The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-03-27
DISCOVERY OF WHITE PINE.

n correspondent OF the Virginia asI"ef
prise, writing from Treasure City (Nev.
gives an interesting account of the discovery
of the White Pine mines by an Indian
named Nappiass and one Leathers, a black
smith. The latter got some of the ore and
melted the silver out of it, thus proving its
richness. The correspondent then proceeds:
In my last, Leathers was left on his way
home after his first visit to tho districts, be-
wildered with his discovery, unable to COM
prehend it. He had been on the Hidden
Treasure ledge oil the time he was knocking
of the specimens, with which he and Nap
piass returned, heavily laden, to camp, but
the thought that all of the numerous SEEM
ing boulders were but the outeroppings of
one of the most magnificent lodges yet dis
covered never entered his head. lilo put the
specimens brought with him through the
test of the forge at such time as he could es-
cape observation, and always with the same
exciting result. His conduct began to ex-
cite the attention of his comrades. lie be-
came strangely mysterious. Merchand, the
Superintendent, began to notice sudden in-
clination on the part of Leathers for sclen-
tifc inquiry, vet so cautiously did he always
approach his subject that they never OWNED
his object. Meanwhile Nappiass was su-
premely happy.
LEATHERs AGAIN VISITS HIS HIDDEN TREASURE.
There is a limit to all human endurance.
After who knows how many anxious days
and sleepless nights, feathers again set out
for another sight of his tantalizing wealth.
Yet once on the ground the same bewildering
fears possessed him. He tramped again and
again up and down, around and about, above
and below, in and upon his ledge, and yet
felt that he could not find it. Again he re-
turned to camp, loaded down with specimens,
yet he had not dared to put notice on the
ground for fear he would miss the ledge,
call attention TO the discovery and lose it all.
How he concealed the matter from his com
rades so long is strange, but he certainly
kept his secret, and Nappiass, in his new
found luxury, was faithful and true.
THE SECRET OUT AT LAST.
Finding that he consulted the oracles of
science in vain, that he was impotent to pluck
from the hearts of the books about him the
mystery of his discovery, and unable longer
to resist, he took the Superintendent, March
and, into his confidence, told him of the
wealth he had found, and they set out to-
gether for the third visit to the mysterious
treasure. Marchand, once on the ground
was not long in comprehending the situation,
showed Leathers the vein matter and the
adjacent country rock, pointed out the
vein, its course, width, probable dip, etc.
of the Hidden Treasure, and called the
the mountain Treasure Hill. They selected
. pounds of rock, took it to Austin, had it
worked, and found it yielded 81 so per
ponnd, making S., 900 per ton. This was
the middle of September, 1867. So long
had Leathers agonized under his secret, ever
since the 4th of July preceding. Here l
leave him for the present.
OTHERS GET WIND OF THE DISCOVERY.
Leathers and Marehand kept their secret
so well IN Austin that no one there knew
where the rock came from. It was not until
about the first of November following that
any one about the Monte Christie mill knew
what was up J. E, Lindsey, William Nc
Cauley and F. E. Eberhardt were the first
TO ferret it out. They came over about No
Fember Ist, and Immediately located the
north and south extensions OF the Hidden
Treasure. Lindsley then located the Ice
berg, Hemlock, Pego nip, Vallejo and other
ledges. Eberhardt discovered the Summit,
Aurora, William Penn, Franklin, Eclipse,
and other veins. These discoveries soon
became known at the mill, and other men
working there, and IN the mines around
about. Rathburn, Sproul, Drake, Robinson
and Crawford came over.
HEAVY SNOW FALLS.
came over, q furious snow storm came on,
stopping all work, cutting off their supplies
and compelling them to turn their attention
to provide some means of shelter rather than
70 look for more claims. 4 log cabin was
quickly improYised out Of the pine trees
with which the hill was then covered By
great exertiOns some provisions was procured
from the mill, and then they began to tramp
around IN the snow again, looking for more
lodges. During this time the Mammoth,
Alladin's Lamp, Little Blk and other veins
we're found.
THE EBERHARDT.
This ledge, the pride of the district, and
monarch Of all mines, was one Of the last oi
the leading fssure veins discovered, and
when found was not considered of much val.
ne. One reason for its tardy discovery was
its situation. Treasury Hills on an oblong
mountain, running north and south, and il
some two miles long on the summit. The
Hidden Treasure was found on the north end
of the mountain. Naturally the first pros.
pecting was confined to that quarter and
down the northern slope, where the Nam
moth lies, and it was only by degrees, and
after that portion had been pretty thorough
ly looked over, that the prospectors turned
their attention to the south. At the South
end of the summit there is sudden, precip
itous break or descent, and the Eberhard
lies on a kind of table land below. Before
prospecting could be carried to that point
the snow had fallen and stopped operations
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF TIL
KBERHARDT.
One Sunday, in January, Lindsey was ir
his cabin melting snow. Eberhardt anc
Cole, who had been cumming with him
took a stroll around the South end of the
summit, and in their rambles Eberhard
stumbled upon the croppings of the reir
which will perpetuate his name forever ir
the history of mining, Cole suggested thu
name, but Eberhardt constantly demurred
on the ground that the vein was of no ac
count, and he didn't want his name connect
ed with a claim of so little value. But tn,
boys got to calling it the Eberhardt, and tn.
name stuck,
HOW 1T WAS LOCATED.
Everything about the Eberhardt is peculi
ar, and even the original notice of location
of it is oddity, probably without parallel
One popularity of the notice is this Th
original claim and the south extension ar,
all in one notice. It simply stated that th,
parties thereto claimed l 300 feet ON tn,
ledge, running 900 feet north of the notice
which part was the original, and the 800 fee
south was put in as an extension, which
Eberhardt located as a gift for some of hi
friends. will give you copy of the notic
by and by. All the veins on the hill wer
found 10 r.1y7# mouth ov,d ,o,,kL