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Page B -THE CLEAR CREEK COURANT -Wednesday, Nw. 4, 1992 Mine's `lucky bucket' a bonanza for the Handicamp By SUE LATHROP TRAIL CREGK AI Mosch, owner of the Phoenix Minc, has donated the proceeds from his "lucky bucket" to the Easter Seals Handicamp. `dosch presented dtc $500 in assorted bills and change a the director of The Rocky Mountain Village, Mcllodce Low- ther, on Friday. He said that when he put the lucky buckcl in the mint, he knew he couldn't keep the money people threw inm it for himself so he told people the money would go to the Handicamp. Also on hand at the presentation were Idaho Springs Cily Councilman Boh IAtwland and Chandler of Cununcrcc I'res- idcm Jan Buwland. "1 think you just made more money nut of mining than any miner has in the last KO years;' Bob Rowland later joked to Low- ther. Mosch was given the bucket by "Old Man Cmnk." "I Ic gave it to AI when he was a Iwy bc- causc he pct his black cat," said lim Braid, who has worked with Mosch since Utc Phoenix Minc opened. Bucket Has (:olden Reputation "I'hc IcgcnU attached to the buckcl maintains that "every hole it was in tumcd into good gold money;' Braid said. Mosch says he can prove that the bucket is lucky. Numerous people have touched the bucket, then scot letters back with stories of good luck. One old man, who was barely able to walk and was dying of kidney failure, visited the mint and touched the lucky bucket with both hands and tears in his eyes. "1 ncvcr thought 1 would sec him again,' Mosch said. But, months later, the man visited the mine again, "as spry as could be." n 4,dnev donor had been found soon after he touched the bucket. In another incident, an unemployed stu- dent who was having problems making ends meet tried his luck with the bucket -- hc got his dream job as a stock broker and his wife won a lot of money in the lottery, Mosch said. And then there was the shy serviceman who couched the bucket and then met a nurse at his school. He came back to touch the bucket far reinforcement. A few months later, he was back at the Phceniz Minc with his new bride -- who also wanted to touch the buckcl. The couple had been assigned to dif- fcrem bases and they needed some luck ht slay together. Stec enough, the magic of Utc lucky buckcl worked -- it had the power to change even the military. The bucket's Curse Mosch is protective of the bucket's luck. Several stars from the Ccnual City Opera production of "Faust" came b tour the mine -- including Kun Link who played the devil in the play. Link told Mosch if he didn't like the tour, he'd curse the buckcl. Just w be on the salt side, Mosch later had a willing priest with a sense of humor perform an czorcism on the bucket. When Link came back with his (amity for another tote this past summer, Mosch wouldn't Ict him take the tour until he promised to behave himself. Another opera star, David Hamilton, told Mosch that he hit the high "C" the night aRcr touching the bucket -- some- thing he'd ncvcr done before, Mosch said. Mosch said he got the inspiration to build the Phcenu Mine into the tluiving business it is from Wilfred Roberts, whom he saw on crutches working on a r«k drill at the Lamartine Mine. - Mosch says a future dream Cor the Phoe- nix Mine is to cum it into a museum and donate it w the Handicamp. Lowther said this is not the first help Mosch has given to the Handicamp. He also helped build the whcelcha'u ramp up the mountain there. And plans are in the work Cor playground at the camp with a minis theme. "We're fortunate to have Al's suppor said Lowther. AI Mosch, owner of The Phceoix Mioe, hands his lucky bucket pr«eeds to Mel lodee Lowther, director of The R«ky Mountain Village, a facility for handicappe children at Empire Junclioo. Photo by Sue Lathrop of The C/ear Creek Courant.