Evening journal., 1899-07-13
O'ROurke'S Lucky Mule
Found a Rich Mine. and Lived In
Glover Thereafter.
.HTL o,RouRKE,s luelr mnl. de.

DILL O'ROURKE'S lucky mule de-
rived more benefit from the Bunker
Hill and Sullivan mine than any Of the
men who have owned it. Ever since its
discovery long chain of events, in
cluding the destruction of the mill by
dynamiters a few days ago, have de-
stroyed the profits Of operating what
should be one Of the richest mines in
the Coeur d'Alene district.
Wild as the Kootenai country IS now,
it has undergone many changes since
Sullivan and ORourke went prospects
ing over it less than 20 years ago. At
that time Chief Saltese and his Occur
d'Alene Indians did not take kindly to
the white trcspassers, and warlike
Sioux we're not infrequent visitors to
the region. Now and then a wandering
band of Crees were encountered and
thieving Gros Ventras stole many a
prospector's outfit. The Indians have
given way TO white men not less dam
gerous, but no one prospects in the
Occur d'Alene district now. All the
country has been carefully examined
and it is seldom that new bodies of ore
are found.
Not far from Knoblnoster, Mo-,
O'Rourke was brought up on a farm.
His generous disposition gained for him
the reputation of q spendthrift. 1t was
predicted that he would never have
nothin'," and this prediction was con-
frmed when he traded q valuable gold
watch for an undersized balky mule.
Indeed, il was this transaction as much
as anything else that induced him ia
convert all his worldly goods into cash
and set out, leading the mule, for the
far west, where the reputation OF
neither himself nor the mule was
known. Irish sensitiveRess csssed lim
to leave at night. 1t was,a week before
the neighborhood knew he had gone.
Years afterward, when he went baci,
with gold enough 10 buy any ten farms
in that part of Missouri, he and the
younger generation had many laugh
over the comments his departure had
caused.
The trail to the west was a main trav-
eled road in those days, and before long
O'Boufke fell in with another Irish
man, named Sullivan, who had spent a
number Of years at mining in Colorado,
With only vague conception of his
destination, O'Rourke agreed TO accom-
pany Sullivan, to the Occur d'Alenes
which country was just beginning &c
be heard Of The two men met with
many misfortunes. Sullivan's horses
died. They harnessed the little mule
and tried to make him take the place
of one Of the horses, but he would not
pull. He would carry a pack on his
back quite cheerfully, but when hitched
TO a vehicle he would not pull pound
Sullivan wanted the satisfaction of kill.
ing him, and O'Rourke at one time con
sented, but changed his mind before
the execution took place. When they
reached Walla Walla, all that was left
of their possessions was the mule and
one team. They sold the horses ane
tried TO sell the mule, but no one would
buy him; so they bought some provi
sions and loaded them on his back
Then they set out for the Kootenai hills
II The mule soon learned 10 follow then
i like dog. He needed no driving oi
4 leading, and the patient, unobtrusiv'
manner in which he plodded along bear
ing the beans, coffee and bacon sooI
made the men forget his former short
comings. 1t was early in the spring
when they started. All summer the
tramped over the hills. Now and theI
they would find traces of silver, bu
nothing to warrant any work
4 O'Rourke. after the first month, learned
to pass by piece of mica without pick
ing il up and shouting that he had foun'
silver mine. The first snow of tn
year had fallen, and the two men wer
slowly making their way out of tn
hills. All of their provisions excep
salt and coffee had run out and the.
r were living on venison, coffee and salt
Lack of food and constant companion
ship made the men querulous. Ever.
p suggestion made by one was prompt
! vetoed by the other. In this way eac
. began 10 think more Of the mule. II
{ was generally only short distane
< away from the campfire hunting pa
D tiontly for the tufts Of grass that spran
2 mp between the rocks. After quarre
one of the men always hunted up tn
b mule and made a coniidant Of hir
e while the other moodily stirred th
e campfire and made a mental survey c
= the shortest route back to civilization
Late In September one evening Ia
u men went into camp on hillside. tn
mule was relieved Of his pack saddl
: and turned loose. There was no ven
SON. Two rabbits. food which ever
plainsman despiocs. we're Az they ka