The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-01
THEMERESTACCIDENT
How the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
Mine Was Discovered.
IN THE COEUR D'ALENES
The Kicks Of a Mule Eventually
Brought Thousands of Dollars
20 Tim O'Rourke and
Mike Sullivan.
IN THE COEUR D'ALENES

Fortune plays some mad pranks at
times. Some men strive all their lives
10 amass a competence, ana then ~
some foul blow they lose II all. while
others, by a lucky accident, are trans
formed from paupers 10 mllnonaires
No region in the United States. says
a CORRESPONDENT of the Cincinnati Tri-
bune. has produced in the last is years
so many accidental millionaires as the
Occur d'Alene. THE Metal Heart. or
by more accurate translation The
Heart of Anvil"
Wild and romantic scenery. possess
ing the supernatural beauty which
makes sometimes Dame Natures most
fantastic moods. first attracted old
Chief Saltese Of the tribe OF Couer
d'Alene. These Indians pitched their
tepees on Beauty bay, Lake Occur
d'Alene long before the Argonauts be-
gan their journeys across the plains
TO find wealth far beyond their widest
dreams. The savages believed that
the abode OF the great spirit was some
where in these kootenai hills, ana they
had consecrated the spot on which
the Morning mine. the Bunker Hill
and the Sullivan mine and many 9th
er wealth producers are now located.
Sixty miles away from the nearest
point where supplies could be obtained
two prospectors. Tim o'Rourke and
Mike Sullivan, were frying their last
piece of bacon for breakfast. During
two month they had examined almost
every ledge on Cabinet mountain and
then they had started for Trail creek,
but would rather be mountains than
men or any inanimate thing rather
than be human beings. The last cent
of their grub stake was gone. They
had been prospecting so long that they
had the miners fever and they felt
that they could not work at any 9TH
er occupation. When their Indian
guide deserted them they had been
compelled 10 turn back. Discouraged
and disheartened. these moody miners
sat by their little fire. and as they
gaZed on the glorious beauties of the
Kootenai hills. bathed in the first rays
of the morning sun, they felt that they
had reached the end of their journey.
In all their wanderings across the
valleys and mountains their faithful
little gray pack mule named BOX" ac-
companied them. How IL happened TO
acquire the wholly inappropriate name
was since explained by Tim O'Rourke.
who says they called him BOX" be-
cause he was always ION the square,"
meaning that he was a faithful and
industrious mule. never balxy and al
ways willing to work. He was tethered
a short distance from the camp fire,
and his back was just visible over a
ledge that was between the miners
and the excellent little brute.
The breakfast finished, O'Rourke
arose and stretched his limbs. Six feet
and two inches tall. with muscles
hardened by a miners outdoor life, he
was known as Handsome Tim"
throughout the whole country. Brave
and generous, he had by many acts of
courage endeared himself to the few
inhabitants of the mountain district
over which he and his bosom friend.
Sullivan, had roamed for years. Bred
upon an Ohio farm, near West Salem,
he'd had revolted from the animal serv-
itude required and had attained a.
reputation as a ne'er-do-well. Conse-
quently when he had aspired 10 wed
the daughter of the richest farmer I'm
the vicinity of his bucolic home, he
was promptly refused. Then he went
West and gradually became a prospec-
tor. During the winter when he could
find employment dealing faro. he lived
comfortably in Spokane but when
spring came even the allurements OF
IS for eight hours did not induce him
10 forsake his vocation as a prospec-
tor.
His companion. Mike Sullivan.
known as Jolly Mike" usually
laughed in the face OF adversely. IL
was said Of him when he fell into Lake
Occur d'Alene one day that his buoy
ant nature made IL impossible for him
TO sink. Mike was about 80 years of
age. and had great fondness for
whiskey.
AS the two men started to load their
pack mule with a burden which weigh
ed more than the beast himself. they
Noticed that II had paved the earth
in search Of tender bunch grass. Sulli-
van stopped 10 examine the animals
shoes, and blurted out:
'Howly Moses. Tim. VIII yez look
a this?"
Tim looked. and It was high noon be-
fore the two prospectors left the place
Then they had staked II out and mark
ed IL by permanent buttes and boun-
DIARIES according 70 the provisions OF
miners law. They put up a big card
on which was printed, in rude charac-
tiers made with charred embers,
Bunker Hin and Sullivan Mine. Sull-
ivan and O'Rourke. owners"
Then they started for Spokane. Dur
ing the entire march Of 50 miles they
paused only 10 eat rabbit which they
had killed. and Box" probably re-
solved not TO discover another mine IL
II resulted In such a forced march as
that Two raonths afterwards O'RourlSe
and Sullivan We're wearing diamonds
and billed shirts" and found IL irnpos-
sible 10 exhaust their income by any
ordinary means. Both are now million
aires several times over and less than
a year ago they sold the Bunker Hilf
and Sullivan mine 10 an English syn
date for $J00,o00 Box the real dis
coverer OF the property. Il stu living.
He never has 70 carry any more big
loads. Tor he revels in clover on his
masters big ranch IN the Walla walla
valley. thousand dollars would not
buy this humble little mule. old as he
is, ana people say that Tim O'Rourke
VIII give BOX" a swell funeral when
he dies. That is why the picture OF a
little old gray mule e stamped on ev-
cry sack Of ore that f. shipped from
the Bunker nm and Sullivan mine. II
also accounts Tor handsome painting
OF Box done by no less m artist
than Remington himself. that adorns
the Office of the owners ~ the mine.
Meanwhile ORourke's buckeye
sweetheart has forgotten him and
married. He returned and the simple
HiChecf of al = =. r,