The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-30
(con,Inued From our Last isauo)
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AAANN hANfA AAAN tAANhhf Nv Ah'N
started. went MP 10 ALASKA 20 re
locate the mine. clay had gone
rcrth before this. but not as q
iiiner. lie had started a transpur
lation service 90 several mining
camps. and financed prospectors
Nho made lucky finds lie was un
enthusiastic about my project
However. after much persuasion
no agreed Co come. and We set OF
With two hired packers and sup
files enough 10 give US a good
chance OF success.
Summer was late that year. and
We hauled the hand sledges two
hundred miles over the snow; but
| reedn't toll you about our jour
ney. We made Il with some truu
bic. and one afternoon came down
Go the creek.
well. We struck the creek. by
compass, near where | Intended
.ot soon afterward picked up one
landmark end Clay another"
Clay But no hadnt been there
before"
You're keen" Osborne observed
we bad often talked over my
i,iRns. and he must have known
nearly as much about the place as
| did. Then one couldn't mistake a
prominent strip OF rising ground.
tho II was some distance off when
Clay saw H.
But the mine
We mad, the spot In the even.
ing. Where | had left 4 small pole
there was large one II was OBJ.
ylous that we had come too late "
How dreadful" Ruth exclaimed.
After all you had gone thru. What
did you doy''
Il can't remember. Clay vas tho
first to speak and ! can recall his
level voice as he said. IL looks as
II somebody has been hero before
us. partner"
but who had found the miner
Futh interrupted
Il never Learned The next morn.
Ing we set out up the creek and
found gold here and there; but our
provisions threatened 20 run out
b. fore we came TO the watershed"
Were any Of the pockets as rich
~ the stolen one'" Ruth ssked.
NO" her father answered with
hint OF reserve. "Still. VIC found
some gold and got back safely to
the coast. We sailed in the vessel
that hs and some OF his friends
had bought Tho small. dirty sa.
loon aud part OF the tween decks
we're crowded with successful min.
erH and others who were az least
fortunate In having money enough
take them out OF the country be
for. winter set In.
We had some trouble in getting
10 sea. The miners had TO help
with the tackles before they could
hiring the Hedge TO the bows. Thea
she crawled slowly out 10 sea I'M
der half steam"
How did such an old ship get
passengers Ruth wanted TO know.
Passengers were not particular
during the gold rush"
"ohi Where was the gold she
carried keptT"
In a strong.room under the floor
OF the stern cabin. Our troubles
began on the first day out. for she
burst a pipe In the engine room"
You mus, have felt anxious
with all your gold on board" Ruth
said
No" responded Osborne. with.
out a moments hesitation. CLAY
had insured the vessel and his ship
ments by her on n kind OF floating
rollcy. believe he bad some
trouble 10 effect II. but he managed
10 get tho thing arranged thru a
broker with whom he had a little
II fluence."
Clay seems to- have a good deal
Of influence" Ruth thoughtfuily re-
marked. How does hs get itr'
ITS gift OF his" Osborne an
swered. with curious smile.
However. 10 20 back 10 my tale.
knew the gold was insured. To
tell the truth. was getting more
anxious about my personal safety.
for the cold and mist and wild
weather we're wearing on tho
nerves. A, last. one night. | was
awakened by "A shock that threw
me out OF my berth. AZ ] got n
few clothes on | felt her strike
again. and when ! ran out on the
deck. half dressed. II was clear that
she had made her last voyage. She
lny. eanted over. across the sea.
while the planking crushed in with
/, horrible round as the reef ground
thru her bilge.
There was. however. no panic.
The miners quietly helped 10 swing
the boats out. and seeing that she
was holding together. | went with
Clay and two seamen TO open the
strong.room. II was reached thru
trap In the cabin floor. but some
beams In breaking bad damned this
fast.
We might have broken thru II
we had had few more minutes.
hut roller struck her. and she
was going down when we waded
across the afterdeck. A boat lay
under the quarter. but II was swept
clear as soon as dropped on
board.
Nobody had been left behind,
and those who could row took the
oars In turns thru tho dreary night,
In the darkness we missed an island
which lay not far off. and Il was
two days later when We landed on
a desolate mainland beach. We
were there a fortnight. living. for
the most part. on shell-flsh, and
then. fortunately. a Canadian seal.
ing schooner ran into n neighbor.
Ing inlet for water. She took us
on board and transferred us to
Vancouver island"
Then the gold was lost7"
"All that was in the strong room.
Nobody was blamed for tho wreck,
the underwriters paid. and when n
aatvuPa .rnadtffnp faftad IN rornvay