Gilpin observer., 1909-10-28
THE PRosPEcToR
AND HIS BURRo.
(Salt Lake Mining Review J

lioh, oaiu Iie PIOSpeClOT 10 MS Dur
ro, there was only one prospect
here. But 1t was good one and
caused the widest excitement AS
a matter of fact, stampede was on
and the country had been staked for
miles, and already four tent saloons
were In full blast, there was one
tent hotel or rooming house in the
camp. and store and restaurant.
Since then a wonderful change has
taken place, for this is a regular in
land city now. On every hand we
can see fine hoisting plants, superb
milling plants and hundreds of men
are at work. while the rattle of the
chips and the whirring of the wheel
in the thirst parlors' shows that
money is in circulation here at a live
ly rate. 1t is wonderful, and shows
the magic way in which new and
rich discovery will transform the
desert into great mining camp
which teens. night and day, with life
and vigor.
THE last time | was here was not
my first visit, however, as three
months before the first discovery Of
gold was made here l passed through
this region. and you had my bedding
and camp supplies on your back. We
had travelled all day and you were
beginning to get grouchy when we
camped by spring two miles further
down the canyon, it being my inten.
ton to return here the next day and
prospect around in this vicinity. 1t
was rather late when we had finished
our suppers, and. while | tried to con-
verse with you, as is my usual Gus
tom, you seemed soggy at the knees
and far from pleasant, and SO l let
you alone and was soon cuddled up
in my blankets, fast asleep. The next
morning you were not to be found,
for you had wandered far down the
canyon, and 1t was not until late in
the afternoon that / found you hiding
in the brush. When We finally reach
ed camp | discovered my blankets
on fire. for | had not used my usual
precaution in leaving my camp. think
ing you We're near at hand and a
smouldering stick had caught in my
blankets. To make matters worse.
desert rats had about destroyed my
provisions, so there was nothing left
for us to DO but to hike out for the
nearest camp or settlement TO re
plenish our supplies. Before l return
ed this great district was found. and
the result was that ! never obtained
a fcothold here.
Il see that you feel sorry that you
were the cause of my losing bonan-
"a but that does not set the matter
right with me. Repentance is a good
thing. IL sincere. but you would prob
ably do the same thing again If you
had the chance, for there Is nothing
a burro loves more than to stray a
long ways from camp. Thoughtless,
to be sure, but often fraught with
disaster and incurable results; and
in this respect you do not differ
much from some two-legged compan-
ions have had with me in the hills
from time to time. These invariably,
preferred loafing to hard work in
tracing up float or the sinking Of
prospect hole. Every day. with them.
as a general thing, was a holiday,
such as you delight in. and this is
why, of late years. l always prospect
alone, with only burro with me. II
you fail to do the right thing, / can
raise welt or two on your back;
and you are most submissive ana
careful But, the two-legged compan'
ion is always of the opinion that all
men are born equal, and they get
huffy and quarrelsome if attention is
called to their mean way OF treating
partner. and this brings trouble In
to the camp that In little while
reaches a very acute stage.
81 want to tell you, Old Long
Ears" concluded the prospector
more people lose out. in this west
ern country, because their associates
are thoughtless. wild and unruly
than because Of lack OF merit in min
ing properties. The mine superin
tendent who starts out for the mine
in the morning. stops at saloon and
stays there nearly all day. thus disre
garding his duty and obligations al
the mine, is Just as bad as you were
when you strayed from camp thai
night and lost me bonanza. Inc
man who goes on shift and loafs
most of the time when the shit boss
is in some other portion OF the mine
may not be a bad man at heart, but