Vancouver Ch. # XXIV- Gold Fever

                                      Vancouver – City of adventurers

                                                       Chapter XXIV

                                                        Gold Fever

 

       The Mac Adams brothers rose early on this cool Monday morning in late December. They dressed, ate some bread and cheese and then set off along West Georgia Street for work.

As they passed by Mr. Conner’s office, he waved them in.

“Good morning lads,” he said.

“Morning, Mr. Connors, “ said the Mac Adams in unison.

 

“I have a favor to ask of you lads,” said Mr. Conners. “I’ve gotten word that two of our masons, one carpenter, one electrician and a plumber have left for the Yukon and the gold rush. It has left us in a bind here. I wonder if you two lads could stay on for another week or two after the new year? We are sore in need of skilled men.”

Jim didn’t have to even think on the matter. He and Ian owed Mr. Conners for taking them on.

“Sure, Mr. Conners,” said Jim. “We will stay and help out. We can even work a few more hours, each day  this week, to make up for the lads who left.”

 

“Thanks, Jim.” said Mr. Conners. ”That is decent of you and Ian. It is a favor  that I won’t forget. I will make sure there is a bonus in your pay packets as well.”

 

“Thanks, Mr. Conners,” said Jim and Ian.  The lads then picked up their trowels and mortar hods and set to work.

 

That day at lunch, the gold rush was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Work on the hotel was slowed by the missing men.

 

“Sure, the old geezers were singing their tunes of reverie  for beers at Gassy Jacks’s,” said Red O’Neil. “I was in there last night. They were standing  two deep along the bar.”

“Everyone knows someone who has already left for the Yukon or plans to,”  said Spike McGee. “There is a rush to get up there early, before all of the best claims are taken.”

“Aye and they will find heartache waiting for them,” said Jim. “The temperature drops to forty below up north, at this time of year.”

“Well, it is something to consider,” said Red O’Neil.

“Not for us Mac Adams brothers,” said Jim. “Mrs. Mac Adams didn’t raise fools for sons. We have all the work that we can handle right here in Vancouver.”

The men went back to work. Jim and Ian stayed an extra two hours that day, to try and make up for the missing adventurers.

At day’s end, the lads were beat from the long day laying bricks. They had no thoughts of a few beers at Staunton’s. They picked up some food for dinner and made it home, thoughts of bed and a good night’s sleep claimed their attention.

 

The next day was more of the same. On every street corner, in every diner or gathering place, the topic was “Gold.” Every malcontent or dissatisfied laborer had dreams of striking it rich and living in the lap of luxury thereafter.

 

In places like the Hudson Bay store, there were crowds of prospective prospectors, who were buying every shovel or pic-axe that they had in stock. The harried clerks were so tired of answering questions like “What else would I need in the Yukon?” that they had printed up a suggested miner’s “must have list.” It listed basic foods and sacks of fodder for the animals, long guns and plenty of ammo to ward off rascals, fishing gear, camping gear and a whole host of other things, needed to survive in the wild.

 

Some of the purchasers wore three-piece suits. They clerks knew that they wouldn’t survive the trek up north, let along the rigors of mining in the wild. Others were rugged trappers and hunters, who would make it there eventually. Whether they found any gold or not was always open to question. Still, everyone wanted in on the rush.

 

At lunch that day, Jim Mac Adams was approached by Peter Stadler.

“Hey, Peter. Great feed at your place on Sunday. Thanks,” said Jim.

“You are most welcome, Jim,” said Peter. “We were glad to have you. Laura was over the moon with pleasure for how well it went. Could I talk to you for a minute, Jim?”

 

“Sure, Peter. What’s up.?” Asked Jim.

 

“Well, I have four mates who want to band together and make a run for the Yukon, to try our luck.” Said Peter. “We agree with you about winter weather. We figured that we might assemble our gear and start off in mid-may after Ian’s wedding. It will take us a few months to get there, using the “All Canadian  route." Then, we would have four months to see if we could hit a strike. If We found nothing, we would leave in late Fall, retuning to Vancouver.”

 

“I wouldn’t tell you not to do anything Peter,” said Jim. “You are a grown man and a skilled carpenter. If you and your friends are that disciplined, I guess you will give it a go. I don’t think it a good idea. No matter what route you take, you are still going to have to lug your gear over the Chilicoot or White pass, in the mountains. Then, you will have  to fashion a craft and sail it down the Yukon to Dawson. The trek will kill many and send many others back in misery. But then, that is just the way I see it.”

 

“I just wanted a sounding board, Jim,“ said Peter. “I know the trek won’t be easy. But, we figure thatwe have long guns and fishing gear to feed ourselves along the way. We all have horses to ride and  we have three burros to tote our gear with. And, we are all carpenters and tradesmen, who can work in Dawson on building projects, to earn some cash. I think we have a fair shot at managing, until we try our hand at placer mining or digging in the dirt for it.”

 

“Well, you have certainly given the idea some thought,” said Jim. “Have you told Laura about it?”

 

“The saints preserve us,” said Peter. “I have not. The woman would hector me to death, until I surrendered and gave up any notion of heading up north. I think I will wait until Laura is busy with the coming wedding, before I tell her for sure.”

“Sounds wise, Peter,” said Jim. “I don’t agree with you, but I certainly wish you and your partners luck and success in the venture.”

“Thanks, Jim,” said Peter. “I guess I must need to do this, as my one last adventures, before settling down here in Vancouver forever.”

 

“Well, whatever happens, please promise me you won’t end up like the old geezers in Gassy Jack’s, telling  Yukon stories and cadging beers from listeners.” Said Jim.

Peter grimaced and then smiled. “You have my word on that, Jim,” said Peter. Both men went back to work.

That night, Ian and Jim went to Gassy Jack’s  for a few beers, after a long day’s work. Spike McGee was right. The lads were lined up two deep at the bar and gassing about everything related to gold. The Mac Adams brothers waited until one of the old geezers fell off his bar stool, dead drunk. His partner, on the next stool, leaned in to pick him up and carry him out. Jim and Ian slid into their empty seats. They waved to the bar keep and ordered beers with whiskey chasers.

 

Jim then told Ian of Peter’s plans to head North in the Spring.

 

“May the good Lord save us,” said Ian. “Laura will kill him!”

“That’s what I said,” said Jim. “Best not to tell her then. Peter said he would wait and tell her  just before your wedding, when she was too busy planning the ceremony to create a big fuss.”

 

“I will have to play dumb, both now and then, or the women will toss me out into the streets,” said Ian ruefully. “She doesn’t get angry often, but when she does, you best get out of her way.”

 

“On another topic, Ian,” said Jim. “I would like to run another load of bricks though our process at the yard and then fire bake them until they are done properly. It will probably take  us all of Saturday.”

“Good Idea, Jim, “ said Ian. “I have already told Laura that we would be busy working at the yard, all day on Saturday.”

“Good,” said Jim. “When we are done, I want to gather up all of our tools and load them onto the dray. Then, we can hitch up the dray horses and take the them down to Farmer Smithfield’s. I can pay him to watch everything for us, when we are not there. I have a feeling some of these new “prospectors” might be looking  elsewhere for equipment, when none else is available here.”

 

“Good idea, Jim.” Said Ian. “I have already heard of one lad that was strung up in an oak tree, for trying to steal from a farmer north of us. Two other lads floated down the Fraser and on into the Bay. They were full of leaden shot from a double barrel shot gun. Even the Mounties are getting edgy. I fear these next few months will be dangerous for all of us.”

“Aye,”  said Jim. “I think you are right, Ian.”

Their dire predictions  proved to be prophetic in the months to come.

 

                                                 -30-

                                           ( 1,584 words)

                                       Joseph Xavier Martin