coffee served on tin dishes made 4 meal for
hungry man, quickly served and hastily
eaten.
After dinner we went out and inspected
the mine. We investigated the pile of ore
on the dump and then climbed down the
ladder in the manway. The main shaft
was over a hundred feet deep A, Il depth
OF forty feet and again at eighty feet cross
cuts had been run and connected by a
|
drift had been carried some twenty feet to
the south. Here some fine Gre had been
exposed. Having thoroughly explored all
the workings we camo to the surface
This old fashioned whim can hardly
serve your purpose, Frank said Il you
need steam holster for that depth of shaft
and quality of ore, l should think
Yes, sir; that is where the trouble lies
II had steam to depend on I'D ask no
odds of Gould, for tha, mine is a sure
bonanza; but it costs all it's worth right
here to hoist that ore with !. whim.
1T was too late for me to think of re-
turning that night, SO We spent the few
hours of daylight in looking for mining
timber, water, and then at the prospect
generally. Supper fare was a repetition
OF dinner fare, as was tho breakfast next
morning
Certain golden dreams were floating
before my mental vision, for knew of
parties who would take hold OF the enter
prise il the outlook for rich find was fa-
vorahie
'TEank Cotton conlded his exact posi-
tionto me on our way back. He had to sell
within the next two weeks or lose his
mine, as he had given a lien on the prop
erty for &, 900. Ills creditors were extreme.
ly anxious to secure the mine, 80 Frank
would accept any terms that would satisfy
this claim and leave him q share in the
mine. l talked the matter over with Judge
Stirman, an old friend, the railway super
intendent, and he proposed that we should
tnRath61 Duy the mine. was to raise nv
share of the money on my real estate. In
three months time the judge would buy
up my notes, and would sign an agreement
to give me my paper back for my interest
in the mine in case wished to close out
during the year.
In order to raise the sum needed put
mortgage on my sisters property, now
much increased in value, and on my ranch,
feeling secure in doing SO, as l was assured
Of being Released by the judge in case OF
tight times.
I'VE put in steam hoising works and
built wagon road. The Mascot barely
paid expenses. One day we would strike
rich ore to blast through barren rock to-
morrow. Time was passing
Judge Stirman was plunging into many
speculations and was reported to be max
ing mint of money, but times were ever
tight with u.s. One day he sent for me-
How dye do, Thompson Some one
must go into the field, as I want to run
line through Muggin's Gulch to Romero, in
the San Luis country. Wewant to freight