** Lost Gold At The Dead Man's Mine ** A Miners Journal **

[GhostMiner]

   APRIL 22   1936

   Once again I worked the eastern drift and once again I found gold. I got deeper although it was mighty tough on both me and my tools of labor. The old channel has a lot of river rock to deal with but I got my buckets out with good material that was on the top of country. My results were a bit better than yesterday but the work to get it was twice as hard. I would need a dozer or dragline to continue further. I don't have the stake for that without finding a partner so I have decided to concentrate my work at the fault line on a full time venture. I am happy to have made a decission and will stick with it. 

   I also had time to go into town for provisions, I met a nice gal at the general store who talked with me about prospecting. I was careful not to say anything of my venture or location but just talked mostly of camping and hunting. I am having a feast of hash and hot water corn bread tonight and washing it all down with some good whiskey. Tomorrow is the start of my mining season.

   TO BE CONTINUED ................. 

[GhostMiner]

   APRIL 23   1936

   Well today did not go as expected. As I drove up to the fault line claim there was a surprise waiting. I spied two men with shovels working at my test hole. Upon seeing my truck they looked at each other but stood their ground. My claims are well posted and marked so I thought the worst right from the start. I stopped short of them and got out but stayed close to the truck. I hollered to them asking what they were doing. There was no reply so I asked again but louder. One of the men was a pretty big guy aboud middle aged and the other looked younger. The big one said they were thinking of buying or staking a claim. I told him these claims were taken and were well marked. The big one said he didn't see any markers. That was a lie because he had to walk right past one right near my hole. I called him out on it and told him I didn't think he was telling the truth and to get off my claim. He looked at me with a sneer and said I needed to prove this was my claim. I reached in my truck and pulled the paperwork I always make sure I carry. He laughed and said I might have made those papers up myself and they didn't mean anything to him until he checked the claim at the courthouse. He said he was going to dig some samples whether I liked it or not. The other guy just stood there not saying anything. I told him once more to leave. Both of them just looked at me with blank expressions and shook their heads no. That was about enough for me. I reached in my truck and pulled out my rifle. I leveled it right at them and pulled it up about two feet over their heads and squeezed one off. They jumped and started looking nerveously at each other. I told them the next one would be lower. Luckily they weren't armed. I tried to ask them where they were from but they wouldn't talk so I just told them to git and don't ever come back here. I fired another round over their heads and they high stepped it up the mountain.

   It took me awhile to settle down but I eventually got to work digging. Spent the rest of the day digging and loading buckets into the truck and took them down to the creek, I'll wash the gravels tomorrow and see what I get. I am going to have to keep an eye peeled for claim jumpers now.

   TO BE CONTINUED ..................

[Reg Wilson]

I have to admit that I am enjoying this saga a great deal.

[dogodog]

Thanks GM, This is so far becoming a great little story. I'm hooked can't wait to hear more. This might make a good movie!!!

[GhostMiner]

2 hours ago, Reg Wilson said:

I have to admit that I am enjoying this saga a great deal.

   Thank you. I feel it is a story worth telling.

[GhostMiner]

1 hour ago, dogodog said:

Thanks GM, This is so far becoming a great little story. I'm hooked can't wait to hear more. This might make a good movie!!!

I agree. There is a long way to go and the journal gives an insight into the cut throat life back in the depression era. It's going to get intense. I will eventually post pictures of the area as well that will show what Jed's diggings look like today. It's pretty amazing.

[GhostMiner]

2 hours ago, Reg Wilson said:

I have to admit that I am enjoying this saga a great deal.

Thanks for reading the journal.

[GhostMiner]

   APRIL 24   1936

   I woke up several times last night thinking I heard someone near my camp. I slept with my rifle by my side. I am on edge and keeping alert for sure. I don't think the hooligans know where i'm camped as they came in from the top of the mountain to the north of my dig area. Hopefully they won't be back. If they do I will deal with them. I am wondering if I was followed from my visit to town. I don't think so.

   Today I processed the gravels dug yesterday. Country rock seems to be at varying levels on the fault. I got some good coarse gold out of the heavies, I think enough to keep me working hard. I can load 20 buckets of gravel in the truck at a time. This is a bit shy of a ton. I should be able to bring down 50 to 80 buckets a day. I am dumpimg the buckets into a large metal holding container near the creek. It's shallow and low to the ground for easy dumping and shoveling work. Then I will process gravels the next day. Alternating the work should help keep me from tiring too much. I am no stranger to hard work having done logging and farming as well as gold mining.

   The small amount of gold I have mind thus far is hidden away in a can far from camp. That way if I am robbed the thieves will not get it. My journal is not kept at camp either. I am giving thought to bringing out a good friend to work with me. I have not made a decision on this yet but he is a good man and would come to the claim if asked.

    TO BE CONTINUED ..................

[GhostMiner]

Just now, GhostMiner said:

   APRIL 24   1936

   I woke up several times last night thinking I heard someone near my camp. I slept with my rifle by my side. I am on edge and keeping alert for sure. I don't think the hooligans know where i'm camped as they came in from the top of the mountain to the north of my dig area. Hopefully they won't be back. If they do I will deal with them. I am wondering if I was followed from my visit to town. I don't think so.

   Today I processed the gravels dug yesterday. Country rock seems to be at varying levels on the fault. I got some good coarse gold out of the heavies, I think enough to keep me working hard. I can load 20 buckets of gravel in the truck at a time. This is a bit shy of a ton. I should be able to bring down 50 to 80 buckets a day. I am dumpimg the buckets into a large metal holding container near the creek. It's shallow and low to the ground for easy dumping and shoveling work. Then I will process gravels the next day. Alternating the work should help keep me from tiring too much. I am no stranger to hard work having done logging and farming as well as gold mining.

   The small amount of gold I have mind thus far is hidden away in a can far from camp. That way if I am robbed the thieves will not get it. My journal is not kept at camp either. I am giving thought to bringing out a good friend to work with me. I have not made a decision on this yet but he is a good man and would come to the claim if asked.

    TO BE CONTINUED ..................

   At this point I thought it would be good to show a picture of the creek where Jed camped and set up the tom. I am also showing the top of the fault line looking out to the west and a side view from the bottom.