In the Footsteps of Pizarro; Or, a Yanke's Five Years' Experience in the Klondike of South America

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... be somewhere in that great northwest and you have been there just the same. We are older by some years now, I myself begin to notice a change. After you left Peru I kept on running my engine until the Inca company began development work in Carabaya, when I took employment with them to run their stamp mill, but I was thrown into other positions one after another until I was made master of transportation in every way except In getting the official appointment. I was with the company nearly three years, during which time I saw very hard service and the most terrible difficulties to get food over the summit and down into the Santo Domingo country--never could have enough of any two things at a time. No question about when anything would arrive. Finally after an outlay of $625,000 the mill was up and some development work done and rich rock to begin on. They turned out gold bars to the value of $150,000 monthly--a small mill, only five stamps. In the meantime I struck a small surface prospect which promised to be a fortune for all interested and there were several of us. I dropped all my savings and all I could borrow. When I got completely broke the company still offered me a good situation and good wages, but at that time my daughter Rosita had grown up to be a woman and her mother not being in good health, I was obliged to drop everything and come home, and I am glad I did for under my care Rosita developed into a splendid woman, both physically and mentally. I have a grandson thirteen months old; I enclose you a picture of him. Rosita is here on a visit to me. Her husband holds the best position on the little road running from a new port called Guaqui to La Paz, with the exception of the superintendent. The girl is well married. I started them with about 8,000 s...