The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-06-05
A WONDER OF NArUnE.-Colonel a.

S. Evans, writing from Treasure Cl.y,
the 10Th ult., to the -4Aa, tells the fol-
lowing:
From John NJ Murphy. Esq. recorder
Of the Patterson District, l obtain some
very interesting facts in regard to the r.
val of kentucky's great natural wonder,
the Mammoth cave of Nevada. This
cave is situa ed in a spur OF the Buckskin
or White Mountain Range, and about
twenty miles this side OF Patterson, or
fifty miles from Treasure City. The en-
trance is on the south side of an Isolated
butte or piacacho and near its base.
The opening is SO low that man must
stoop to enter it, but twenty feet In the
vault in the limestone, it widens rapidly,
turning toward the east, and you pass
through chamber after chamber OF I'M
mense proportions, some OF them OF satsal
vast height that the light of the torches
fail to show any signs Of roof. Mr.
Murphy, with party, penetrated o,UUO
feet from the entrance-nearly mile
finding no end. They saw many cham
bers in which immense tongues of lime
stone hung from the roof, in places al
most touching the floor, and in others sta
lasmites abounded, as in the Mammoth
Cave of Kentucky They foand traces
of burnt sage brush, showing that the
Indians had been there as far as they
went and the guileless soDs of the soil
told them that they had penetrated five
days journey into the cavern. found u
lake full Of fish, and yet saw no end to
the succession of lofty chambers stretch
ing out before them. Lo was always a
very poor Indian and given to living.
Mr.. Murphy's party got out of material
for torches, lost their way and were glad
enough to grope their way back as best.
they might, not caring to make second
attempt to fathom the mysteries deep
hidden in the bosom of the mountain.
A hotel is to be built there, and it is
thought that the cave will. in time, be-
come great place of resort.
GOLD DISCOVERED ON THE MOLALLA
RIvER.-The Conserciai says: We have
learned the following facts in reference
to reported gold discoveries on the head
waters of the tributaries Of the Molalla
river. Some three years ago, an old Cali
fornia miner named William Sprague,
was employed by the Oregon City incor-
porated Mining Company, to prosecute
having been discovered previously in
sufficient abundance and richness to lead
to firm belief Of an extensive gold bear
ing lead. Sprague was employed several
months in prospecting; and working For
his services he was paid the sum of $780,
A number of specimens were found in
digging the tunnel, which were sent by
Capt Hedges-at that time President of
the Company-to the assay Office in this
city. The result of the assay proved q
richness OF S795 per ton. Want of capi-
tai and confidence the part of the
company, prevented further prosecution
Of the work at that time. Since the first
discoveries, the company have from tiEe
to time employed Sprague to do sufficient
work to hold the lead, on which they
now pay regular taxes on real estate.
The tunnel has been extended back into
the mountain about thirty five feet. Spec
linens taken from the tunnel are reported
to be Of a rich bearing character, and
only require time, capital and labor, to
develop into a rich nine. During the
time which Sprague has been employed
by the company, he has been frequently
prospecting ''on bis own hook" and has
discovered rich surface diggings along
the bed of small tributary of the
Molaila river, called Lost Coffee Creek,
which will pay from So to s5 per day to-
the hand. These diggings extend along
the bed of the creek for about eight miles.
The creek runs through deep deGle or
canyon in the Cascades, inaccessible to
either horse or wagon. The hills on
each side, on account of their steep ac-
clivity, ruggedness and being densely
covered with heavy growth of timber,
have not been extensively prospected,
but from the locality, the indications are
favorable for paying diggipgs. Spraguo
has sold one sluice right and 300 feet
along the creek to Wa Kce, of this city,
for the sum of $3.50, who will shortly
place a large number of Celcstials to
work. The mines are fifty-eight miles
directly east of Oregon City, far back
into the Cascade range. The facts, as
related, were given to us by the man,
Sprague.
At recent convention of workino