Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-04-01

The mythical pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow became a real
ity in Helena when a search for
what one of the members of the
party described as "five needles in
a haystack" was successfully end
ed. The pot of gold was a small
capsule of radium valued at S10,-
600, belonging to DR.. David T..
Berg. After being lost for more
than month and a half II was found
at the Helena city dump.
On Feb. ! the radium had been used
for treatment IN the Berg clinic. About
a week later another treatment was
due but when the lead container was
brought forth It was found TO be as
barren as Mother Hubbard's cupboard.
To say that excitement prevailed is
putting It too mildly.
All angles 10 the probable cause Of
the loss OF the precious element were
considered. AT first theft was cOnsid-
cred but that was soon discarded and
the possibility OF 1t being lost by be-
ing thrown away with the bandages IN
which 1t was wrapped became a more
feasible solution.
Calls for Help
DR.. Berg called his former professor
IN St. Louis university for suggestions
as 10 the best means OF locating the
radium He was advised 20 contact the
physics department OF Montana State
college.
Prof. Arthur J. NJ. johnson. dean Of
the physics department at the college
was contacted. He suggested the use of
the Geiger- Mullar counter. He stated
that the college owned such an instru-
ment but that 1t would be necessary TO
secure special batteries from Chicago.
These batteries which are small enough
to be carried In a knapsack on the
back carry 200 volts Of electricity. the
tioning OF the counter.
The Geiger counter, as II Is generally
known. Is an instrument that Is eX-
tremely sensitive TO radio activity. It
microscopic bulb that flashes
when any radioactive waves are con-
tacted. BY counting the flashes the OPP
orator can determine the nearness OF
and approach to a radioactive field.
This machine was used extensively by
DR.. johnson recently when he surveyed
Yellowstone park TO determine the
radio activity Of various sections of the
The special batteries were received
and the intensive search started. Every
inch of the clinic was carefully gone
over. The searching party then moved
out into the yard where the garbage
cans are kept in hope that It might
have fallen to the ground. The only re-
suit was disappointment.
Ora Guffey, who has charge OF the
Helena garbage disposal system was
then called IN and the hunt was con-
col
and afternoon pickup crews.
This took the party on winding tour
lf Helena's streets and alleys, out into [
he valley TO the st. Joseph's orphans |
home road and then over to the city |
lump. During this parade the counter I
remained disappointingly dead
The Job that faced the Searchers at 4
his point was to cover 5000 feet Of .
lily dump. Mr. Guffy showed them the I
places where the dumping had been /
yoing on during the last two months. /
iult. Finally the extreme end of the F.
lump was reached where few stray /
Dads Of refuse had been deposited.
Wave Is Picked Up
Suddenly there was an exclamation /
rom Professor johnson. A thrill ran (
through the small party. They were not (
ytven much encouragement by the OPP |
,rator of the counter who could not (.
ell definitely whether he had picked I.
Ip a wave Of radioactivity from the /
-adium or one from the cosmic ray. /
However the spot was marked and an /
yer widening circle described by the !
)arty. At one point the activity was
reater than any other This became
he center OF another circle. Each time
he flashes of light were more rapid,
showing that the party was coming
lose to the spot where the radilm
vas buried. After describing several
circles the spot was finally reached /
where the microscopic light was con-
tant The searchers knew their search
vas near its end.
Mr.. Guffey then got his crew to work
nd the task Of moving the dirt was be-