The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-09
AN EXAMPLE OF PERSISTENCE

AN EXAMPLE OF PERSISTENCE
Persistence has accomplished more
than courage. Sticking to a thing,
said philosopher. sis a superior quail
ity in any character" Adhesion to pur-
pose guided by wisdom and supported
by reason, has given us the greatest
achievements of the race. Bernard
Palsy, the French potter, by persist
ence rising superior to disappointment,
disfavor, the entreaty of friends, the
sions of tyranny. adhered to his pur-
pose in the search for the lost art OF
enameling pottery. The world might
have waited, century more for the
great success which was achieved in
that direction three hundred years ago
had he not persisted.
The. lives of inventors. explorers and
business princes give us thousands Of
examples Of the persistent trait, the
persevering and indomitable following
out of conception and research. On a
very much lower level perhaps, but il
Illustrative of the logged adhesion to
conviction in the search for truth, is
the example Of a cowboy of Colorado.
Bob Womack But for his refusal
to be downed, the rich mineral deposits
of Cripple Creek might yet be covered
by grazing soil. and be still given over
to the fattening of stock.
-; -
that section have, in the generous
hearted spirit Of all of that calling, for
it seems to make men broad and gen..
erous,- have resolved to reward Bob
by endowing him with fortune. They
have nearly completed the task of rails
ing the sum of $50 900, which is to bs
presented to the cowboy. who, though
the real .discoverer of Cripple Creek
wealth, has. like most discoveries and
inventors. reaped small reward.
In 1877 Womacls was a cowboy in tho
employ of his father on lands at Grip
pie Greek. One day in his wandering
over the hills he came upon what ia
now known as Poverty Gulch," where
upon some drift rock he found what he
believed was free gold. The rock lay in
Cripple Creek. at a distance he had
friends who We're practieed prospectors.
To these he wrote, urging them to come
and test the ground for gold. A pros.
peetor never needs a second invitation
to explore new ground. The friends
came, but they soon departed cursing
young Womack for leading them on
prospecting they told him that they had
their labor for their pains. and that
the ground was good for nothing.
= Womack was disappointed, but far
from being discouraged. He set out
himself to prospect. and saying nothing
to any one pursued his lonely hunt
convinced that the precious ore was in
that locality in plenty. The more he
searched the deeper the conviction and
the more resolute grew his determine,
ton to find the metal. After a yea,
of labor he again struck it. finding in a
side hill on the Creek. rock bearing gold
He managed to knock off enough Of the
rock to send to an assay Office In Dem
yer. and received return that it was
worth 5000 ton. He again sent for
his prospector friends and again point
ed out to them why he thought gold
In plenty was to be found on the creek.
His persistence impressed them, but
after prospecting anew for a time, they
informed him that his find" was
Sailed" and that there was no gold
in that section. But still Womack was
not discouraged. He told the prospec-
tors that If they would continue their
search through the region, he would
board them without pay for year ON
his fathers ranch. for he was con-
WINGED that gold in great richness was
there, and that it would be uncovered
sooner on later. But the miners refused.
laughed at him. pronounced him cranky
and cracked. and left the place.
womack still pursuing his search un-
der the emphasized conviction that hs
hidden gold of enormous value, man.
aged to interest some spectators In a
scheme, to systematically prospect the
gulch. This was done and the result
was that Womack's conviction proved
to be true and the Cripple Creek mines
became reality out of which many mill
lions of precious value have been ex-
tracted. Womack's persistence and
fixity of purpose won for him and gave
to his State one of its best mining Sec
tons.