Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-08-29
IN CALIFORNIA.
BASE MET
AIS INTO PURE GOLD.
A Chemists Wonderful Discovery
Half a Million Of Dollars
Manufactured i'm Two
MOnthS-The Coin Pro-
noumccd the PurcSt
Geld ever put
I'm a Cruel
bic.

The following story as reported to u
has much of romance in it, but the future
may demonstrate its truth, revolutionizt
commerce, and make the possessors of the
marvellous talisman the veritable Mida:
of the nineteenth century. 1t is no les
than the discovery of a chemical process
which, when applied to base metals, trans
mutes them into gold-pure, SHINING
veritable gold. The rumor of the diamond
discoveries in Arizona have somewhat pre-
cipitated the disclosure of the facts we are
about to relate, and though at the risk Of
breaking faith with our informant, We
consider his statement too important to be
withheld from the public.
THE MoDERN MIDAS.
Some three months ago a plain-looking
man, of American birth, presented him.
self at one Of our leading banks and So
licited an interview with the manager.
The banker was very much occupied with
bis cares, overburdeped with offers of
paper for discount, and harrassed with the
prospects of losses on loans for which he
held collateral in the shape of mining
stocks, scemly descending on his hands.
He surveyed his supposed customer, and
almost before the first words of salutation
had fallen from the new comer's lips, he
said:
mo, sir can't do it. Very sorry, but
have gone beyond our limit to accommodate
our OWN customers. Doing nothing on
the outside to-day, at any rates"
The stranger made no reply, but de-
posted a leathern valise on the bankers
desk, opened and took from it a mass of
dingy metal. looking half like copper and
half like brass, and handed it to him.
The man of money examined it curiously,
and returned it, saying he was no judge
Of niaerAl substances, and had no time
to study this particular specimen.
CONFIDENTIAL PERSONS JUDGMENT.
The stranger asked him if he would
know gold if he saw it and, if not, would
he be kind enough to send for some con-
fdential person, OIL whose judgment be
could rely. to assay and determine the
quality and value of this lump of metal.
The proposition was reluctantly acceded
TO. One of our most prominent assayers
was summoned. and after examining the
substance and inquiring, with visible ex-
scitement, where it came from, and re-
-~ceixing 40 satisfaction, departed, taking
itwi6h him, promising to report On it the
next day but one at noon. Punctually
ut the appointed time the three men met
at the bank. The assayer produced the
metal, which had been run into the form
of bar, and had all the appearance of the
ordinary gold ingot of commerce.
THAT looks like gold" said the bank
er.
cit is gold" said the assayer, "nearly
q thousand 6ne-the purest l have ever
put in a crucible."
ANOTHER SEARCHING TEST.
The stranger said nothing. The
others piled him with questions concer-
ming the source from which it came.
He civilly but firmly declined to furnish
any information, requesting them as a
further test of its genuineness, to send ii
to the Mint in this city for coinage. To
this they assented, and the bar was sent,
with other bars, to the Mint. 1t was there
again submitted to the tests usual in such
cases, and tie next day its value was re-
turned in double eagles-something more
than eight thousand dollars-which was
placed to the credit of the new decidedly
interesting stranger. For nearly a week
nothing was seen of him or heard from
him. The banker was in a fever excite
ment. He could think of nothing but
the owner of the gold. He ran over all
the mining news of the public press for
some record of a strike in the gold-pro-
ducing districts and. if the truth must
be told, he waited for some intelligence
of an audacious robbery of the treasure
box of an up-country stage or of the
the rifing of some. bank or assay office in
which his new friend should play a prom
inent part.
eco ILSTALLMENT.
So we'll sa tisfed was he of the correct
ness of this latter conjecture that he was
on the point of advertising the possession
by him, under peculiar circumstances, of
a large quantity of refined gold, when the
depositor appeared bringing with him a
larger piece of the same metal as formerly,
which, with come ceremony and dignity,
he submitted for inspection. This was
done, and then the stranger inquired if
the banker was entirely satisfied of its
g~enuineness.
Perfectly, perfectly" was the answer.
cit is gold. Where did you get it?"
The answer nearly caused him to faint.
He sat for a few moments like one in a
trance. His ears were filed with strange
sounds. His eyes grew dim. His hands
trembled nervously, and his heart beat a
oueer tattoo which alarmed him for his
personal safety. 1t was a very brief an
swer, yet in it were involved the most
momentous consequences to commerce. to
the vast system of labor and capital en-
ployed in the mining enterprise of the
c..t. IN the nrecious metal basis of trade