Some 14 years ago I got interested in prospecting. I made a post on one of the old time forums asking if someone could help me 'cause I didn't know nothin'. Two days later Hoss Blackman showed up at my office offering to take me out to the gold fields and show me how it was done. Hoss wasn't lookin' to sell me anything, he was just lookin' to help someone out who wanted to learn about gold prospecting. Hoss was a brilliant teacher, and I was a sponge. We became very close friends. Hoss said that I paid him back many times over when I negotiated his butt out of a Mexican jail and got his truck and two metal detectors that had been confiscated back, and got them to drop the $16,000 fine they wanted to impose for some trumped up crap charge of smuggling electronics into Mexico. I could tell you how I pulled that one off, but that is a story for another time. This is just the time for a moment of silence and sadness as we mourn the passing of a gold prospecting legend, "Hoss" Blackman. Hoss was many things, but most importantly he was my friend. Until we meet again Hoss! God be with you my friend, as I am sure you are already with God, and telling many a story.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Allen 'Hoss' Blackman
Allen was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1932 to Allen Edwards Blackman and Isabella Rogers Moddell. He was a graduate of Stamford High School and later served honorably in the army during the Korean War. He was a resident of Meadview and Dolan Springs for the past 10 years.
Allen worked for Pitney Bowes most of his life, and after retiring in 1989, he actively pursued his many lifelong interests. He was an artist, cowboy poet and accomplished horseman, a working cowboy, gem cutter, treasure hunter and gold prospector, and an Outback guide to the Western Australia gold fields.
Allen was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Amvets and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Connecticut.
Allen is survived by his son, Bruce Blackman of Cottonwood, Ariz.; daughter, Nancy Fosset of Lynn Creek, Mo.; brother, Edward Blackman of Boston; and four grandchildren. He was quite a character and will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Allen 'Hoss' Blackman
Allen was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1932 to Allen Edwards Blackman and Isabella Rogers Moddell. He was a graduate of Stamford High School and later served honorably in the army during the Korean War. He was a resident of Meadview and Dolan Springs for the past 10 years.
Allen worked for Pitney Bowes most of his life, and after retiring in 1989, he actively pursued his many lifelong interests. He was an artist, cowboy poet and accomplished horseman, a working cowboy, gem cutter, treasure hunter and gold prospector, and an Outback guide to the Western Australia gold fields.
Allen was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Amvets and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Connecticut.
Allen is survived by his son, Bruce Blackman of Cottonwood, Ariz.; daughter, Nancy Fosset of Lynn Creek, Mo.; brother, Edward Blackman of Boston; and four grandchildren. He was quite a character and will be missed dearly by his family and friends.