The Man Who Moiled for Gold

The Man WhoMoiled for Gold draws its title from the Robert W. Service poem: The Cremation of Sam McGee. This popular work portrays the lust forgold, the passion for the search, and the elusive success that brought men andwomen to remote areas without laws or justice. The poem also tells ofsuffering, loneliness, frustration, and ultimately death.¿ Charley Martin experienced all of theseemotions along with love and success while becoming the man who moiled for gold. Charley Martin, in 1912, is found mining the hardrock of Butte, Montana. Years of breathing the fine quartz dust in the pitshave given Charley silicosis. Discovery of this incurable condition, by themine super, brought an abrupt change to the 69-year old miner's life. Changebegan with the decision to move to his mountain cabin, which involved a weekendstay with Kathleen, his eldest daughter. Kathleen held a secret hurt andbitterness, causing an estrangement between father and daughter. Delighted by his teenaged grandson's insistence to knowthe grandfather's pioneer adventures Charley recounts events that began 50years earlier with the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Charley realizes that revealingfamily history might bring to surface Kathleen's resentments so he continues totell details past the romantic parts. Successful mining ventures are overshadowed by themurder of Charley's cousin Joe during a holdup.¿ Kind and happy Charley becomes obsessed with finding theroadagent who killed Joe. Other incidents of robbery and murder inflame theMontana/Idaho mining camps into vigilante actions. Charley joins the BannackVigilance Committee and participates in the historic hangings of the Sheriffand his deputies he then travels with the Alder Gulch vigilantes to hang mostof the remainder of the Sheriff's roadagent gang including the man Charleyconsiders to be Joe's killer. Charley had never before revealed to family that hehad been an active vigilante who had ended men's lives.¿ The daughter's family is amazed butaccepting. Con