The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1871-04-08
THE ELK0 INDEPENDENT.
SATURDAY. APRIL 8. ,s1I.
Another Black Rock Exciternent.

Another Black Rock Excitement.
We learn from reliable source that new
excitement has broken out in the vicinity Of
Mill City and Lassen's Meadows, on HE Hum
boldt river, concerning some new discoveries
reported to have been made in the strange and
enigmatical region Of country known as the
Black Rock district, some eighty miles in .
northwestern course from the railroad at Mill
City. The story nov runs. that about the
time Of the final abandonment of that section
some three years ago, one Phillip Mullen, well
and favorably known as q truthful and reliable
man in Humboldt county, Just before leaving
there selected number Of specimens from q
small lot Of ore which had been placed beside
. cabin occupied by one Wright, and brought
7. the specimens away with him, keeping them
In his possession until very recently, when he
determined to have test made of the ore, and
to his astonishment q small piece assayed
proved to be nearly half silver. Mullen was
greatly astonished At this result, and immedi-
stely set about having further tests made of
the ore. A small lot was taken to the mill at
Rye Patch. and subjected to test by Mr..
Aiken, proprietor of the Aiken furnace at that
place. The experiments made by Mr. Aiken
proved satisfactory, and that gentleman at
once announced his Willingness to par &c high
as $500 ton for all the ore of the same quail
ity as that tested which the parties would
bring him. Here again, however, another diff
hculty arises; while the ore bears unmistak-
ably all the characteristics Of that found in
the Black Rock district, yet the exact locality
from which II was taken remains O mystery.
II is believed that the ledge from which it was
taken can be found, and party has gone out,
prepared TO make a full exploration for that
purpose. II is said the small lot of ore from
which the specimens were taken was brought
in by Wright, and that the place where it
was obtained is known to one of the party
who have gone out to that region of romance
and yelled mystery. These are the reports as
they come to us by one who processes to know
whereof he speaks; and while we have ever
been numbered among the most skeptical of
all the skeptics in regard to the reputed wealth
OF the Black Rock mines, yet we are free TO
confess that halo of romance has been
woven around the name of Black Rock by the
and for such aisngth of time. tha: incredibilty
itself would be staggered to account for their
origin or fathom the purpose to be accom-
plished in putting them forward The stories
of vast deposits Of virgin silver In the Black
Rock country date back nearly twenty years,
followed up with an almost unbroken chain
OF corroboradye evidence in successive years
N tho nizNnyarv NJ kha al, +
Humboldt range OF mountains in 1861; when
each year thereafter companies were organized
In California and on this side of the mountains
70 explore the region of country where ira
dition asserted the existence of boundless
silver deposits in a native state. Year
after year these expeditions traversed the re-
gion of country between the Humboldt river
and the eastern base of the Sierras, but all to
no purpose, as the silver deposits stubbornly
refused to put in an appearance or to permit
their whereabouts to be discovered. In 1864.
party Of prospectors from Star City discoy-
cred some silver-bearing ore in that section,
but it fell so far short of the inflated anticipa-
lions OF the discoveries that but little atten-
ton was given to it ut the time. In 1865.
however, party from Honey Lake with that
singular embodiment Of science and stupidity,
of ignorance and impudence, of candor and
cunning, known as Charles Isenbeck, an
nounced-to the country that the mystery was
at last dispelled, and that through the potency
OF process known only to himself, the
Black Rock region could be coerced TO I'M
lock It's hidden stores of boundless wealth.
With the announcement of Isenbeck that a
process had been discovered whereby fabulous
sums Of silver could be extracted from the
dark brown volcanic rock which composes
the vein matter qS the district excitement ran
high in oil the surrounding country, and a
large population thronged to the new mining
field. The disastrous termination of this ex.
element and rush to Black Rock is too well
known in this section of the country to need
further comment; and now we are threatened
with new chapter in this wonderful history,
and will quietly await its unfolding.