Legacy of the Chief, Chapter 24, pt 2: "Green Butte Copper-1924" |
click on picture for larger image: some of these images appear in the book for this chapter. |
A rainstorm passed over during the night of July 21, 1924, leaving a morning of fog and mist that would soon dissipate into bright sunshine. Cap and Johnny woke up amidst the heavily-soaked weeds and brush, but the area under cover of the canvas tarp was dry. “Johnny, wake up. We’ve got to meet Barrett today.” Cap was already tending to a hot fire. He was wearing completely dry clothing and boots that had dried under the tarp overnight. The water in the pot was hot. “I have tea ready. Get dressed. The clothes have dried out. Good thing I pulled them under the tarp last night. This place got drenched.” “Tea? How about some food?” “I managed to save enough for breakfast at the Golden. Have some tea first. Wake up. We have to pack up and move our gear. Barrett’s expecting us.” “The potlatch blankets need drying. They’re wet from the mist, Cap.” “We’ll have to pack them like that. No time to wait for the sun to come out. We’ll stretch them out after we get to Green Butte.” “I’m looking forward to it now, Cap. Think I’ve had enough of partying with Rose and Bubbles for awhile.” “That’s good. I hoped I’d hear you say that. We need to work. Don’t want to show up at home broke. Have some tea and let’s break camp.” “You looking forward to working at Green Butte, Cap?” “I want to see what it’s all about. The stories from the men we met at the billiard hall make the place sound better than the railroad camps.” “I doubt that, but I’m getting tired of dried fish and wet, dirty clothing and blankets that need to be dried out every day.” “What are you talking about? We stayed at Rose’s and Bubble’s cabin until last night, remember? That cabin was dirty, though. It was messy too. I didn’t care for that much. Look forward to a clean place to live. I like clean places.” “And dry ones.” “Yes. Dry. That’s good. Let’s wander on down to the Golden where it’s clean, dry, and has something to eat besides dry fish.” “Hot food and coffee. Ham and eggs, maybe.” “White man’s breakfast. I could use one today. Enough of the rice and smoked fish and tea.” “I’m with you, Cap.”
It was not long before the two had taken down the tarp and packed their belongings. They followed the road down the bluff. McCarthy was in the fog beyond the roaring creek. The road past the bridge led directly to the Golden. John Barrett was already there. “Come on in, and have some coffee, boys. It’s too early for breakfast here, but by the time we get to Green Butte, there should be a good meal waiting for you.” “Mr. Barrett, what do you mean it’s too early for breakfast?” “Henry, bring these boys some coffee, would you?” “Certainly, John.” “You came off the hill earlier than I thought you would. That’s good. No time to waste. It’s 6:30.” “Cap, you got me up that early?” “Sorry, Johnny. All that partying must have thrown my timing off.” “How’d you know we were on the hill, Mr. Barrett?” “Oh, that was easy, Cap. I asked Rose. She knew where you were.” Cap gave Johnny a strange look. He thought he had concealed his location well. So much for secrets in McCarthy. “Glad you’re early, boys. I need to get back. You didn’t make me wait. Josephine’s at camp cooking this month, so I couldn’t get breakfast at home. We’ll all be looking forward to it by the time we get there.” “Have the coffee while I go outside and gas up the truck. Henry, I’m picking up ten gallons.” “Here’s the padlock key. You know how the pump works, John.”
Kay-yew-nee sat just outside the door. He remained seated as John Barrett walked out to fuel his truck. “I know you, dog. Well, don’t know your name. You were at the Row, weren’t you, boy? You’re coming along, aren’t you? It’s okay, boy. I like dogs.” There was only a brief wait before the truck was ready to head out. Cap was particularly anxious to leave before Johnny started thinking too much about Rose again. Barrett looked at the dog, shrugged, and waved the two young men aboard. The dog leaped into the back, which was already piled high with supplies for the camp. In less than an hour and ten miles outside of McCarthy, the two-story log barrack came into view. Beyond the lower camp was the nearly sheer wall which was the east side of the canyon. It rose several thousand feet. The aerial tram extended from the creek for a vertical distance of 1200 feet to the center portal. The upper camp was out of sight due to the low-lying fog. The men could also see a frame manager’s house, a shop and garage, and a log stable. Near the canyon wall sat the small tram terminal. “Somewhere up there beyond the low fog line is where you two new apprentices are headed. Have you ever ridden an aerial tram before?” “This will be the first time.” “Well, Johnny, get used to it. The trail to the adit level takes too long. We only use it to run heavy supplies. Hope you don’t have a problem with heights.” “Not us.” “That’s good, Cap. What about you, Johnny?” “I’m with Cap. We don’t have a fear of heights or much of anything else. We’re true Indians.” “Don’t know what that means, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.” “Don’t worry about us, Mr. Barrett. We didn’t come here to cause you trouble. We’re here to work. Mining is new to us, so we’re here to learn. I told you that earlier.” “The work is easy to learn, but it’s strenuous. You’ll catch on quickly.” “What about the other men? Any Indian-haters?” “My men are all locals, except for the Chinese cook at the upper barrack. None of them has expressed any hatred toward Indians to me. Not that the subject ever came up. They’re here to work, just like you say you are. If there’s any problem, let me know.” “Sure we will.” Johnny said it, but he didn’t intend to tell Barrett anything. Cap looked at Johnny. “What about the dog? He can’t be expected to ride these tram buckets?” “Let Kay-yew-nee find his own way up. He’ll figure it out. That dog of Violet’s is amazing. He always seems to know when to show up. Don’t worry about him.” “Have some breakfast in the big barrack before I bring you up to meet the mine foreman. Go on in. Josephine will serve you. I have to go to my office to get some paperwork for you to sign. You read and write?” “Yes, Mr. Barrett. Both of us can read just about anything to be found around here. And we both write. Just because we’re Indians doesn’t make us illiterate.” “Fine, Johnny. I’ll be back to join you two in a few moments.”
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