Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22


with an uncle who would not give him any pay
with the result that he jumped ship in Chile
this, Scot had gone up and down the high-
ways with microscope and pick, digging and
washing for gold, gold, gold! He was on his
way to mile 1877.
IRON the marker at mile 1877 this Scot,
with the gray beard, the searching eyes,
the inevitable corn-cob pipe in the yellow husks
of his front teeth, was hoping to transfer his
complete outfit of firearms ammunition, food,
clothes, cradles, sleeping bag, canned goods
enough to keep him for six months. To trap?
Yes but only so he could prospect for gold, gold,
gold-and be sure to earn enough on his flrs
to stake him for another prospecting adventure
under the Northern Lights or the Southern
Cross! "--as'
We left him standing like a pillar in the
first snowstorm Of the big freeze-up, cheerful
and hopeful smoking his pipe-au alone IN q
fiat, barren land
How do you happen to be 'butchering' on
the Muskeg Special?" asked the middle-aged
man with the deep lines on his face. He sold
old newspapers, oranges, figs, candy and to-
bacco on the train. He had sold lemonade
once to get West to join a rush at Gold Greek.
"Camoufiage," he replied. Every bird that
makes strike comes out on the Muskeg-it'S
better than the way freight, even If it does
stop for the night after the crew has worked
eight hours-no matter where it is If they've
made real strike, they can't keep it to them
selves They always spill it to the guy that
feeds them coffee and sandwiches.
There's no diner on this train; Tn the
bird that makes them coffee on the one oil
burner in that compartment. Some day some.
body is going to strike bonanza and tip me
tHNAwsa l.
freezing. the starving, and as soon as good
claim like the Film Flon is registered I've got
my little nest egg all ready to buy me the
equipment and grub stake to get me good
claim right next door to the best"
"See what save" he continued, elm time,
work, suffering, worry and money. Let George
do it. Do you know what it costs to prospect
these days? In the Summer it requires canoe
and an cupboard motor. That's q cool $500.
An eiderdown sleeping bag costs SOS. A tent
and pack IS cheap at $35. It takes another
$50 for personal equipment gas, oil, tools, q
grubStake-and dog team in Winter requires
another $500. Oh yesl 1t costs plenty, pros.
pecting under the Northern Lights. And I'm
the guy what's got it ready and waiting for
the tip. Say! When prospected in Arizona
and old Mexico it was sunshine and nice warm
heat filling your veins. Up here its icicles In
your arteries. No, I'll wait for George to do It.
I'm Down East Yankee" rs 9t@z
."YaW, bin cook by profession, but
proSpector in mine heart" said another of the
passengers in my car. He had been cook
on German vessel which landed in Australia
just as the World War broke out. He had beem
interned. Escaped. Set up bakery, but the
rival baker, being q naturalized German,
'Squealed on him because he was losing trade.
He was returned to the prison camp, escaped
again and went out in the Australian bush IN
prospect for gold. When he came out the war
was over. He went back to Germany, married
But when the gold rush into Red Lake In
Western Ontario, started in 1924 he came
out of Germany to join it. Now he was on
his way to cook for one Of the gangs working
on the railroad, rs Il 80
''You know have q theory. Them bohunks
have better chance than any of these rogue
lar prospectors to discover poor mans gold
placer. I feed them well, speak their LAM
guage-tranSlate their wants to the boss, regis.
ter their claims and advise them. know all
kinds OF gold from Australia to Guinea. Won
day viii be rich"
At mile 234 Manitoba Mountie boarded
the train He had 5oO-mile beat. Part
OF 1t he covered by the new railroad and part
with an Indian driver and dog team.
He had been in the British Army in India
before the World War broke out. He had
served all through that great struggle and
come out with wounds and honors He had
been in the Northwest Mounted before he
became chief Of police in town in Saskatche.
wan. Now he was with the Manitoba Provin-
Gals. ..F -'+@'' -
At every station he swung off the train hur.
ried to talk with grinning Cree, stolid Bel.
gian bohunk mucking for the roadbed a rails
road superintendent. q freight handler, q time.
Keeper or Hudson Bay factor. Always hA