The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-06-10

and gave the peculiar call used by
prospectors and woodsmen. This SOUND
was quickly picked up by the mar
above, who returned the signal. The
young man rushed up and met the ole
prospector and exclaimed with great
excitement, 81 have found it,, and
reaching into his canvas bag drew
forth fine specimen of quartz con-
tanning gold and silver. The old pros
pector, after silently examining the
quartz with his glass, said,
"That looks like strike, pard
Where did you find it, and did you put
up your stakes or monuments to cover
your discovery? / have known of some
men who, in their excitement, forget
to make proper identification mark
of the place of discovery and it was
lost to them and the world, owing to
the constant changes nature is max
ing, especially where the discovery
might be a ledge cropping out of the
side of a mountain or a declivity at
the base. Loose earth and rocks slid
ing down, cover the out-cropping. The
loose material having been moved very
suddenly by the slide, carrying down
all manner of debris which covered the
ledge. Also fallen tree such as you
see in this country when the wind has
swept through and hurled its force
against these old giants of the forests,
some break and go down with crashing
force, which in winter time, when the
snow is on the ground, will start a
snow slide, which carry with it rocks
and earth, which also will cover over
rich discoveries that are known in the
history of the prospector as lost
mines. know of case in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains of California
where such an incident occurred to an
old friend of mine and a prospector
who went by the name of Cobalt jim.
He had been over the range and into
Lost Valley, having gone there by
himself to prospect for gold. Not hav
ing any luck, he decided to return to
the Washoe Valley in Nevada where
he had some friends, and winter was
approaching. On his return, crossing
the range at a point near the summit,
in the west side of Lost Valley, his
attention was attracted by a ledge
projecting out. After close eXamina-
ton he discovered the quartz to be
rich in gold. In his excitement he
failed to properly mark his discovery,
thinking that he would return the next
day. Taking piece of the quartz, he
crossed over the mountain and arriv-
ed at his friends cabin, who was a
rancher. There he made known his
discovery. Not far distant from the
ranch was a small mining camp. Be-
ing DESTROYS of knowing the value,
he took the specimen of quartz to the
camp, where an assay was made. hi
mediately it became known i'll the
camp that the quartz carried high
values in gold, in fact, higher value
than had been ever discovered before.
There was great excitement, and a
constant pressure was brought to bear
on Cobalt Jim to reveal his find.
Knowing that he had not staked his
claim, he did not reveal where he had
found his quartz. He left the camp
and returned to the ranch house. That
night he left, unknown to his friends,
and travelled over the route over which
he had come after discovering the
claim. 1t began to snow during the
night, and being fatigued, he lay down
to rest and became chilled. Believing
that he could not go any farther, he
decided to return to his friends III the
Valley, feeling sure he could locate his
discovery in the spring. After a ter
rible struggle against his physical
weakness, and wandering around
through the snow over the mountains,
he at last reached the cabin on the
ranch. His friends being alarmed,
Immediately put him to bed and sent
for the camp Doctor, who on exam
nation, declared him to be in dan
gerous condition. After the departure
Of the doctor, his friends questioned
him regarding his discovery but he
would not tell them. His condition be-
came worse and the physician told
him that his time was marked. Again
his friends questioned him regarding
his discovery, and knowing that it was
impossible for him to recover, he de-
cided to reveal to them where they
could find it. In the meantime his
fever began to run high and his mind
failed, and they could only get inco-