“So, he didn’t tell anyone his plans.”
O’Flynn shook his head. “He left during the night while everyone was sleeping. I guess he didn’t want anyone trying to talk him out of it.”
Harry nodded. “How did you find out he left the country?”
“I hired a professional researcher, who finally found his name on an obscure list of men who signed on with fishing schooners coming to the ‘new world’ but did not return and were considered to have jumped ship. The next step was to come here myself and try to trace his journey. It has been more difficult than I had anticipated.”
“I guess the men in those industries were more interested in working for a living than they were in keeping any kind of records. And many of them worked alone.”
“All things that make tracing them much more difficult for those of us who are interested in our ancestors,” O’Flynn said. “What can you tell me about my Great-uncle’s life here in your country?”
Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Most of what we know came from the man who left just after you arrived, Gary Martin. He got the story from his great-uncle for a Halloween-themed writing assignment in high school. Two friends of mine also heard about him from older family members.
“Everyone thought he was a trapper and it wasn’t until after his death that the mining idea came up. The mine is actually just a tunnel in the side of a hill, about three feet wide and ten to twelve feet long. It was always thought that he had blasted it out himself, but maybe he carried on where Shamus had left off.”
O’Flynn was nodding. “That makes sense. I wonder if he ever found any gold.”
“There’s not much sign of gold around his area,” Harry said. “He might have found a little, but not enough to get rich. I’d guess that the fur trapping would have been more profitable. The Historical Society has everything documented and I’m sure they’d be happy to provide you with a copy.”
“What do you know about the circumstances of his death… was he still active and working? Or was he ill?”
“Three hunters found his body at the mine site, no indication of illness. They reported it to the authorities but never talked about it in public. When the last of those hunters was on his deathbed, he gave Martin’s Great-uncle some information which indicated that Paddy’s death might not have been a natural one.”
“Are you saying someone might have done him in?”
“Just that there was some doubt, but too much time had passed to do any kind of investigation.” Harry drew a deep breath. “Anyway, the Society has turned the place into a historic site now. If you’d like to see it for yourself, the trail is pretty easygoing.”
“I would very much like to see it,” O’Flynn said.
“A prospector’s rock pick was found in the tunnel and the Society keeps that in their little museum.” Harry reached down into the bottom drawer of his desk and removed a small box, which he handed to O’Flynn. “No one knows I have this, except the lady who often works with me, and I hoped we could one day track his family.”
O’Flynn opened the box and picked up a small oval metal pendant, turning it over in his hand. “This was his. Every male member of the family has worn one like this since the middle 1850s. The Cross of David on one side and the O’Flynn family crest on the other.” He reached inside the neck of his shirt and pulled out the one he was wearing. “I’ll have it cleaned and displayed with the only photo we have of him. His story can now be completed and I don’t know how to thank you.”
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