The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-31
Silver Mines in South America.

Silver MineS In South America.
A correspondent Of the Newark
Advertiser, writing from the San
Antonio Mines, $50 miles from Cal
dera, February S, 1862, gives the
following account of the silver mines,
there, which he visited in company
with Don sdeccdo, the
owner Of them
The mines ,sastly different from
anything l lad conceived. For
three hours was led by one of
the miners through horizontal shafts
around vast chambers, along winding
gallaries, down steep drifts, up crook
ed staircase, cut in the rock, back
wards, forward, to the right, to the
left, and in every direction, until /
became completely bcwildered, and
should never have been able to
find my way out again, had |
been left to my own guidance. When
ererfwe came to large chamber,
there we were told had been
great wealth in silver. In one cham
Der theystold me million and h q
quarter OF dollars Of silver. ore had
been ken III ess 81
I7sledge ind told me- TO ~ scfllck Ii Oh &
piece to carry home. One of these
days | will send you the result of
my knowledge OF the use of a big
hammer. Tho loud reports Of blast
ing going on in different parts of the
mines were terrific, and the appear
| - hn hale ,.,l H..
wing away at the solid stone, was
u sight. The natives carrying out the
ores and refuse in hide bags ON their
bucks, and up steep crooked shafts
three hundred feet deep; gives one an
idea OF labor only to be found in
place like this. After spending
three hours i'll this great mine, which
has been worked for twenty-five
years. came out at the top OF
the mountain, having gone in ut the
base. Taking u few moments to
breathe, we commenced the descent OF
another mine, belonging to Don
Bcrnado, which is close to the first, and
from which they are now getting much
rich ore; aud when we came out We
were tired enough | assure you. When
we arrived, We found the cook and
steward of the establishment drunk
and in bed. This being Carniy-
al week, moss Of the natives are
enjoying it.
You can imagine the wealth OF
this mine, which is located in u
narrow steep ravine about one
mile from the river valley, when
tell you, there is village OF some
size at the mouth of the rnvinc,
occupied by Poems and the natives OF
the country, which has been built
up and entirely supported for years
by the stealings of persons employed
i'll the mine. | suppose that one
tenth of rich ore is stolen; there is no,
native miner in Chill who vii
not steal if he has chance, anG
boast of it afterwards. When the
mines are rich, the owners employ 4
foreman for each miner, to overlook
him while mining, but um told tina
the foremen are as bad us tht
men; there is no dependence to b.
placed in any of them. The own
ers seldom go near the mines, anc
when they do they rarely 60 into
them.
Don Bernado has owned the
mine for eight years, having given fol
it 100000, but has never been into
it, except just a few feet at the
lower entrance. He owns large shares
in many other mines at Chanrclle
and Tres Puutas, one to the north anc
the other to the South of this place
both of which ] have promised him tc
90 and see. Hc wishes me to becom,
an owner in the mines, and offers to
give me shares in his mines if vii
only stay in the country but tel
him ! cannot stay, and have no fancy
for mining. Ilc gives me fine spcci
men Of silver ore every time ] see
him. His family live in great style il
Lima and his possessionsarc immense
Besides his Peruvian mines and estate:
he has also two large, handsome houses
! Copiapo, ono large silver ore mill il