White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-02
MINER FINALLY
J|NX
BEFRIENDING INDIAN BREAKS
SPELL OF LONG YEARS OF BAD
LUCK AND LEADS TO RICHES
OF MIR. DOUGLAS IN ALASKA.

When Horace c. Douglas, ad-
venturer, g~oldseeker and worldwide
traveller, urged his dog team on SO
that he could arrive at Fairbanks by
nightfall, in order that he could
participate in the Christmas eve
celebration which was to be held in
the Alaskan town almost four years
ago, he little realized that he was
starting on an adventure that re-
suited in his becoming the owner of
what he terms "a comfortable little
mine from which a fellow could dig
out a living"
Mr.. Douglas arrived in Salt Lake
City the past week, to transact per-
sonal business. He left home several
weeks ago and is on his way to visit
his mother, whom he has not seen in
more than ten years. His home is
nea Atlanta, Ga. To a Salt
Lake Telegram representative he
said:
Il really have no story to tell to
the newspapers" he began. Il am
like hundreds of other men who have
undergone hardships in Alaska and
finally struck it. However, if you
want to know how | found my claim
after almost six years of search. |
will tell you.
Il left my home in the south when
| vas quite a youngster. Being neal
the ocean and always wanting a lit
tie bit of adventure. | shipped to sea.
| sailed around the world for three
years, and in Portland about ten
years ago l started for Alaska, there
being rumors of another big gold
find at that time.
I'll bet there is not a gold field
in Alaska that | have not toiled in, iii
the hope that some day ! would strike
IT rich The longer | stayed in the
country the worse luck had. 1t re-
suited in making Newell, you
might say 'peeyed.' | resolved to
stay in the country and undergo
hardships until ] could strike some
thing that would make me comfort
able for life. | was like many I'M
lucky miners. | could make a rush
to some new opening of gold country
and get right in with a bunch Of
miners. They would have but little
trouble in finding what they were
after. but with Newell. | had =
link that was continually on my
trail and II was impossible to lose
him.
Five years ago | went TO Fair
banks and knocked out a good living
by doing little jobs. | struck it one
night gambling and had sense enough
to quit when | was winner. With
the proceeds which | had won | grub
staked myself. got some dogs and a
sled and started out on a still hunt
for a mine. My 'jinx' was still with
me, as | came about as near finding
a pay claim as a baby would. ! stuck
1t out, however, for several months.
and when my food began to give out
| took the trail back for Fairbanks.
1t was about Christmas time and
II was real Alaska weather as |
fought my way back to civilization
On December "a, 1909, ! was within
completely worn out. ! wanted to
get back in time for the Christmas
eve celebration, and urged the dogs
on. When near Fairbanks | came
upon two drunken lei who were
tormenting a halfbreed Indian. a
character known to all around Fair
banks as Joe Perkins. The miners
had a grudge against him and were
beating him as | came up. | mixed
and the halfbreed and, myself forced
the miners to take to the trail. To
make a long story short, the Indian
WIS kidltlul u int anu the iOiioN Ills
spring We started prospecting to-
gether. With his assistance we
found a fairly good paying claim,
one that | will never have to worry
about getting a comfortable living
from. We declared ourself partners.
A year following Perkins took i'll
with pneumonia and died. His
mother. an Indian, is my partner in
the claim now
Douglas says there are wonderful
opportunities in Alaska for a young
man. He is of the opinion, however,
that it will be several years yet be-
fore the of the country are
developed to any great extent, and
Al. --