The Ronan pioneer., 1917-06-15

them out and tried another pan, get
ting some more and finding one big
ger than the others. A dozen pans
Of earth yielded a considerable num-
Der of the blue pebbles. He changed
his plans right there for his pros
pecting trip and rode 20 miles to Uti-
ca to the ranch of S. S. Hobson, with
whom he was to be associated by
agreement in any strikes that he
made, Hobson furnishing the money
for development.
What have you there?" inquired
Hobson, when Jake handed him
the blue pebbles.
piled Jake.
Hobson said he was just leaving
for Helena, and that he would take
them to a lapidarian and find out
what they were. Two days later in
Helena, a Swiss gem cutter told Hob
son that they were fine sapphires of
a quality equal to the best oriental
stones. Thereupon Hobson returned
and the celebrated sapphire lead was
soon located and staked out.
Jake's Usual Luck.
| JuhC 1uCh pun HILL w IChAA
year he had become involved in fl
nancial difficulties and, worse than
than, in serious matrimonial trou
bles. His wife had a violent temper
and frequently threatened to kill him.
Twice she shot at him and nothing
but luck saved his life. He decided
that it was time to leave his wife and
| likewise the country. He sold all his
interests, including his interest in the
sapphire mines, for $4,000, and left
for Alaska. His wife followed his
trail, even into the wilds of Alaska,
but Jake managed to keep few
1 jumps ahead, and finally she re-
turned to the United States. Later
she married Montana rancher, who
eventually shot her dead while she
was trying to kill him with gun.
In the Sunrise mining district of
Alaska, in the country back of Resur-
rection bay. Jake made another big
gold strike, which, for Is years past,
has been yielding from $4,000 to
100000 per year. But it was the
same old story. Jake's claim was
jumped by a wealthy syndicate who
operated in the manner of the villains
of Rex Beach's story, "The Spoilers, -
and Jake was driven to litigation that
lasted for several years. He won two
decisions in the courts, but when a
final appear was taken he was with
out funds, and although the case was
fought through by his attorney, he
lost title to the property which would
have made him a millionaire. He re-
turned to Seattle, disheartened by his
experience in the north, and leased
some ground on Lake Union, where
he has since lived a comfortable and
contented, if somewhat uneventful,
life for a man who has had his ad-
ventures.
RusselPs First Montana Friend.
Jake Hoover has another claim tc
distinction. He was the first friend
in Montana of Charles M. Russell
when the cowboy artist came west 81
years ago. boy of IA. Hoover haG
ranch on the South Fork of the
Judith that was a hunters paradise
and he made good living at the time
!, hunting, trapping and disposing OF
, his furs and robes at Fort Benton
He took a fancy to the boy, Russell
, and took him to live with him at his
cabin in the hills. There for nearly
three years they Ii ed together, hunt
ing and trapping, and it was at
, Hoover's place that Russell first prac-
ticed that art that has since made
him one of the worlds masters of the
brush and the greatest of all painters
, of western frontier life.
, "Charlie Russell and / only had
: one quarrel" said Jake the other day
, to a Montanan in Seattle who called
, on him and talked over times gone
by. "Russell was an ardent south
erner in his sympathies, while l es