Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-15
GOLD HUNTING IN COLOMBIA.
A Californian in South Anerica-Aa-
ventures in Search of Gold-Dsscov-
cries of New Ptacers.

A Californian in Sout', Amcrica-Ad-
ventures in Search of Gold-Dsscoy.
cries of New Placers.
Some of our readers NAV remember
that In 1866 a number of Californians
were lured to Barbacora, on the west
ern coast OF Colombia, by reports of
the existence there of rich placer mines,
which could be cheaply worked with
native labor The mines were there,
sure enough, formed by the washings
of the Cordillera streams for ages; but
the owners asked for one-half the pro-
duct, the climate was sickly, and our
adventurers, generally without means,
finally abandoned the country i'll dis
gust. One of the few who remained
was DIR. James Weaver, an old Califor-
MAN, who had been pioneer miner and
ditch builder in Nevada and Yuba
counties, where a mining canal still
bears his name, and who will be wide
1y remembered, when we recall his
name, both i'll this state and Nevada.
Weaver left the coast, pushed into
the interior Of the province of Cauea,
which is in the southwestern extrem-
ity of Columbia, and prospected high
where he had to cut trail, and made
his way with great hardship. On the
banks of the river Aguarica, whose
name indicates it's auriferous richness,
he found gold wherever he washed
the gravel. After many vleissitudes
he established himself in this lonely
country, in hut with few Indians.
But his Indians deserted him, and he
was obliged to quit Aguarlca. A
Yaculio, however, in another part OF
Cauea, thirty miles from Barbacora,
he found extensive placer deposits,
similar to the hydraulic mines Of Cali.
men, women and children, Indian and
negro, was taking out considerable
gold by means of ground sluicit,g, wa
ter being plentiful for the purpose, and
rain falling often enough TO keep the
ground constantly in good condition
for washing. Weaver saw Rienels peo-
pie wash up forty pounds of gold,
weighed with the stee1yards at sixteen
ounces TO the pound. He found the
mining county, consisting of high
gravel ridges divided by many ravines
and streams, to be very extensive and
admirably adapted for hydraulic oper-
rons. Rienel oWEea thirty square
leagues, which he offered tD sell for
5000, 000-and all of it, says Weaver, iB
regular mining ground. The Yaculo dig
gings are known to very few people,
and Riene1 Is the only one who has
tried to work them largely. The negro
women make spending money easily by
washing III the ravines. The country
Is very sparsely inhabited, The land,
when owned by individuals, is held by
titles descended from the King of
Spain The laws allow one man q
league OF mining ground when found
vacant, and much of it is vacant and
unexplored. DIR. Weaver was so pleased
with the Yaculo country that he has
come to San Francisco to obtain the
implements aid machinery necessary
to hydraulic mining, and means to re-
turn there to work some land he has Sc.
cured. lie says labor can be obtained
for so month that any kind Of veg
etables can be raised climate is good,
tt5 people tmostly Spanish and In
dians) are friendly, and 5aihlAs Of all
kinds very cheap. But he says it is no
country for poor men. Without money
and implements to work the ground
Systematically on large scale. Ameri
Cans would starve there. The Panama
Star and Herald editotial1y indorses
Weaver's statements concerning the
gold regions OF, Columbia, which are
important outside Of Cauca; and prints
a long letter from him, describing that
interestiDc wild countrv and bis al .
ventures, which smack of Californian
40 experience. But, as Weaver says,
it Is certainly nc country for poor men