The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-02
A Gold Mountain.

Mr. William Radley, II man who has
heretofore borne high reputation in En-
gland as an engineer, and who is now in
Australia, writes home to the London Nin-
i5ig Jotraai a most extraordinary letter
about some new gold dggings he has been
20, where the gold exists in almost fabulous
quantities. While we are free 10 confess
that We do not exactly believe the story,
yet we feel bound to print few extract.
from his letter, as after all, it is not imposs-
ible but the place he speaks OF really does
exist far too little being known on the sub
iect of gold formations to warrant us in de-
nying that it may be found as he states, and
the mans previous character emitting him
at least to n hearing. He says
My errand here was twofold-Firsily, to
acquire the money and opportunity to ex-
plore for myself district discovered in
1852 by two a-quaintanccs of mine, who
emigrated from London in 1850, the ac-
count Of which was seut'to me in London
in 1852, and again repeated in 1865
These letters described the route Of a Jour
ney from Mount Alexander to some place
in New South Wales. where, in very in
accessible locality, the ground was literally
tagged with gold, in masses too heavy TO
carry to any considerable distance, and
smaller pieces brought away by them of
the aggregate weight of about 10 lbs,
avoirdupois; and near the same spot OF the
side of pool, an isolated mass Of gold
containing from . 10 IL cubic feet of metal
whose weight was described as NOT less than
Z 10 tons
Not liking To leave these treasures to
the iacile gaze of the ramblers, they em-
rloyed themselves three days in throwing
the former ina Heighboriug river; and un-
dermining the large mass on the side Of
pool, they succeeded in rolling the latter
into a deep water, preSuming that with a
little more than the same outlay than the
mere transport of the whole TO the nearest
port would require ere anything could he
done to secure these treasures, the whole
would be raised with certainty and ease
from their artificial watery depot. These
letters startled me, and could not under
stand why Sidney or Mlbourne could not no
made available for the necessary construc-
tions and outlay to re-poSscss and bring
away the deposit of wealth. Ny CORES
pondents' only explanations were. that in
consequence of the almost insuperable diff
culties of access 10 the locality in question,
nothing could be done without a small
steamboat and the usual accompaniment,
inclusive of a diving apparatus; but that
such was the nature of the Melbourne and
Sydney society, composed principally of
Vaudemonians," "0ld Hands" &c, whom
1t was not policy TO trust with the secret ;
aud TO have been sceu going backwards and
forwards individually, would bave crested
a rush Of thousands of disgers TO spot, the
consequences OF which on so small ami con-
fined locality would have been fearful
So they preferred TO entT,ist me with the
secret, and commission 10 form q limited
association in London, with a capital Of
S3, 5000, to etfcc,uste the whole purpose
One of the discoverers died of fever at
Canvass Town in 1858, and end the sub
sequent silence OF the then survivor ac-
counted for, on my arrival in Melbourne, in
February, 1851, by his accidental death by
stray bullet at jhe Rallarat riots in the
August of 1854.
arrived at Melbourne on Feb, Ia, 1855.
/ with very limited means at my command,
and obeyed the usual call of rush 10
Hell's Hole Digeiugs, on the Devils River,
in the latter part OF April, 1883, whence
after sleeping in the bush, without tent or
covering, save pair of blankets, and sink
ing hole or shaft % feet deep, returned
Il. G.. walked back to MelbOurne-about
the middle Of June, with ) ozs. dwts, of
gold in my boot. During my stay at lIelrs
Hole, | made the acquaintance of Charles
: jackson, VI. A, Of Yale College, a digger,
! with whom | went over the MilIewa. be-
/ tvixt Altmry and Wahcunyath. to see n vol
/ canic district described by him in New
+ South Wales, in which thought saw a
great resemblance to the locality described
in my Australian correspondents letters ;
aud Judge of my surprise to find myself on
one of the veritable spots in the most vi
earious and accidental manner, no. nv
the circuitous route adopted by them in
/ 1882, but directly onto the mountain spun
whose precipiton face almost precludes ac.
cess, and whose promontory constitutes a
small volcanic crater, very shelving interior.
ly, with pool of water therein, and beset