|
|
|
|
TRACKING THE SNOWSHOE ITINERANT CONTINUED "...being well acquainted with the mountains and mining, I was paid good wages for locating claims. when the snow was deep, I went on snow-shoes, always feeling that a preacher had a right to earn his living if he could not get it by preaching; but no right to leave his charge. I could preach three and four times, and work three or four days in the week. If in fact, I sometimes earned more by moonshine labors than I could by preaching. In the summer of this year my wife boarded some men, and helped in that way...
"My practical knowledge, as before stated, made my services as a locater in demand. Sometimes I gave them to deserving young fellows whom fortune has used roughly. Two such were Candell and Thompson. In the spring of 1880 they came to me for information. Snow was more than knee-deep. They were out of money, except enough to board them a few days, and put up a log pen, ten or twelve feet square, just large enough for them to stand up in and make a stopping place. The next thing was a job of work. I was employed to sink holes on some claims, to hold them, and gave them employment. I them, and gave them employment. I bought tools for them, and we started up the mountains, I leading. Soon the trail gave out, and we broke a path in snow waist deep. We carried picks, shovels, tent, and blankets. It was hard climbing for the boys; but they said: "If that old man can get there, we must." And we did. I showed them where to dig. That day they had a shaft three feet deep, and slept in it at night." |
|
