Gilpin observer., 1911-08-03
THE PRosPEcroR
AND HIS eURRO.
(salt Lake Mining Review.)

III Our ldSt conversation, said
the prospector to his burro, II told
you how Scroggings found a bonanza
gold mine in trying to dig out a
squirrel that his dog has chased in
to hole in the ground. You seemed
to be quite interested in the narra-
tive, and evidently 1t impressed you,
for the first thing you said to me
this morning was that the dog and
squirrel story was a very good one
for its kind; but, you wanted me to
remember that more great mines had
been found by burros than by squir-
rels, dogs or badgers, and went so
far as to call my attention to the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan, at Wardner,
Idaho, and the Tonopah, of Tonopah,
Nevada, both of which would have
been lost to the world but for the
fact that in hunting for strayed bur-
ros they were accidently found.
And your point is we'll taken, but l
hold to the opinion that you need
not feel so swelled up over these in
cidents; for no credit entails to these
burros, for the disreputable habit
they have. in general, of sneaking
away from camp at night and hid
ing in the tall brush or big timber,
is not at all creditable to the moral
makeup Of your race. know you
pride yourself upon your intelligence
but, on occasions of this kind your
strategy is nothing more than low
down cunning. Neither of the bur-
ros above referred to had the slight
est idea that in hiding out their
owners would be lead to the discov-
cry of great mines, and they are not
entitled. therefore. to the praise and
eulogies that have since been heaped
upon them, and which they have
priced so much.
"An accident is an accident" con-
tinued the prospector, even if I'M
looked-for pleasing results follow,
and no one should depend entirely
upon chance when prospecting in the
mountains; for it is the following out
pans out the best in the long run.
But, now that we have again started
to talk of accidental discoveries, my
memory runs back to the big find
made by old Jim Hopkins in the Dish
Rag range a number of years ago.
Jim had been prospecting for so long
and had been out in the hills for SO
many years that he was apt to be
run in as suspicious character when
he came to the city, and the paved
streets were so hard on his feet that
he always made camp in the willows
down by the Jordan, where he en-
joyed his supper of flapjacks and
sowbelly much more than he would
a course dinner at the Commercial
club. But Jim was alright, and hon.
est; only he was behind the times
about fifty years, and he always took
to the tall cliffs when a buz wagon
came up the canon in which he had
his camp. And yet he was consis-
tent and honest prospector, and
knew more about geology and for
nations than is the case with many
who embellish their signatures with
such cabalistic signs as 'B.S.;' ME-
e. M and L. d. s. But he was
simple minded, and might have be-
come rich man II he had availed
himself Of opportunities. But, see
that you are anxious for the story,
and do not relish my illusions to the
professional men, who, in your esti-
nation. rank next to the feed store
man in grandeur and greatness. Well
to be brief, Hopkins was camped
high up in the mountains, and had
been prospecting diligently but with
out much success. It was in the fall
of the year, and, as his larder was
getting low, he went out one morn
ing, hoping to bring down n deer.
He had expected to take his burro
along with him, but, as usual, he
could not be found. For mile or
two Jim plodded along, keeping an
eve out for any buck that might be
hiding in the quaking asps or lurk-
ing in the hollows. He must have
been out about an hour when he saw
a deer standing near the edge of a
precipice; at least he was sure that
he saw his ears and the top Of his
head, and so he raised his rifle and
let fly. AS soon as possible he hast
ened to the spot, and found that the
animal had toppled over the cliff.
and was lodged in the dense brush
far below. With great difficulty Hop
hns worked his way down the cliff.
and there he found his faithful bur-
ro, groaning and moaning. with bul
let hole through his ears very near
to his Uranium, but otherwise unin-
jured. although considerably bruised