Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-31
HILDERBRAND's LUCK.
rrom the s.. 1ouis Globo.pomoorat.

From the st. Louis Globe-Domocrat.
Mining camps are replete with in
teresting stories of prospectors who
have struck it rich and Of those who,
after years OF unsuccessful effort, find
themselves "dead broke" in their old
age because luck was against them.
while everybody believes more or
less in the existence of that some
thing known as luck,'" said Jean
Decker, formerly a resident OF the
Black Hills and one Of the pioneers of
that region, "the prospecJor, who
climbs over mountains and trails
along streams winding their devious
way through tortuous gulches, more
than anybody, is believer that luck
shapes the destinies OF all men. He
will tell you frankly that he believes
in luck, and is always prepared with
what he considers irrefutable argu-
ments 10 support of his belief If ar
guments fail to convince, he is ready
to relate experiences by the score, cx-
pericnces of his own and of others, to
prove that luck is behind all success
or failure, and that luck good or
bad, is responsible for the success or
failure of all undertakings.
IL. II. Hilderbrand, a little wiry
Frenchman who drives an express
wagon in Deadwood, is firm believer
in luck, for the greater number of
the many years that cause his curly
beard and hair to be SO literally be-
sprinkled with silver have been spent
in the mountains OF the west. 1t is
luck that is responsible for the fact
that he is now driving dray instead
Of living life OF ease and enjoying
the luxurcs and comforts that the
possession of unlimited means make
possible. Had luck not been against
him he would now be MI Hilder-
brand and not 'Hilderbraud the dray-
man. 1t was luck that caused him,
mere than thirty years ago, to STUN
| BILE against mountain side in Mon
tana, and it was the same luck that
caused him to chip Off piece from a
huge boulder he found there to find
that he had Struck it lich,' for the
boulder was quartz, aud so rich IN
gold that it fairly made his eyes pop
and his heart beat with rapidity
that threatened results to its outer
covering. He soon got over his ex-
lcitement, and, with the prospectors
instinct, began to look for the lead
from which the boulder had sloughed
off. Luck was still with him, for he
traced the lead, and at once began tj
open it. He had partner and the
two worked hard, for, although quartz
mining was then merely an expert
ment in Montana, they knew the time
was coming when placer mining would
end and quartz mining would receive
the attention of men anxious for q
quick way of increasing their. wealth
\ "They we're poor and their supply
0 of grub was limited, but they knew
there were plenty of men in the terri
. tory who would gladly stake them as
) soon as they learned of the richnes:
of their dnd. So far all Of their luck
had been of the quality described as
good, but a change was to come, ane
that soon. Their luck was destined
TO undergo a change. In an unfortu
nate moment they undertook TO rol
out of the way thegreat boulder which
D.. had guided them to where fortune
= was awaiting them. Whether it wa
this or something else that cauSee
o their good luck to change is no
known, but Hilderbrand believes tina
the attempt to change the location o
the boulder offended the geni that TO
ears had guarded the hidden treas
ures Of the mountain, for the boulde
rolled over on to the arm Of his part
ner and so badly crushed it that it be
o came useless. Being without none,
: they had to leave the place, Hilder
brand going to French gulch to seeI
employment in the placer mines ther
while his partner went to Helena t
obtain surgical assistance.
"Years passed on and Hilderbran
i began to think less of the find, an
when the stampede for Deadwood be
i gan he was one Of the first to join th
- rush, and luck of the good kiRd er
ab1od him, to lOcata n having claim /
that part of the city which was ono
known as Elizabethtown. After th
claim had been worked out he agai
" drifted west and was one of the Dit
at neers in the Coeur d'Alene mountain
Bad luck again became his compal
ion, and he drifted from one place
You Can Believe
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