The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
GOLD NINE ROMANCES
GOOD AND BAD LUCK ALIKE PURSUE
THE TOILING PROSECUTOR.
A Frenchmnn's Very bad Luck-The
Romance of the Holy Terror-"Old
Man, stratton's Great Luck.

rich and of those who, after years Of I'M
successful 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. 1.-The
prospector. who climbed 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 ne considers ir-
refutable arguments in support of his belief.
If arguments fail to convince he Ia ready
10 relate EXPERIENCES by the score. expert
ences 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 undertake
ings.
'I F. Hilderbrand, little, wiry French
man, wro drives an express wagon in Dead
wood is a firm believer in luck for the
greater number of the many years that
cause his curly beard and hair TO be so
literally 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 a dray instead of living
life Of ease ana enjoying the Injuries and
comforts that the possession of unlimited
means make possible. Had luck not been
against him he would now be Mr. Hilder-
brand. and not Hilderbrand, the drayman'
1t was luck that caused him, more than
thirty years ago, TO stumble against a
mountain side in Montana, and it was the
same luck that caused him TO chip off a
piece from huge bowlder he found there
10 find that he had struck II RICH for the
powder was quartz, and so rich in gold
that IL fairly made his eyes pop and his
neart beat with a rapidity that threatened
serious results TO its outer covering. He
soon got over his excitement and with the
prospectors instinct began 10 look for the
lead from which the bowlder had sloughed
on. Luck was still with him, for he
traced the lead and at once he began to
open It, He hal partner, and the two
worked hard, for, although quartz mining
was then merely an experiment in Mon
tanas they knew the time was coming when
placer mining would end and quartz mining
would receive the attention of moneved
men anxious for quick way of increasing
They were poor, and their supply OF
grub was limited. but they knew that there
would gladly stake them as soon a. thev
learned OF the richness OF their rird. So
Ear all or their luck had been OF the quail
lily described as good but change was
10 come. and that soon. Their luck was
destined to undergo change In an unfor-
tunate moment they undertook to roll out
guided them TO where fortune was awit-
ing them Whether it was this or some-
tning else, that caused their good luck to
cnange, IS not known. but Hilderbrand be-
neves that the attempt to change the loca-
ton or the bowlder offended the gent that
Tor years had guarded the hidden treasures
or the mountain, for the bowlder rolled over
on the arm OF his partner, and so badly
crushed IT that ii became useless. Being
mo rhaxr L.
Hilderbrand going 10 French Gulch to seek
empioyment in the placer mines there, while
MS partner went TO Helena 10 obtain
surgical assistance.
REVISIES THE BOWLDER.
Years passed on and Hilderbrand began
TO think less OF the find and when the
stampede for Deadwood began he was one
or the first to join the rush. and luck of
the good kind aided him 10 LOCATE a paying
claim in that part Of the city which was
once known as Elizabethtown. After the
claim had been worked out he again drifted
west and was one Of the pioneers in the
Occur q Alene, mountains. Bad luck again
became his companion, and he drifted from
one pace to another until finally he found
nlmselI once more in Montana. and one day
ne stood once more gazing on the bowider
OF rich quartz on which he had Toasted his
eyes years before. The bOWlder had the
iamiliar appearance OF an old friend, but
derbrand was bewildered.
In place OF the modest little tunnel ne
mao helped to dig over a quarter of a CEN
fury before he found a monster hosting
pant raising rich ore from a shaft hun
oreds or feet in depth, while in the gulch
. ununoe srs and roared a monster stamp
IL occupied place of honor in front of a
splendid building. Surrounded by an iron
railing, from which dargled signs caution
Ing trespassers 10 beware, the bowlder
stood an object of generation and curiosity
for II told to the world that 1t was the
cry of the famous Drum Lummon mine,
one OF the richest gold producers in the
"H1lderbrand attempted to touch the
powder, but burly Waterman ordered
him OF. Finally eloquence prevailed. and
the man whose luck had been his ruin
was permitted TO place his hand on the
oowlder and run his fingers over the spot
which marked the place from which he had
chpped on a sample years before.
Sometimes Hildebrand tells the story.
and always winds it up by laying his hands
over his heart and looking far away and
ing that portion OF his anatomy covered
by his hands. wen / come hack and see
de mill and de mine and tinlx OF de time
wen L md de bowlder and den tink what
might ave been If luck had been wild me
hinstead of de hole man Cruise"
The stories told Of those whom fortune
favored perhaps not numerous, but
are equally as interesting as those con-
corning the unfortunate prcspectors who.
others reap the fruits of their tolls.
MORE ROMANTIC DISCOVERIES.
One day during the latter part OF June.
1894. William Franklin and his daughter.
sfrs. Frank Stone. happened TO stroll up a
gulch in Pennington county. in the Black
Hills. and. stopping TO rest moment Mrs.
Stone idly broke in two a small piece of
rock. which. in the break. upon examina-
ton. showed some particles of gold. A lit
tie digging exposed more OF the particles
or the rock, which, upon being tested.
proved very rich Everybody in the vicin-
ity, having nothing 10 do, visited the spot
and Tor paStiFne were allowed 10 dig ont
some OF the rock and crush X and pan ont
the gold. As every man in the vicinity was
not IN the best financial condition. AMI
without the means for raising the nonev
Tor the proper celebration OF the approach
Ing Fourth of July. quite an oper,fnsy was
made and the proceeds devoted To that
purpose. From this little incident dates the
discovery or gold in the Holy Terror mine
which since that time has been causing
so much excitement in mining circles
Another or the lucky ones was w {
StrattOa, owner OF the great Independence
mine al Cripple Creek. A few wears APO
MT Stratton was only a poor prospector
FOR several years the old man worked
alone on his claim and had little TO saw To
any one. The other prospectors in the dis
trict used 10 call him 'Old Stratton." He
sunk shaft. without any help. nearly one
hundred feet deep lie would go down the
ladder. put In a blast. go 10 the top and
wait until the smoke arose. Then he would
again descend the ladder and fiji the buck-
et. then 20 up and hoist, empty and then
LEI X down again. then go down and fiji
IL In this crude fashion he worked for