, 1872-08-22
Caught in a Canyon.
WRITTEN FOR THE PORTLAND BULLETIN
BY G. W. CRoCKER.

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Seven or eight years ago, when every
body on the Pacific Coast was more or
less excited in relation to quartz mines,
the events hich propose 10 narrate
occurred, yet they are still vivid in my
memory.
The silver discoveries at Washoe, the
rich yields of the mines, the distribu-
ton of large dividends, the sales of
stock at seven and eight Thousand dol
lars share, were the promoting causes
of one of the widest fevers that ever
afflicted the body polite. Everybody
wanted stock in mines, and the impecu-
nious bummers, who had been starving
on lunch-table fare for years, became
rich in organizing wildcat mining COM
panies and selling stock.
The printing presses were kept run
ming necessarily striking off certificates
of stock, which were carried out upon
the street AMI sold at fabulous prices.
AS singular as it may appear nobody
asked questions about the mines. They
seemed to think that they were all equal
to the Gould & Curry. and that the
grand object in life was to get a few
shares in some mine and then sit down
and wait until the dividends came ''tum-
bling in
The majority of my readers doubtless
remember that assessments - came in
the place of Z" dividends" and where
there was a mine worth anything the
\ Trustees formed little ring and insti-
tuted game of " freeze-out," and as
they held the marked cards." they
could not fail to win. All these things
are too well known for me to dilate up
on at this time, therefore will proceed
to the narration of the recollectlons of
my prospecting tour.
Nearly every foot of ground in New
ada having been located and incorporat-
ed into Mining Companies. the quartz
hunters began to turn their attention to
other regions; some went north, whilst
others proceeded southward and search
ed amongst the mountains of the SOUTH
ern portion of California, and through
out Utah and Arizona
had come into California some years
before. by way of Arizona, and had been
struck with the appearance of certain
mountains, and also with some creeks
that had crossed. l believed that ihey
were rich in mineral deposits. but had
not deemed 1t prudent to stop and pros
pect them, as the noble red man was in
one of his ugly moods at that time. 1
had also discovered a jnttIng rock near
the road, which contained large per-
centage of galena. These remembrance
came upon me with full force during the
excitement attendant upon the fever
above alluded to, and l felt confident
that my fortune would be made if
could only secure the galena mine and a
few other good quartz leads which must
certainly be found iu the same neigh
borhood.
| mentioned my belief that rich mines
could be found in the above vicinity to
several friends, and the result was that
! in very short time party was organi-
zed to prospect Arizona in the region of
Fort Mohave. was placed in COM
mand of the expedition, which was COM
posed Of myself and four companions,
not one of whom had ever been in the
mountains, or had any knowledge of
rock, except what they picked up on
Montgomery street, among the curb
stone brokers. But each and every one
of us had taken lessons in assaying and
the use of the blow-pipe from Professor
Price, and felt that we were capable of
finding anything that could be hidden
in rock, when, in fact, not one of us
could have told the difference between
piece of quartz and a chunk of granite.
We believed that we possessed the re-
quisite knowledge, and that was suffi-
cient. We left San Francisco on the
steamer Senator, and proceeded to Los
Angeles. where we purchased animals
for both riding and packing purposes
We made our rendezvous with a good
hearted old gentleman named Reubot-
tom at Ell Monte. and to him we were
indebted for many little bits of advice
in regard to packing, etc.
Finally, everything being in readi-
ness, we bid our friends goodbye, and
started for the Colorado river. The first
days journey carried us to the Cucam-
ongo Rancho, where We tarried for the
night. The second day was passed at
Martins Rancho, at the fork of the
roads leading to San Bernardino and
Salt Lake, little after noon, and, TAX
ing the latter loute, pushed along until
nightfall, when we made our camp in
Cajon Pass.
1t had rained all the second day, and
when we made our camp we were wet
and tired, and as may be readily sur
missed, in the very worst humor possible.
We cooked our evening meal. after hav-
ing almost exhausted our breath. our
patience, and the vocabulary Of oaths in