The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-19

complexion that bespoke the determination
and self-assurance which were to carry
him safely through an adventurous life In
the wilds Of a new and uncivilized coun-
1.-THE prospector' came with the crowd
who had answered the call Of yellow me-
tains searching for the golden treasure
which his hopes Ounde With scanty
food and clothing, he went into the deep,
purple hills and endured hardships which
we ordinary mOrtals cannot comprehend;
sometimes he brought forth discoveries so
vast that in their wake cities were built
and thousands and tens Of thousands OF
people received their benefits, while he,
! followed by a fate that seemed coarse and
cruel, still a poor man., prospected on.
Prospecting in the palmy days, was an
accomplishment which few men understood,
and which came from a gift as distinct as
a gift to paint a picture. In his habits, the
prOspectOr could be compared to the poet,
who tolls and suffers without being thor
Ougly awake to his position. Always look
ing forward to a rich find" sometimes
striking one, he generally allowed the
golden harvest to he garnered by other
hands, while he, himself, went on from year
to year, giving work for enterprises to do
and, indeed, keeping every mining camp
within the territory in perpetual fear" Of
some new discovery or some sweeping
stampede.
Jake Hoover was the typical pros
pectOr."
1t was Ddck IN LQOSe early S1AIeS IndL
Jake Hoover, then a boy Of but sixteen
years, made his way to Idaho Territory. He
had come to the frontier from his home In
Iowa., and at once entered the gold fields
in the eventful role of prOspector for gold.
AS a yOungster, in this wild new country,
he was unsOphisticated full of energy and
determination. He could find gold and al
ways had a supply Of gold dust. For this
reason, he soon became known as the
Lucky Boy" AS a matter Of fact, how
ever, there was no luck about it, for Jake
possessed an innate. genius for prospecting
and it was this infallible instinct for To-
eating gold that kept any camp of which he
r happened to be a resident, in a fever OF
excitement over his frequent discoveries OF
the yellow metal in new and most unex-
/, pected localities.
l Could Always Find Gold
Hoover could find the rich bars Of gold
along the creeks of Montana, but ne was
E just about as unfortunate in holding pos
| session Of good property as ne was IoFtu'
e nate in discovering it. Men more worldly
E wise than he would usually become inter
5 ested with Jak in a strike ana the seem
: ing inevitable ending of each Of these bust
ness alliances was the same. The OChel
man almost always got all the prOpert!
q and leave Jake on the trail in search OF
new bonanza. -
e Hoover was. in Bannack, Virginia City
o at Last Chance and in Confederate Gulel
e during the days when placer mining was a
: it's zenith. He knew most OF the old pros
pectOrs and had business dealings in thos
days WITH q rev OI Che emPLiS uiAS
who in later years accumulated vast ,1of
tunes from MOntana's mining resources.
y Sold w. A. Clark His First Holdings
In 1866, Hoover discovered Tenderfoot ba
I one of the richest placer workings In tn
Gold Greek district, but he profited lit
by this great discovery. Several Wester
Montana men made their first 'stakes" a
a result of Jake's marvellous discoverie
and it has been told that the late Senate
w. A. Clark bought from Hoover for
%trifling sum the first mining property thu
was the foundation of the great Clark e
EARLY in the seventies, Jake forsook Il
famous gold camps Of the Montana hOcR