The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-08-04
TWO NUGGETS FOUND.
A Remarkable Story of Hardship and
Tender Hearts.

Tender Hearts.
A delightful story of a romance In
these Northern Gold Fields has reach
ed The Journal, and it may or may
not be true although we have as yet
had no means Of verifying the account.
The scene of the story is laid at Bell
City, on Seine river, and is to the
effect that the happy event occurred
there on the Glorious Fourth, whereby
two American girls became the brides
of two young Canadians and the hap
by event settled the ownership Of
disputed gold claim in which all hands
where interested. The story is as fol-
lows:
At the beginning of the school term
last fall in Iowa. Miss Jennie Renfraw
and Miss Alice Howard. lifelong
chums and country school teachers
decided that it would take too long to
accumulate fortune school teaching.
and they determined to set out to
search gold. The young women decided
to prospect the Rainy Lake region in
search OF the precious metal. About
October they passed through Duluth
for Tower, Mimi, on their way to
Rainy Lake City. Arriving at Tower
they concluded that they would.canoe
up the river. They wanted to examine
the formation of the rock in the count.
ry adjacent to Tower. 1t became nec-
essary for the young women to makes
most important step here. They
could not travel in the rough way
they had decided on in their present
dress. Then, again, they wanted to lose
their identity as women. AT Duluth
they had purchased all the necessary
supplies, as well as twosuits of clothes.
A pair of scissors was brought into
play first, and each turned barber for
the other. Soon their hair was clipped
close to the head. WOmen's garb was
was packed away, and sweaters, coats
and trousers were donned in their
place. Miss Alice and Miss Jennie
say they were a little nervous a first
after finding themselves rugged out in
mems attire, but they soon become
accustomed to it. AS soon as the
change was effect they started on
their voyage up the river. On the Sec
Ond day the canoe struck rock with
sufficient force to knock hole in it.
Alice jumped to her feet with a nevous
shrek. and in an instant the canoe
was overturned and all that it contain
ed went to the bottom of the river
twenty feet below. The only things
saved were afishline and . box Of
matches that, Jennie had in her pocket
They recovered the canoe. patched it
up as best they could, and managed to
keep it afloats until they reached
Rainy Lake City, three days later.
For the rest of the trip they lived on
fish and water, mostly water. Not
even a potato was saved from the pro-
visions. On their arrival at Rainy
Lake City they bought new lot OF
supplies, rifles and ammunition.
They then struck off into the country
in search of gold. Before snow began
to fall they had discovered What they
believed to be paying quantities on a
ocation near where Bell City now is.
They bought sheet iron stove and
other things to make their little house
as comfortable as possible and then
spent winter in hunting all kinds OF
game in the wilds of northwestern
Ontario. They were known to the
few prospectors who had met as the
Bliss boys" While waiting until
the time should come in the spring
when they could develop their pro-
perty the young women wrote to the
crown land Office at Ottawa applying
for patent. They received notice
that patent could not be granted. as
a caution" had been filed against the
location by two young men, James
Rankin and +. E. Williams Before
the notice was received the young
women had discovered that they were
the possessors of a valuable claim.
They had uncovered avein of gold bear
ing-rock that showed free gold all
through it, and the formation. was
perfect. A few days after the notice
was received two men came along and |
introduced themselves as Rankin and |
Williams. They notified the young
that the property belonged to them
selves or to the two young women who
applied for patent. The girls excus-
ed themselves for moment and held |
a consultation. They decided to
make clean breast of it to the young
men. William, and Rankin were in