Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-04
From the Boston Post J
Gold i'm Vermont.

THE PRECIOUS METAL FOUND IN THE
epEKN MoUNTAINs-GR EXCITE
NfENT AMONG ALL GLASSES - GOING
p1su1Na WITH IRON BARs-AN INDIAN
LEGEND REVIVED PROSPECTING AN
OLD sHAFT-THE EXCITEMENT IN RUT-
LAND-REPoRTs FROM OTHER DIGGINGs
ADVICE TO -BE-MINERs, ETC.
RUTLAND, Aug. q.
II has been known for number OF
wears that gold in small quantities really
existed in almost every stream running
out of the Green Mountain range, but
recently report was circulated that
rich deposits of the precious metal had
been found in this vicinity. Only few
days ago the Rutland HERALD published
statement that Mr.. Charles l.. Earl,
of this town, had discovered good dig
gins near here and had shown quanti-
ty of gold dust to the editor of that pa
per. These reports induced your cor
respondent to come here and investigate
The result proves conclusively that gold
does really exist here that there are de-
posts and probably lodes, and that Mr..
Earles statement had not been in any
wise exaggerated The history of the
discovery of Gold in the streams and
along the banks Of the rivers which take
their origin in the Green Mountains may
be thus briefly told:
THE FIRST DISCOVERY.
Nearly twelve years ago Mr.. Charles
l., Earl, respectable carpenter and
Joiner of this town, was pigeon shoot
ing in Salt Ash Mountain, about six miles
from here, when he thought he saw in
dications of mineral ore. Forgetting for
the time his shooting, he began his ex-
plorations and filled his game bag with
specimens. On reaching Rutland he
showed his specimens to practical min
eralogist, who pronounced them iron
and lead ore. Two years later 1863) a
gentleman arrived here from New York
and called on Mr.. Earl, who has forgot
ten his name. He said he was dealer
in mining stocks and lands, and believ-
ing that there was gold in the mountain
streams, he wanted Mr.. Earl to
prospect through their beds. This
Mr.. Earl says he did, though he has
never seen the strange gentleman since,
and believes he is dead, and the result
was that he found small quantities of
gold in the bed of Cold River and along
the banks of Mill River. Pursuing his
investigations up stream, he says he
found a good spot on Mill River,
and there PANIED out at different times,
nearly an ounce of the precious metal,
which he sold to jeweler here for $16.
Since then Mr.. Earl has made frequent
excursions to the country, ostensibly,
but in reality to his hidden Ell Dorado
Notwithstanding this fact was well known
to many of the citizens here, but little
attention was paid to Mr.. Earl or his
gold hunting, and no one seems to have
cared about it except Mr.. Horace G.
Clark, jeweler, now residing in Chica-
go, who occasionally bought small guam
titles of gold from the discoverer. On
July 4 of the present year, Mr.. Clark
asked Mr.. Earl to get him enough gold
dust to make two wedding rings which
had been ordered of him by parties de-
string to enter the welded state with
rings made of pure American gold. Mr..
Earl told me that he started out with
his gold pan and crow bar early next
morning, and at three o'clock the same
afternoon, he returned with a small mug
get weighing twenty-five grains, six dol
lars in dust for one ring, four dollars for
the other, and small quantity worth
$1.37 which he had found in a crevice
of the rocks. Since then Mr. Earl has
made many visits to his mines, but he
has persistently refused to tell any one
where they are situated.
THE GOLD NINE.
On my arrival here several DAYS ago,
/ called upon Mr.. Earl, and was fortu-
nate enough to find him just on the point
of starting for his hidden gold mine. AT
ter much persuasion on my part, and a
corresponding amount of hesitation on
L. L. .t.NI4 Ill
pany him. We carried q common tin
pan and our pocket knives, but neither
pick nor shovel, quicksilver nor micro
scope, nor any facilities for mining. +
hired team at an exorbitant price, and
we drove nearly seven miles in south
easterly direction until we came to
high mountain. We then left our team,
walked up the mountain side to the sum-
nit, looked over and at the base saw
Mill River dashing along over the rocks.
'We have got to get down there" said
Mr.. Earl, leading the way. | followed
him. The descent was almost perpen-
dicular and extremely perilous, but at
the risk of breaking my neck every mo-
ment l managed to reach the base
''There is gold anywhere about here"
said Mr.. Earl, as he Invested himself of
his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves and
began filling the pan with the ''dirt,
using his hands only. "Well, it ought
to be safe,p / remarked, eff that is the
Is the only way to find in" / referred
to the perilous descent of the mountain.
Mr.. Earl and myself then washed about
twenty panfuls of dirt from the noun
tain side, during which time we found
little less than two dollars worth of viz
gin gold of a fine quality, resembling
that found in Clear Greek, Colorado,
which is worth 1918 an ounce. coin. Orr
ascent was not less hazardous thon our
feat of the morning, and We -,eturned to
town well satisfied With our labors of
the day.
THE GROWING EXCITEMENT.
When Mr. Earl showed the result of
his work that day, his statements cor
roborated by mine, caused considerable
excitement, and the consequence was
that the following day several small par
ties went prospecting through the gorg-
es leading out of the mountains south
east of the town. Meanwhile, / made
inquiries concerning Mr.. Earl, of whom
everybody spoke in the highest terms,
learning that he had no interest in any
lands in that part of the country, and
that therefore MS discovery was not ac-
tuated by any Interior motives Accord
ingly the next day joined party of
five, and went to the spot visited by Mr..
Earl and myself the previous day. We
carried provisions, axes, crow-bars, gold
pans, ropes, shovels and fishing rods.
When asked where we were going, Mr..
Aud, one of the party, answere, fish
ing" One old gentleman, more observ-
ing than others, remarked as we drove
away, swell, I'll be burned eff ever
saw anybody go fishing with iron bars
before" On arriving at the summit of
the mountain we attached about two
hundred feet of well rope to tree, and
lowered ourselves and tools into the
valley. We donned rubber boots, rolled
up our sleeves, and began digging. Soon
a pile of loose dirt on the edge of a
ledge of rocks gave evidence of the hear
ty manner in which each man entered