Show DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT HOMESTAKE call lead south Dat dakota cota even in 75 the gravel of deadwood dead wood gulan had whispered the secret of the riches locked in the hosom bosom of the pacha sapa wild authentic tales were rife of the wonders of that forbidden and forbidding region butt but the dangers that threatened only stimulated the daring of the intrepid adventurers who staked their lives in the quest for gold neither the authority exercised by the government nor the unsleeping vigil vigilance aneg of the jealous savage who despe desperately defended this his last hunting ground could stay the steps of the pioneer the most typical of all americans but there was little doing in deadwood gulch in the winter of 75 6 when the little party com composed posea of a few of the most venturesome tur esome of the fearless men who had literally forced their way late in 75 to the vicinity of harney peak now sought richer diggings in the almost impenetrable fast nesses of deadwood gulch of these men our story has only to do with the leader moses manuel and his brother fred the former though young in years was even then learned in the lore of the frontier a natural mechanic undaunted by any difficulty and inured to hardship and exposure by years spent in the inhospitable mountains of montana was destined like the moses of yore to I 1 ad through another wilderness der ness but unlike him to live to see and enjoy the promised land and even now has returned after an absence of nearly a quarter of a century to view the reward that has come to bless the labors of his youth his was the hand that wielding a pick brought from the rock not water to quench the thirst of a dying multitude but gold which in an increasing stream has flowed continuously since this munificent stream diverted into thousands of minor channels has afforded innumerable stakes for homes for those who abide by its course but the story well as moses hanuel tells it so I 1 give it it was said that the placer diggings were rich in a gulch called deadwood because of the vast amount of tangled drifted logs and brush in its course and that was enough to deadwood gulch they came the manuel anuel Ivi boys afterward known as the crazy frenchmen because the colorado wise ones thought any one crazy who would work a mine that had no walls and one hank harbin being partners and experienced quartz miners let others locate the placer claims and wisely sought the mother lode of the placer fields the golden terra was their first quartz claim and there they built their little cabin to the north and east of the homestake Home stake proper and a sore disappointment was this same golden terra for the quartz ledge first discovered proved only of a few feet in thickness and their little drift stands to this day showing the hard poor vein rock that put an end to their first dreams days they spent prospecting the difficult hills at that time of year february covered with snow to a depth of four feet almost discouraged the gold run gulch was sought here some promising looking quartz was discovered but after days of further search no permanent ledge appeared appeared moses again suggested a return to the scene of their efforts but both fred and hank demurred the weather had turned warm the deep snow was melting making the steep brush cov ered hillsides hill sides almost impassable but moses with energy and unerring instinct renewed alone the search for the lode from early morn throughout the wearying da day Y amidst the deep wet snow and over the sli slipping aping rocks unflagging he sought the lamp which being rubbed would reveal the won wondrous orous treasures of the great storehouse night comes apace the genial sunrays fade a weak yellow then them blush red in an ineffectual attempt to stay thel the chilly night footsore and weary he seeks the easiest route to their little cabin the water from the melting snow has undercut until a channel cleared almost entirely of snow meanders zigzag down the steep hillside up this provided path he seeks his providential way his weary glance glanc estill still on the alert selects a tiny piece of quartz and stopping to regain exhausted breath he attempts to dislodge it lest it should be the lamp perhaps his aim is weak from long exertion that his pick falls fails to dislodge it from its bed again and again he tries it then on his knees with trembling fingers he seeks to unloose the spreading talisman at last he is convinced immovable shimmering with precious metal it declares itself the mother lode then comes a great wave of joy driving the blood from his extremities to seek the heart then rushes forth again to bear physical evidence of his exceeding gratitude then alone in a great snow covered solitude with none to bear witness to his great joy he on bended knee gives thanks that he has been selected as the humble vehicle of so much good visions of home that dearest of all achievements to the wanderer come before the tired eyes and as the suns last rays rest peaceful upon this solitary figure he murmurs the name of what was to be the greatest gold mine in all the world thank god at last a home stake |