Show im MM i dads column ir 41 al OLD rick OR THE lic LIGHT FAILED editor park record recca IN DT 76 park city was young even the united states or of america was not old es as nations gotor golor go tor in 1778 1776 one hundred years before independence was declared by daring men who had it yet to win in a desperate life and death struggle was yet to follow they called him old alck pick lie he lived in a ten by twelve frame but set back from main alain street not tar far from watts and brazeel Br azees livery stable near the then center ot of town old pick was a good carpenter but he worked at ills his trade irregularly his hobby was prospecting he was a spiritualist and la in addition to a gallon jug ot of whiskey 1 I think he called it gin he had a few old c cronies es spiritualists like himself tut but I 1 always thought it was the jug under old picks bunk that was the chlof chief attraction tor for them I 1 was then a boy in my teens but of a mans man s stature old pick t treated m me 0 as a mere boy in spite of my inches above bal his bis big white head he had a tine fine kindly tace face a whimsical smile and he loved to instill a little mystery into his bis talk there was a mutual attraction k between betwee us I 1 could never quite explain n it t t to 0 myself ishad existed from the beginning of our acquaintance when he found rae me trying to build my little store and had offered to loan me tools and give suggestions later by invitation I 1 was an occasional visitor at his bis cabin as lie called it he be liked to give me fatherly council and to talk or of our nations early history he said that one of his blood had bad signed the declaration of independence at the time I 1 concluded it was his own father he was not a braggart in tact fact he was rather reserved as to himself much of what I 1 I 1 gathered came through his questions during the sea aces the spiritual communications were mostly with men or of 1778 1776 or of the revolutionary war who sought to reveal the place of fortune to old pick in the tar far west there was a certain thrill in the mere concep conception tl 0 n of such a spiritual presence as some hero of the period of 1776 old pick was intent upon receiving directions tor for finding a rich mine he was well informed on the nations early history he had names dates and events in abundance on his tongue end one of the favorite attending spirits was known as captain bill williams an old soldier who could reveal the spot where rich ore of silver and gold was to be found now to C cut t out a mass of detail which I 1 well remember I 1 will try to describe a typical table sitting in old picks cabin gathered around a small pine board table were three or tour four solemn expectant persons sitting with extended bands laid flat palms down on the table top silently waiting for raps in answer to questions I 1 was at ti times mes a rather unwilling on one of the sitters who at other times sat eat out as an observer my skepticism was not conducive to the best results although I 1 tried to be fair old pick was a steady gin jug yet I 1 never saw him really drunk and he would never take a drink in a saloon to the honor ot of his memory I 1 want vant to say that learning I 1 was a te he never offered me a drink ot of liquor it was different with his cronies they were always mildly lit up by the spirits from the jug before the convivial spirits would commune and scene times the favorite captain bill williams spirit insisted on another round of girr were night sessions and from the corner of old picks cabin a relief view of upper north treasure hill showed a 9 sharp rocky profile here at the house corner the table sitters were directed to go at once and look lor for a small clear light as ot of a candle or lamp glow in great excitement they would stand there and stare until the light hashed flashed three times at one minute intervals they all declared they saw raw the light lit ht arid and they did their best to fix the spot in memory so that it could be found in day time the result was that old pick firmly convinced spent considerable time up on treasure hill prospecting lie he was not a miner and the rock was hard but he finally located a seam that yi yielded le I 1 a led small specimens of lead rich in silver with some come gold it if the assays essays he be sa s1 showed could be trusted old pick local located a claim there and received some help with his work at one time the spiritual mine and its lights caused some excitement in camp with periodical flashes of interest or ridicule but old pick continued his stances se ances and kept me curious for some time although I 1 do not remember to have gone up the hill to the mine there was to me a very pe peculiar r ullar quality in the rap pings or noise that came apparently from the center boards of the table top it seemed to be within the fiber of the wood it was very distinct peculiar and to me unaccountable although I 1 was allowed to examine under and all about the table at one time I 1 imagined some sort ot of bettle had penetrated the wood and was making the sound but was no outward sign of this no was indicated by one distinct rap two meant dont know and three meant yes old pick put the questions these stances began inthe winter ot of 1374 1874 continued through 1876 1875 and 1876 it was in 1876 as the year drew to a close that spiritual manifestations became ot of great interest there were won darful revelations among them my importance my life my fortunes were freely revealed I 1 was to serve my country irl in an important way I 1 was to make and lose fortunes cs always coming irom from the earth irom from mining I 1 should live a long life and have great wealth even as the light that failed ailed on treasure hill so not much ot of those revelations ve have come true tor for me my faith ath like that of the old lady who read hw her bible and to test it prayed all night that a mountain which obstructed her view should be cast into the sea by faith balth and prayer at dawn she looked to see fee and exclaimed just juat as aa I 1 expected the mountain never moved I 1 and now tor for the end ot of what to many may ay be a dull and rather personal story it was between christmas and new mew 1878 1870 tho the roads were hard bard to keep with bob sleds and four horse teams park park city was small and under a deep blanket 0 ol 01 f snow and made a very poor show tor for a city the few coal oil lights that gie gleamed amed across the one street were scattered and the dark was deep and the stage on runners all prevailing ana from salt lake had laced faced a storm and drifting snow had closed lose tue the road in many places there was holiday ol 01 id ay freight and passengers so it was I 1 later ater that day than usual that very short day when I 1 tho the belated stage arrived the stage kroughta brough ta sick man passenger who had bad arrived dead dd broke he was lett left aitho agthe livery stable tor for want of a better place in some way old pick encountered him and took him in the man developed pneumonia old pick nursed him used his beloved gin on him watched him night and day like a brother but the stranger died old pick too broke 1 i down with the strain be was taken to a salt lake hospital b but ut the journey was waa too hard on him he too died or of 1 sometimes in memory the spirit of 76 shines out and old pick whose name it if I 1 ever knew it has been forgotten assumes a sort ot of nobility his council was good his patriotism unquestioned his misplaced faith was very human and at last like th S good samaritan his devotion to the cause b he e proved ot of hurr human lan distress bistre sa and lost his bis life yours sara sam still trusting the future for us both CHARLES charle S E STR STREET salt lake city utah december 24 1034 1934 IT ac ac AND WITY NOT WE ASK K THE ENGLISH people are past masters irk in the art of living note how bow wise they are in the he matter ol of holidays with the Is which exception of christmas day fixed by the church and icing boxing day which immediately follows it all their saturday holidays come on a monday I 1 being I 1 a ohalf halt holiday baliday anyway they take three th ree holidays lor for it all and thus get 1 of one we americans Amer icam bunch the price should we ours too but badly adly t why celebrate washingto ns day and not Lincol ns day on a monday monda y and in the the in february and summer spring weather Is apt to lie be tr ying trying and when all day in a house Is locked up a man he la is likely to find some time hanging hang friend whom X hom heavy on hla his hands band 2 As a 96 asked what he be did on his holiday I 1 once and well I 1 pulled through replied about all 1 A edward in adventures Advent urea derby day and other |