Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-15
nv TEX RICHARD,

autobiography, URtcH Is appearing III
daily chapters.
BY TEX RICHARD,
In collaboration with BoSeman Bulger'
Copyright, 1929, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance
The gold strike at Rampant blew up
with a bang-not exactly a bang, at
that. It was more like the busting OF
cap on a musket. The load didn't go
off. We didn't find as much gold as
have in my teeth right now
It was in those trying days, though,
that the principles of honesty were
grounded in me. believe now it was
the bigness of things, the naturalness,
the openness. Even though have OBJ
served the seamy side of life, do not
believe to this day that many people
are dishonest by nature. Inc prm-
ciples of square dealing, find, apply
in the fight game just as they did along
the Yukon when every man was ms
own court. There were no courts TO
adjust disputes. We didn't have dis
putes.
"5ow do YOU manage to make the
roughnecks in the fight game keep tnen
word?"
Truthfully can say that I never
have found these 'roughnecks" dis
honest.
If YOU give an ignorant man the I'M
preston that you are on the square
win him he viii be on the square WIN
YOU, The parasite managers may give
trouble, but never the man who does
the fighting.
Never ANY Favoritism.
There were two boats on the Yukon,
f1aa A1irn ThnV hTOllQnG
up supplies in the Spring. Whether a
miner was present or not they would
leave a six months supply Of food on
the shore. put the mans name on It
and nobody ever thought Of molestlng
II. There was no favoritism. man
was a man and he needed so much 1000.
Going out of Dawson City, dead broke
and disappointed, three prospectors ana
myself aimed ourselves at Rampant; AS
/ saw, that strike was boomer. Tnere
we were, farther away than ever ana
more dead broke than ever-n that De
nossible. NV $4,000 had gone rolling
along with the little white ball on the
roulette wheel.
am trying to make the point that
money. except in so much IS 1t wouio
haIv food. never concerned us 0eepiy.
IT doesn't bother me to this day.
We learned that the river boats
would pay SIS cord for WOOD, Gu!
the proper length for the boilers anu
piled on the banks of the stream. Tnat
being the only way out, we started cus-
ting wood. Nobody checked up TINS
wood and no workman thought Of get
ting his nav at that time. When the
ice broke and the boats got through
they would simply pick up the WOOD,
figure on the amount and leave the
money for us. The boatmen trusted us
because they knew we trusted them.
So I set to work as wood cutter. IL
took muscle, but had It.. We WORKED
for several months at this job IN an
effort to restore our lost fortunes.
How He Met Rex Beach.
One day noticed another gang cut
ting wood on the opposite sioe Q. ..le
river a few miles down. Naturally we
went over to call and gossip. Men were
scarce those days. TO see ne" Aaee
was quite an event.
One of the other wood cutters l
found to be strong, intelligent LOOKING
Young fellow. He took us In, gave us
the best he had in the camp and mace
us sit down for chuck. ;.
whats the name, you oont
mind?" I asked.
REX Beach," he told me.
knew this young fellow was edu-
Gated. a sort of, college man, but
thought him just a prospector Ike my
self. In fact, he was. 1t was long
time after that before ever knew
that INV friend Rex Beach. cutting
cord wood on the Yukon, was the writer.
I simply knew him as Beach, Darn
good fellow.
earned that Winter, but earned about
$500. 49,.
wood was being taken on the Doats
man came ashore with some important
information.
II heard down the river" he said.
"that a lot of the boys have struck 1t
rich around Nome. A whole lot OF EN-
are packing up and getting out into the
mountains near the Behring Sea-.
His Message Was Enough.
We knew the man was talking
straight. His message was enough.
Out of my wood money had enough
have SOS left. I lost Beach then Tor
awhile. ~.
On the boat met up with man
named Jim White. He had come from
Dawson and was of particular interest
because he owned tent.
"If I had somebody to go In with
me" he said, I'VE could set up a place
in the Nome country and make some
money" -
Neither of us had enough money 70
start in business. We thought, though,
that we could establish some kind OF
public house and get started. Inc
Nome miners we're very much IN neeo
IF a social center-a gathering place.
Landing at Nome beach, we found
that we could get lot for $500 and we
tcraped up enough to get an option
on it.
By that time the Behring sea had
npened. While I was standing on the
beach steamer came down to UNLOAD
lumber. That gave me an idea:
"Id like to get enough of this lumber
10 build a floor under our tent, tolo
the boatman, "f it wouldn't cost me
100 much"
"Well. I'm going to leave it here" he
said. Suppose you just pick out what
Won want and use it. You can pay 1or
what YOU use or return 1t later"
Was a Real BONANZA.
That was a real bonanza. In two
davs we had a nice floor for our tent,
ca that we could store our stun without