Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-26

fever there was Amos Clark. His fan
lily consisted of his wife and hi
daughter. Maria. the latter sixteen
years old. Clark was an uneducateC
man. but with a good deal Of grit
Mrs. Clark was sickly woman, while
the daughter was sprightly girl. but
unsophisticated.
The Clarks were Missourians- and
the natural route for them to take was
overland from St. Joseph. Clark pur
chased an outfit consisting OF "prai
rie schooner"-the name given to the
wagon used by emigrants crossing the
pIains-drawn by four horses, in which
were stored such articles as would be
needed on the journey. Jacob Cow
dry, a young man who had been a
neighbor of the family in Missouri.
volunteered to go with them. and the
offer was gladly accepted.
One leaving the Missouri river today
in a palace car and Swimming along
over the plains can hardly realize what
that journey was sixty years ago.
True, the alkaH plains are there; but,
protected by the comfortable car, 1t Is
hard to appreciate what toiling along
in a wagon would be over the limit
less, unshaded stretch of country be-
tween the Missouri and the mountains.
The route was infested with Indi-
ans, the atmosphere was so dry that
the wheels of the wagons would shrink
and fall apart, and there was lack of
good water On the way Clark fell Ill.
and Cowdry. who was only twenty
years old, assumed the leadership. To
his strength of will and his manage
ment was due the safe arrival of the
family at the foot of the mountains,
where. in the salubrious climate. they
rested till Clark recovered. Then they
assembled till they reached what after
ward became Georgetown.
Gold was being taken out all along
Clear creek, and Clark and Cowdry
occupied themselves in washing for
the precious metal-a process which
consisted in putting dirt from the mar
gin of the creek into pan, washing it
out and leaving tiny bits of gold.
which sank to the bottom Of the water
in the pan. In this way they made
living, occasionally stopping their work
to do some prospecting.
But the story of the Clark family is
the same as that of nearly all gold
hunters. No great luck came to them.
Mrs. Clark died. and Maria. who by
this time was eighteen years old. was
obliged to supply her place. 1t was
hard work for the girl, and she repined
that she had been brought to a rough
where she was spending her
youth without the advantages of edu-
cation or refinement
Cowdry adored her. She appreciated !
his worth. but there was not in him |
that culture to which she aspired. The |
country was filing up with men who |
were bringing capital with them or |
capital, and Maria had |
her eyes open for a husband from
among them.
Clark entered a number of claims. |
but had not the means to develop !
Them. He was tied down to rocking !
pans of dirt in order to support him
self and his daughter. Cowdry did |
some digging for himself and his
friend, but did not strike pay dirt.
Such was the situation when Clark |
lied. Maria, being cut off from her
'ather's support, lived by disposing one
~ one of the claims he had left her.
Cowdry would have gladly married
Ter. but she looked higher. While her
was passing out of her hands
| young man named Stapleton came :
rom the east representing or claiming
o represent eastern capitalists desir-
JUS of investing their money in Colo
ado gold property.
One day some prospectors went to |
Stapleton and let him into the secret
hat they had struck vein of rich ore
nd would like to get some money with
which to develop it. Stapletou made
N investigation and found that the
Elm widened toward a five acre claim
o the west. He represented no CAPT
al. as he pretended. but had gone out
o Colorado to try TO make money
y his wits. Telling the prospectors
hat he would write TO his principals
f the find and endeavor to secure the
apital necessary to develop it, he set
bout to discover the owner of the lot
wing to the west. with a view to get
ing possession of 1t before the owner
ecame aware of its value
Now, this lot was the last OF the
laims that Amos Clark had left his
Maria. The only reason il
vas the last was that it was supposed
be the least valuable. At any rate.
D she considered it
Learning that the property belonged
Maria Clark. Stapleton sought her
nd. finding that she was a marriage
BILE young woman. laid his plans ac-
1rdingly. Without saying anything
bout her property. he began TO pay
'urt to her. This was exactly what
lie wished. and had not Stapleton been
INSCRIPTIONS adventurer there
ould have been no reason why she
lould not encourage him. He did not
clay his eourtship. enhancing his suit
: telling Maria that he had secret in
of u mine which promised
'be bonanza and for the develop
ent OF which he was about to pro-
ire capital. AS organizer OF the COM
l..