The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-06-24
The
"Cet Off Here" Mine
BY George N. Forsythe

4 = oldtimers how to prospect
No1( for gold got the glad
hand" all around The diggers were
pleased to know him. and they tried to
keep in touch with him while he re-
NAMED in the country. There wasn't
so much fun lying around loose that
they could afford 10 miss any OF It.
The pilgrim ran up against experience
good and hard, and by the time he had
acquired a little wisdom the Oldtimers
were perfectly willing 10 stop laughing
long enough to catch their breath.
This information is mine to give
away. | bought il and paid for 1t.
Forty years ago had the gold fever.
As a man can't do much gold discover
ing in a months vacation. decided TO
test my theories in Ballarat district as
being within two days journey of Mel
bourne. my home.
didn't lose any time after reaching
Ballarata. Opportunities were going
TO waste all around me- felt sure. In
my opinion the diggers who were look
ing for gold in certain geological for
nations were of on the wrong scent.
I'll just get into the country where
gold is found, said TO myself, and go
to digging in any old place. It's as
likely to be in one spot as another.
As have said, / didn't waste much
time in Ballarat / rustled around and
bought good looking pony, a pack
.lorse, some picks, a shovel, a T-tent
and camping outfit
Twenty miles from Ballarat i met n
prospector, who advised me TO go
round by way Of Yellow Creek
couple OF fellows had struck il rich
over there, he said, and II was a prom
lslng locality. Going down from the
divide into Yellow Creek the flank
cinch Of my saddle annoyed the pony
I'm not much of a rider. and so
failed TO discover il until IL had irri-
tated him beyond endurance. a buck
ing pony should never be admitted TO
the comparionship of a respectable
prospector. When ! recovered con-
sciousness the pony was out of sight
but the pack horse was grazing peace
fully beside me. ] was sorry 10 lose
the saddle. but I conceived sudden
and violent dislike to the pony, and If
ever had seen him again j fear that
should have been unkind 10 him.
The pack horse and went down the
creek to water, and there made camp.
1t was rather lonely. and the mosqui-
toes were so plentiful that / did not
sleep much. I'm rather supersutlous,
too, and II struck me after time that
the pony had deposited me with un-
necessary violence, TO be surel In
mass Of rock that 1t might be worth
my while to investigate. ! couldn't be
sure that fate had not purposely land
ed me there, and that my bruises were
not necessary TO make me keep the
place in mind.
Next morning | went back 10 that
spot and made an examination. Sure
enough it was an outcropplng of
quartz-a sort of conglomerate Of por-
phyry, silica and decomposed granite.
II didn't look to be of much value. but
| started on il with pick and shovel
When knocked off for lunch was SO
tired l could hardly walk, but as !
knew that my time was limited /
crawled back to the mine" in the af-
ternoon aud resumed work. At about
B o'clock / chanced 10 look up and saw
a man sitting on the sandhill watching
me. feared that he might be looking
for a chance to jump the claim, so
called him down for parley.
What are you dolngT" was his first
question. as he sQuatted on the edge ot
the hole had made.
"Gold digging" l said briefly.
"P>haw! So you are" said he.
Living around herc?" / asked.
"Just over the hill," he replied.
"Gold digglngY
"No. Just pottering around. Pros.
pectlng a little just now and then"
ANY claim jumpers around here"
Haven't seen any. Haven't laid out
q claim. have your
"No; / haven't measured II Off yet.
Waiting to see If It's worth while.
Good country here, they tell me-"
Yes; country's a lot better than
them that's in IT,"
Next day i decided TO measure of
and stake my claim, and so stepped
off 1900 feet In one direction and G0(
in the other, and put up posts at each
corner of the parallelogram. / alsC
wrote out my location notice and
tackled IL against a tree that stood
conveniently near the discovery hole
Then l breathed easier. That mad,
the claim mine according 10 law. Al
1 had TO do was TO file record Of th,
claim with the clerk of the Minister OF
Mines at Ballarat. In respect TO IN,
manner of its discovery l named III,
mine the Get OF Here"
That afternoon ! turned up piece o.
rotten quartz that was speckled Will
free gold. There was no mistaking IN,
value of the rock. 1t was rich. Usu
ally am self-contained. but that plec
of quartz was too much for my nerves
just jumped up and down and shout
ed. Then / heard some one else shou
in reply. and my acquaintance Of th
day before strolled leisurely down IN
hill.
struck itT' he asked. IL appeare
TO me that he was trying TO appear III
concerned. and pulled myself togetl
er and initiated him.
''Yes. I've turned up some pretty mic
rock" said, and showed IL TO hin
i expected 10 see him go up In the al
rs had done but instead he sguatte