The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-02-07
From, the Danpille (Ky.) Tribune.


two committees, which were selected
bv Jas. V. Symons, Esq. to witness
certain assays of the ore at the Cum
berland Falls. on the Goth day Of No
vcmber. 1850:
CUMBERLAND FALLS. Nov. Goth 1850
We, the undersigned. being select.
ed by james V. Symons. Esq, as
constituting his first committee to wit.
ness and examine the first assay or
test Of the ore a. this place, which
was to be made ty him in pursuance
to notices heretofore given in the
newspapers. &c, do make the folIow-
ing report, to'wlt:
Inasmuch. as there had heen cons
siderable excitement as well as great
doubts manifested by many, as to the
true qualities Of said ore, and being
desIrous that all such doubts should
be finally removed and put to rest. the
one way or the other. and in order
that every fact which could be ne.
ccssarv to the final accomplishment
and attainment Of this end, should be
brought to bear. and the more espe.
ciaIIv rs many Of us came upon the
ground under the firm beieflhn, there
was no silver in said ore. In the first
place, we proceeded to the bank or
mine from which said ore was taken.
and then and there caused piece or
lump of the same to be dug out in our
presence; we then carried the same
to the nssaying furnace, where we
carefully pulverizcd it. and witnessed
the mixing thereof with the fluxes.
and then and there saw tho crucibes
placed in said furnace, and carefully
and critically attended to the whole
process of assaying and smelling the
ore contained in said crucibles, which
produced the following result: two
ounces of the ore yielded lG grs. of
pure silver. amounting to 593,l3 ID
ounces to the ton OF ore.
They would further report that This
was not fair assay, owing to the
fact that the coal used was not well
coaked and furnace being in bad or.
der. the continued press of the sur.
rounding crowd, the loss OF some Of
the metal in pouring the same out of
the crucible, the want of proper i'm.
plemcn,s. &C., in consequence OF
which we think at least one.half Of
the pure metal was lost.
Neither Professors Schaeffer or
Peter being present. and having. as
we understand, aIledged that silver
was put in the nuxes which had
heretofore been used by Mr.. Symons.
in order to produce silver from said
ore, or to have the appearance OF 40
ing so, and the committee not being
pre pared to analyse said fluxes. at the
request of Mr.. Symons a portion OF
each tlux was put in the hands Of DR..
p. Mason and Chas. Ridgeway. Esq.
to be handed to Prof. Schaefier. OF
Danvile, for his examination. there
being no one present to bear any OF
them to Prof. Peter.
Iunsmuch as we understand there
have been some charges OF fraud,
imposition. juggling. &c, made against
MI. Symons in regard to the tests
which he has heretofore made OF said
ore, we take great pleasure in saving
that he was perfectly Tree in exhibit
ing all his fluxes. and in explaining.
to US as far as possible, the whole Prin'
ciple upon which the assay was made.
and the result, and we have no hes''
ta,ion il saving that. in our opinion
he is an accomplished scholar, and
perfect gentleman. and in all respects
skilled and well qualified TO perform
the duties Of an assayer and smeIter.
and that he is wholly incapable OF the
comm ssion of fraud. imposition, trick
erv, or juggling. and that we look
upon him and feel proud 10 acknowl-
edge that he is one of kentucky's
greatest bencfactors. and that his
name will be written upon the bright
pages Of history in future ages as a
benefactor to pos,erily. and as such
We tender him our most sincere
thanks.
The Second Committee would say.
that they fully and in all respects
concur in the statements and decIara.
tons made in the foregoing report.
with the exception Of the result of the
ASSAY made in our presence, which is
as follows: two ounces Of the ore pro.
duced 81 grains Of pure silver. making
ll5O $40 ounces to the ton oil ore.
FIRST COMMITTEE.
Charles Ridgewav. Danville. Nv.
John Pogue. BarboursviIIe, ny.
C. NJ. France.
Samuel E. Booker, Washington
county Ky.
Thomas w. Nantz.
r. NJ. Cobb. Knox. CO. ny.
w. w Bicket, Marion CO. Ky.