Evening journal., 1899-09-07


DHIL OROURKE'S lucky mule de-
rived more benefit from the Bunker
Hin and Sullivan mine than any Of the
men who have owned it. Ever since its
discovery q 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 Occur d'Alene district.
Wild as the Kootenai country Is now,
it has undergone many changes since
Sullivan and O'Rourke went prospect
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 trespassers, and warlike
Sioux were not infrequent visitors to
the region. Now and then a wandering
band Of Crees were encountered and
thieving Gros Nentres stole many q
prospector's outfit. The Indians have
given way 10 white men not less dan
gerous, but no one prospects in the
Occur d'Alene district now. All the
country has been carefully examined
and il is seldom that new bodies of ore
are found.
Not far from Knoblmoster, Mo-,
O'Rourke was brought up on q farm.
His generous disposition gained for him
the reputation of a spendthrift. IL was
predicted that he would "never have
nothin'," and this prediction was con-
frmed when he traded a valuable gold
watch for an undersized balky mule.
Indeed, il was this transaction as much
as anything else that induced him 10
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 sensitiveness caused him
to leave at night. It was week before
the neighborhood knew he had gone.
Years afterward, wheH he went back
with gold enough to buy any ten farms
in that part of Missouri, he and the
younger generation had many a 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'Rourke fell in with another Irish.
man, named Sullivan, who had spent a
number of years at mining in Colorado
With only a vague conception Of his
destination, O'Rourke agreed to accom-.
pany Sullivan, to the Occur d'Alenes
which country was just beginning tc
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 a pound
Sullivan wanted the satisfaction Of kill
ing him, and O'Rourke at one time con
sented, but changed his mind befor'
the execution took place. When they
reached Walla Walla, all that was left
of their possessions was the mule anc
one team. They sold the horses anc
tried TO sell the mule, but no one would
buy him; so they bought some PROV
sions and loaded them on his back
Then they set out for the Kootenai hills
The mule soon learned to follow then
like a dog. He needed no driving oi
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 sprint
when they started All summer the,
tramped over the hills. Now and thel
they would find traces OF silver, bu
nothing to warrant any work
O'Rourke, after the first month, Learned
to pass by piece of mica without pick
ing lit up and shouting that he had founl
q 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
were living on venison, coffee and salt
Lack of food and constant companion
ship made the men querulous. Ever
suggestion made by one was prompt
= vetoed by the other. In this way eac
began to think more Of the mule. II
was generally only a short distanc
= away from the campfire hunting pa
Hently for the tufts of grass that spran
I up between the rocks. After quarr'
D one of the men always hunted up tn
mule and made a confdant of hiI
while the other moodily stirred th
!. campfire and made mental survey {
the shortest route back TO civilization
Late in September one evening th
men went into camp on hillside. tn
: mule was relieved Of his pack sadd
= and turned loose There was no ven
- son. Two rabbits. food which ever
plainsman despiecs. we're al. they ha