Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-07-28
Extraordinary Gold Discovery The
CurioSitiCs OF Mining.

Y
San Francisco duly 81 Correspondent o the New
Bedford Standard.
That there are more things in heaven and
earth than our philosophy dreams of is
proved every day to an extent that must
make the wisest among us unpleasantly
conscious of helpless ignorance. Prospec-
ting tor gold has been hitherto conducted
on strictly kientific principles, guided by
the lay of the ground, the indications OF
former water courses, and the general
geological features of the peighborhood.
But it has now been shown that
q forked hazel wand is better
guide to hidden mineral wealth than
anything else yet known. Some years ago
q man named Mallon took up his residence
near Yreka, and commenced wandering
through the mountains with piece OF
forked stick in his hands. Many people
thought he was crazy, but Others Of more
experience made known his object, so that
his actions were watched with considerable
interest. At length the workings of the
divining-rcd indicated to him that saddle
shaped bed of silver ore was snugly wrap
ped up in an adjoining hill, and without
a~v other encouragement he commenced
to rive o tunnel to it. For seven
leng years he labored patiently, satisfied
that his simple instrument, guided by the
mysterious laws of attraction, could not be
at fault, and last week his perseverance was
rewarded by striking the golden pommel OF
the saddle; the first substantial proof OF
the immense treasure concealed there.
The cock, crushed in Il mortar yielded an
average of SIT to the pound, and the rest
Of the mass in sight is apparently as rich.
The curiosities of mining would form a
very readable book, especially that portion
of it describing the manner in which
most of our richest leads have been dis
covered. The New Almaden quicksil-
yer mine was found by an Ehglishman,
who observing that the Indians went to a
certain spot for peculiar red earth with
which they painted their faces, was Undue
ed to examine the locality, thus revealing
the largest deposit of cinnabar in the New
World. The Reddington quicksilver mine
was discovered by some laborers making a
road, who, noticing that some OF the
stones they lifted were unusually heavy for
their size, broke piece off and sent it to
! San Francisco for examination. The
celebrated Eberhardt silver mine in White
| Pine, one-half interest in which sold last
! week to English capitalists for 81, 900, 900,
was pointed out to camp Of loggers by
Indians, who brought IN Jumps of native
silver, and offered to SHOW where they got
them for a moderate recompense of houl
and tobacco. The famous blue-gravel
lead, one mile Of which yielded from
1854 to 1850 the sum Of S5,095, 600,
was accidentally struck by 6 man digging
well, and the Butte mine, in Sicora coun-
ty, from which ST, 1886, 000 was taken in six
years, was discovered by hunter who,
sitting down to rest, saw disintegrated
quartz richly streaked with gold scattered
about, and was thus led 10 make furthe1
researches. Nor have all the great prizes
yet been drawn. Capital, luck and labor,
separately and combined, are constantly
finding new wealth in our mountains, ano
probably will continue to dc $50 for all time
| to come