The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-16
ONE WOMAN'S WORK
IN DEATH VALLEY
LILLIAN MALCOLM, PRosPECToR,
HAS CLAIMS AT ITS EDGE.
Despite Hardships, tho Stiffness and
Sand Storms Of the Desert, Her
Greatest Happiness Is Seeking
Lodges that Promise Copper and
Gold. '@N% .-Ia,~
Il am Miss Malcolm. -

am Miss Malcolm.o ..s =. ..
The caller could not hide an involun-
tary sign of surprise. This tall, bright
eyed, handsome young woman, Miss Lii
pector. She smiled. IBID YOU expect
to see a six-shooter strapped on matt
Without. waiting FOR her visitor to
tell just what he did expect tesee, she
"Do you know, people think of
woman prospector as freak dressed in
corduroy and-well. looking like the
Diamond Dick stofy pictures. :"
Have l been in Death valleyf I
for ten years. I was in Alaska during
the rush across Chilcoot pass. From,
Alaska I came west, and have been in
Nevada and California since. How did
time ago. won T: tell in years. was
travelling with Frederick Warde IS COM
pany. After coming from London
became interested in mines. I bought
stocks and lost. This added to my In
buys stocks has the small end OF op.
portunity. After thinking the matter
over carefully, I decided to see for my.
self. Then the rush to Alaska com
menced and, leaving the footlights be.
hind forever, went to the scene Of the
excitement. When that died out went
west and have stayed there since.
II realized how heavily I was handi-
capped when I started roughing it. A
woman s sphere is, the home and when
she leaves that she has countless preiu-
I had much to learn, so studied miner.
alogy, geology and other lines to acquire
q thoro knowledge Of mining. I CON
TESS feel proud of the progress have
made. With more study and practical
experience I am adding to my knowl-
edge Of mining constantly. own inter.
ssts In Tonopeh, Bullfrog and In the
the highest hopes In the Funeral range.
There are all sorts Of ore in that range.
Huge lodges of it crop out tara the
surface. l have had numerous stakes,
but expect a big one some day.
WIN you quit, prospecting thena"
''I hardly know. have asked nv.
self that question. 4 Probably not.
find pleasure in being out by myself,
my own boss, working for myself and
getting the benefits Of my own labor.
them. There are days when the awful
stiffness In the valley becomes almost
unbearable. There are times when q
person is tempted to give up altogether.
The possibility that a sandstorm or
cloudburst will overtahe You when you
are alone and entirely helpless Is not
pleasant food for reflection. The
cravings Of hunger and thirst are mad.
dening; No wonder men go insane! A
everything. Persons who start out thru
the valley recall the thousand and one
stories they have read of the valley.
When they get inside they become ex.
cited. They see nothing ahead, behind
or on all sides but vast stretch of
sand. They can hear their own breath.
ing. Often they never reach their des-
tination. ~
"The valley Ia about $50 miles LONG
miles. The entry is made thru Wingate
pass. The traveller who gets off the
road Is likely to strike quicksands,
There are numerous paths to follow,
but when / am out / usually travel
along a path Just above the valley and
along the mountainsides. The air is
cooler, and while the road ID often ex-
| tremely dangerous, there are no dan.
gers OF quicksands or sandstorns. The
ged I have even seen In my life. Dur.
ing trips ] have often been deserted
by white men who start ont with me
| The best way ia get 'up some of the
paths Is to grab hold Of your donkey 4
| tail and shout him into a run, When
the summit is reached a slide down the
other side is In store for you. tsT
"The first. trip made along the
Funeral range was anything, but pleas
misstep would have meant sure deoth
/ did not dare to look back, hut kep,
climbing with a firm hold on the bur
70 g tail.