Creator
G. M. Lake
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
1
[1]
Fish Creek Fresno Co Cal
Sunday Eve. Dec 1891
Mr John Muir
Dear Sir
Here I am, still in the mountains. I came down from Kings River Canon the last of November, and came up here the first of the present month to examine some mines But the parties interested have decided not to work them for the present and So I am out of work I should like to get employment from you on your ranch for the winter if you can furnish it to me – I am accustomed to general ranch work and would do my best to give you satisfaction. Am a Machinest by trade Have run most all kinds of Straw Machinery, and
01547
[2]
can give you good references as to my capabilities should you require them. If you can do any thing for me please write and I will be at your service immediately. Direct to North Fork, Fresno Co California. My experiences & adventures on the Middle Folk of Kings River after your departure were varied and somewhat exciting. I hunted for the “Bar” whose track you saw on the meadow opposite “Bear Flat” but found him not. I got the cinnamon on Cartridge Creek on the Middle Fork, about 6 miles above the junction of Goddard Creek and the the Middle Folk. Found some fine mineral in there and plennty of it. Were it not so inaccessible we should hear of another Comstock. Time will remedy this however, and the din of the
[3]
[in margin: Lake, the hunter]
Stamp Mill will some day [illegible] with the noise of the rushing train as it whirls past bound for Mt Whitney and the summit lakes Did it ever occur to you that of all bouyant things on earth an “Old Prospectors” hopes are the lightest: A Balloon is “Lead” in comparison. We are all rich in the near future. Alas that near Future leaves our bones for storms of the mountains to scatter, or the sands of “Death Valley” to cover And our prospective wealth lies still buried in the earth to which we have returned in poverty. Good Kind Mother Earth, she hides our faults, our sins and our sorrows. And puts on her most dainty raiment, and her sweetest
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[4]
smiles for the [penniless?] seeker after her treasures, as she does for the Millionare tenant of a Silver mounted casket. But I am getting off the [bad?]. It has been raining and snowing here for the last two days I am camped I a little cleft of rocks with only my little [square?] of canvass over my bed – As you saw it at [illegible] Meadows. I am writing by the light of my camp fire so you will excuse imperfections. I shall be glad to hear from you and in the event of your employing me will answer in person as the [illegible] possible moment after receiving your letter Hoping you are in good heath
I am
Yours most truly
G. M. Lake.
Location
Fish Creek, Fresno Co., Cal
Circa Date
1891 Dec
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20 x 12.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Lake, G M., "Letter from G. M. Lake to John Muir, 1891 Dec ." (1891). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 138.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/138
Resource Identifier
muir07_0430-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 07, Image 0430
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
3 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
