Gilpin observer., 1912-11-14
BILL H|Ck-
MANS LUCK
Interesting Narrative of
a Pioneer Prospector
Who Panned Gold
in Clear Creek.

Old Bill Hickman was a queer sort
of chap. He heard a story of gold
told by fellow who was a pretty
close reader of the papers.
Bill never said word after he had
heard the tale, but it made an in
delable impression and he cast about
him to break from the environment
that enccmpassed him.
1t was year ere he matured his
plans to tear himself from the prosy
everyday existence that threatened
to leave him, at the end, just where
he had stated.
Equipped with two mules and a
wagon fairly we'll stocked, he started
for any where; but his course was
set due west.
Reaching the edge of the plains,
he was likely to encounter while
crossing. In those days the prairie
began with the big Muddy and ended
with the barrier of mountains of
He was told of the rowing band of
Indians; that it was not wise to
travel alone; that the land ahead of
him was literally a desert; that all
sorts of game and wild animals in
tested every part of the ground be-
tween the big river and the noun
tains. This was the understood con-
dition, believing none could pass the
towering crags and peaks to the
west, while the big river prevented
encroachment on its eastern end. All
this terror was virtually hemmed in
by these two barriers of nature.
The situation appealed to Bill i'm
mensely. 1t seemed that these two
distinct lines of demarkation were
there for a purpose. Probably it was
intended that none were to penetrate
beyond the river. That it were land
reserved by nature for just what it
contained and no white had the right
to invade this seeming reserve.
He was not daunted. His imagina-
he looked at the moral of it and was
almost tempted to turn back when
a lot of army wagons came in view
and passed quite close to his camp
spot.
Bill was of few words. He knew
of the proverbial taciturnity of most
soldiers. He saw them pass and he
trailed on behind. camping when they
camped and moved on with them but
often Jagged behind.
1t seemed an awful long and tire
some journey. But he knew the SOL
diers were not far in advance and
he kept on following till the noun
tains appeared in his front.
1t was a marvellous spectacle. They
seemed impossible, so rugged and
high did they appear. When just in
sight OF these. the soldiers seemed
10 deflect their course, going parallel
with them. He knew this to be the
case because they did not approach
the mountains after days travel.
Bill could not guess the destina-
tion of the army wagon train. He
could well believe they We're going
somewhere. The end he neither knew
nor cared. He did recognize they
We're not approaching the noun.
tains.
The story he heard about the gold
was in the mountains to the west.
He let the troops go on, following
them no longer but kept on straight
ahead in the direction of the formid-
able barrier that ran north and south
as far as his eyes could see. His had
been fortunate trip. Everything
had conspired to make his journey
almost pleasant. but he became APP
prehensive with the nearer approach
to the battlements before him. He
never dreamed of crossing them.
His fear took shape in the thought
of how he was ever to return were
he successful or not in his quest for
gold.
At last he reached the base of the
mountains. Nothing led to them.
They just protruded night out of the
prairie. He expected to approach the
base Of these through miles of low