Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-03-17
Returned Diamond Hunters.

From the San Francisco Call NsrthlStA. j.
WHILST the diamond fever was at Its
height whilst there remained una
batsd confidence In the genuineness Of
tho discoveries reported from Arizona
by the Roberts party Of explorers,
George A. Treadwell, Frontier and
Bellemere and others organized acorn.
pany to mine for all descriptions Of
precious metals and gems In Arizona,
New Mexico. Colorado aud Utah. AS
Caleb and Joshua were sent forth.to
explore the promised land. so James
B. Grifiths, OF San Francisco, and p
H. Newbill. Of Los Angeles, were de-
puted by the Diamond and Gold Min
Ing Company to prospect for hidden
treasures In Arizona. Following 10
the wake Of other parties, these two
men took rail- to Pueblo, Colorado. and
then by stage they proceeded to Santa
Fe. From Santa Fe they set out on
the 9Th of October, with three horses.
for Fort Wingate, which they reached
on tho 9th Of October, without any
thing startling occurring during the
Journey. Thence they went to Fort
Defiance, and then onward to the San
Juan River In a northwest direction,
about 200 miles. This took them to
the Bald Mountain, In the nelghbor-
hood Of the Arnold and Slack "salted"
fields. From this point Griflths and
Newblll turned southwark and east
| erly into Arizona, and on the way
were visited by two men called Knox
and Cruz. They met a Navajo Indian,
whom they made understand that they
were In search Of precious stones, and
for the consideration Of four " bits !" a
day, this Indian acted as guide to Can
yon Bonita, where they found them
selves by the end of November. This
was tho diamond ground. Sixteen
men were prospecting 1t on the arrival
OF the party, In the interest Of several
companies, and amongst them Stanton,
who here exhumed hls ''big ruby, "on
which the charges were 'rung subse-
qusntly with such amusing hopeful
mesa In Denver and San Francisco.
Grifiths and Newblll remained at the
canyon for a week. exploring the hill.
| sides and the valleys diligently, and
making prodigious journeys with, all
the eagerness OF enthusiasts destined to
acquire extraordinary wealth. A re-
corder was on the ground, and to keep
him employed the party located l2OI
acres Of ruby soil, and notwithstand-
Ing the revelations of whichthsy after
wards learned, Griflths s. Newbill still
think that the ruby soil Is prolific In
gems. The stones were discovered
partly OH the surface and sometimes ms
deep as three feet In the superficial
stratum. Griflths at mi spot dug into
a bank, and after washing out a single
painful Of earth, there remained 100.
stones-garnets and emeraids prlncl-
pally, and perhaps rubies. No adver-,
lures particularly worthy OF record be-
fel the party. Grifflths was In danger.
whilst alone. from two mounted red
skins, who demanded his gun, but the
slght Of q revolver drawn upon them
with a determined air, compelled them
to make tracks with alacrity. AS the
result of their search, the two explor-
ers have brought back five pounds thir-
teen and a half ounces Of stones. What
their value Is has yet to be determined,
but they are In the possession OF From
tier q Bellemere, aud are not consid-
cred worthless. Nearly all the stones
were picked up In the canyon pros.
pected. The remainder were bought
from Indians and u few were unear:hed
at Black Lake, and at Newell's Camp
on the Indian Reservation. between
Fort Defiance and Black Lake. On the
return journey the party passed the
Rio Grande del Norte at Albuquerque,
and took the route to Denver by Fort
Taos, Fort Garland and Pueblo.
Whether the location will ever be
turned to account depends upon the
value of the specimens procured BY
the party. -