The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-09-14


been done here, although the strong
assures through the fine shale forma-
ton give evidence of extensive miner
alization, and pay shoots of large size
once the surface debris is penetrated
and unbroken ground is reached; and
II Is more than likely that the work
required to get into a permanent for
nation Is what has deferred the gem
eral run of prospectors from spending
their time and energy In the eRdeavor
to find bonanza.
you say that you like this country,
too, and that the heavy pine forests
surrounding little meadows and grassy
spots, with every side canyon and
streams and rivulets brings tranquil
ity to your soul and a feeling of spir-
itual elation that would make you a
fill candidate for the Salvation army
in any place where vice reigned tri-
umphant and where the roulette wheel
and the faro table enticed the innocent
to mingle, side by side, with the
rough-neck and the social outlaw;
but, that as for prospecting for gold
and ~silyer the hillsides are too steep
and the exertion too strenuous for a
lightweight such as you whose only
aspirations are to eat and sleep, med
itate and live up to the meaning of
that beautiful line from holy writ
which says. "The meek shall inherit |
the EARTH Still, in order to inherit, |
one must do something once In while |
In order that his owner may enjoy
emancipation from toll that 1t is only |
fitted a beast of burden should per-
form.
But, as usual. we have wandered |
from the subject of our discourse,
which always happens when you
break into the conversation; and,
was just going to call your attention
to that old dump yonder up the can
yon, when you began talking about L
grassy plots and your soulful feelings. Il
conviction that behind the dump, In
that clump of pines, some old hermit 9
guards some treasure that he has kept Ii
from eyes other than his own for the h
last rs years, and that which may :
never be revealed until after his death h
and perhaps never, SO skilfully do
these lonesome ones cover up all the @
traces of their rich discoveries. h
Some rs years ago" continued the k
piospector, IAN old hermit held forth
IN a canyon in the Owl creek range.
lie had lived there for many years.
lie was never known to receive any /,
letters or to hold any communication
with the outside world, excepting that
ne would go to Wimlet the nearest
mining town, about twice year, when !,
he would buy lot of provisions and !,
supplies, paying for the same In bars
u gold bullion, which evidently, had :,
been retorted by himself in a crude
urnace. When in town he never talk
"a OF MS prospect, excepting to say
nat the rock was hard and that he
lad lost his vein; and the dump never =,
disclosed any evidence of the dirt 1t y,
coming from mineral :,
round. Once in while some over =,
urious miner or prospector would -.
isit the old man who would take him -
trough the mine workings, and these ~
lvariably returned to town with the -.
-atement that there was nothing in
le mine and that the hermit was a
'ol to spend his time and energy in ''
le attempt to find ore there; and yet -.
'eryone wondered where he secured
8 gold with which to buy the neces- Wv
.ries of life, powder, fuse and other
lining equipment.
We'll, In the course of time the her
II followed the way of all flesh. ia
AVing no papers by which he might
we been identified, and, in all the 4
ars ne had lived and worked at his Dol
aspect he had made no effort to Sc Wol
re government patent to the ground. oer
ute number of mining men and tih'
ospectors, thinking to relocate the cor
inns, passed them IN af,ar oarof,I trai
for there was no vein
even a stringer that gave promise zeal
the uncoVering of ore with devel- ana
ment; and so the place was aban- Una
led for more than ten years, or I'M tea
came along, heard the strange trei
ny and decided to investigate. AL
X up my abode In the cabin of the ieu
init, which was built near a little cruz
ing and about a hundraa voras thro
m the mouth Of the tunnel. For a aDie
Elk | carefully examined the mine
rkings but could not find color of
or trace of naturalization. The
In was built of logs and was CON-
icted against the face of a bank G,
oh rose rather steeply until cut off pect
precipitous cliff. Against the of I,
X side of the cabin a clothes press, poss
rather goodly proportions, was set stan
inst the wall. The furniture of the SO u
IN was rather scanty. but had not tbinl
touched since the hermit's death. conc
lpletely discouraged in my quest / sche,
led in one night with the expecta- tains
OF leaving that region early In the site
nhs' was somewhat restless fusio
was sleeping rather lightly when site
'came conscious Of the fact that Wo3
place was fairly swarming with er. |