The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-03-15
CHAPTER Iv-contInued.

CHAP Elk N-CcrclnueC.
In the meantime there was naught
20 show for II but bunch. But II was
coming AS he would stake his last
ounce on a good poker hand, so he
staked his life and effort on the bunch
that the future held In store big
strike on the Upper River. So he and
his three companions, with dogs, and
sleds, and snowshoes, toiled up the
frozen breast OF the Stewart. toiled
On and or through the white wilder.
ness where the amending stiffness was
never broken by the voices OF men.
the stroke Of an ak, or the distant
crack Of rifle Gold they found on
the bars. but not In paying quantities,
and in the following May they re-
turned TO Sixty Mile,
Ten days later. Harper ard Joe La
due arrived at Sixty Mile and Day
light, strong 10 obey the bunch that
had come 10 him. traded q third In
terest in his Stewart town site for a
third interest in theirs on the Klondike
They had faith IN the Upper Country.
Snd Harper left downstream, with a
vaft-load Of supplies, 10 start small
post at the mouth OF the Klondike.
why don't you tackle Indian River.
Daylight" Harper advised. at part
ing. There's whole slathers OF creeks
and draws draining In up there, and
somewhere gold Just crying TO be
found That's my huuch. There's a
big strike coming. and Indian River
amt going 10 be a million miles
away"
And the place Is swarming with
moose" Joe Ladue added. Bob Hen
derson's up there somewhere. been
there three years now, swearing
something big Is going TO happen.
living ofT'n straight moose and pros
pecting around like crazy man"
Daylight decided 10 go Indian River
a futter. as be expressed Il; and lin
gered few days longer arranging his
meager outfit He planned 70 so IN
light, carrying a pack Of soventy-fve
pounds and making his five dogs pack
as well. Indian fashion. loading them
with thirty pounds each. Depending
on the report OF Ladue, he intended 10
follow Bob Henderson's example and
live practically on straight meat.
When Jack Eea-ns' scow, laden with
the sawmill from Lake Linderman.
tied up at Sixty Mile, Daylight bun
died his outflt and dogs on board,
turned his town.site application over
to Elijah 20 be fled. and the same day
was landed at the mouth OF Indian
River He continued down bunker
10 the Klondike, and on 20 the sum
ner fishing carp OF the Indians on
the Yukon
Here for q day he camDed with Car
mack, a squaw-nan. and his indian
brother.in-law. Skookum lin. bought
q boat, and with his dogs on board,
drtfted down the Yukon 70 Forty Mile
Then II was that Carmack his broth
er-in-law. Skookum Jim, and Cultus
Charlie, another Indian. arrived in a
canoe at Forty Mile, went straight TO
the gold commissioner. and recorded
three claims and q discovery claim on
Bonanza Creek. After that, "a the Sour.
dough Saloon, that night, TIRE. exhibit
ed coarse gold 10 the skeptical crowd
Daylight, too was skeptcal. and this
despite his faith IN the Upper Coun-
10y. Had he not only few days be-
tore. seen CarmaCk loafng with his
Indians and with never a thought OF
prospecting? But at eleven that night,
sitting on the edge OF his bunk and
unlacing his moccasirs, a thought
came to him. He put on his coat and
hat and went back 10 the Sourdough.
Carmack was still there, flashing his
coarse gold in the eyes of an unbe-
lieving generation. Daylight ranged
alongside OF him and emptied Car
macks sack into a blower. This he
studied for q long time. Then, from
his own sack. into another blower. he
emptied several ounces of Circle City
and Forty Mile gold Again. for long
time, he studied and compared. Final
,iy, he pocketed his own gold. returned
Carmacks, and held up his hand for
silence.
Boys. | want to tell you-ali some
thing. he said. She's sure come-the
mp river strike. And tell you-all,
clear and forcible. this is H. There
aint never been gold like that in n
blower In this country before. It's
new gold. It's got more silver in it.
You-all can see 1t by the color Car
mack's sure made strike. Who-all's
got faith to come along with me?"
No one volunteered
Then who-all II take a Job from
me, cash wages In advance, to pole up
. thousand pounds OF gruby"
Curly Parsons and another. Pat
MsHAhAa. sossoted. and. with His Gus,