Canada: The Campbells Are Coming

The logical end for a prospector — in the opinion of husky, handsome George Campbell — is in the poorhouse. But Prospector Campbell is a living refutation of his own logic: twice in his 47 years he has struck it rich in Ontario's rugged gold country.

. The first time, as a mere tyke of ten, he split with his elder brothers and an in-law a claim which sold for $5,000,000. George lost most of his share in a wheat pool during World War I.

Now he had another fat poke. He had just sold a claim to Campbell Red Lake Gold Mines and split $800,000 in cash and stock with three partners. (Much of the credit, he felt, was due an 80-year-old Cree Indian named Jake whom he considers his good-luck charm.) This time Prospector Campbell invested in more durable things than wheat futures. Among his new acquisitions: two planes (with a private pilot), a fully equipped yacht, a saxophone (which his wife abhorred "because it makes the wolves howl"), and the first player piano to be brought into the Red Lake district, complete with 500 rolls of music. Then Mrs. Campbell hid the mail-order catalogue because "it held too many attractions for George."

But last week, at their two-room log cabin (175 miles northeast of Winnipeg, across the Ontario border), the Campbells were preparing for a real buying spree. It would be their first junket to "the Outside" in 14 years.

George had it all planned. On the itinerary were New York, Hollywood and Bermuda. Top priority on their shopping list: some salt & pepper shakers to add to the collection of 800 sets they already own.

Said Mrs. Campbell: "We're just going . . . where there are things to buy. We don't want to choose everything from a catalogue." And the Campbell Red Lake Mines Co. had a whopping farewell present for them. Checking over the deal, it found it had inadvertently underpaid George and his partners, last week handed them an additional $40,000 in cash.