Harry's Gold - Paperback

by Martinn E. Winters (Author)

This historical novel is based on the true story of Harry who lived from 1878-1942. Harry's driving ambitions led him to navigate between the worlds of the law and the lawless during the period of the turn of the 20th century in America.
Harry ran away from home as a teenager to join the Yukon gold rush in 1897 and in Nome, Alaska in 1900. During this journey, he did business with Wyatt Earp, Jack London, Tex Rickard, Rex Beach and Wilson Mizner. He also volunteered for the Spanish American war, and traveled to Columbia, South America to pursue the gold rush there. These experiences formed his character, which plays out in the story.

Harry came home with gold to become an Alderman and police commissioner in Davenport, Iowa and formed many successful businesses there. He also owned the riverboat Frontenac which hosted gambling excursions on the Mississippi River originating in Muscatine. From the White Way Hotel which he owned, he supplied liquor during Prohibition for these events while the ship docked nearby. This proved to be a lucrative venture, and supported Harry's legitimate business activities.

It was a time of railroads, gold rushes, the Panama Canal and the Gilded Age. The lives of many famous and rough characters intersected with Harry's. In the background are WWI, the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression, and WWII. Historical events are told through Harry's life, who lived as a not so common man.