Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-09-02

of these bullets were taken TO California,
where an assayer. IN casually examining
them, discovered that they contained q
large percentage Of silver. The discov-
cry created no excitement at the time, as
Hardin and California miners paid little
or no attention to that metal, knowing
nothing anu caring less for anything else
than gold in tho metallic line. Years
rolled on, and the discovery Of the
Washoe mines and the excitement ere
ated by the Comstock, recalled the as
sayer's remark to the mind Of Hardin,
who told the tale of his discovery to
others. A party was organized in 1861
or 1852 in California, OF which Hardin
was member. for the purpose
OF exploring the Blackrock couu-
try, and locating tho mine from
which he had obtained his bull
let material. Hardin, of course, sup
posed he could guide the party direct to
the locality. bat in this be was mistaken,
and after days and weeks of fruitless
search, 1t was given up and the party re-
turned to California. Since then several
expeditions have been organized, with
Hardin as leader, for the purpose of find
ing the mine. which is supposed to be
fabulously rich; but all of them, like the
first, after searching in vain for the
treasure, were unable to lind q trace of it,
and gave up the search in despair. A
prospecter who accompanied Hardin on
one of these expeditions informed the
writer that he believed from the appear
ance OF the country and the description
given of the locality by Hardin, that the
lead had been covered up by cloud
burst, and that it was useless to attempt
to find it. Honey Takers, who have
heard Hardin describe it, have been
making periodical pllgrimages to Black
rock for yeare, but have never found a
trace of the mine. Since the bursting OF
the bubble which assumed such gigantic
proportions through the manipulations
of Isenberg and the amalgamator at Dall's
mill in Washoe Valley several years ago,
the idea Of finding the Hardin ledge
has boen abandoned by all but
Hardin himself whose faith in the ocali-
ity has never faltered. Recently he sue
ceeded in interesting men of means in
Visalia, California, and they equipped a
| party to renew the search. A member
Of the expedition arrived here a few days
| ago, and said that he had been with
Hardin in the Blackjack country, but
owing to disagreement with the leader
had started to prospecting on his own
account. He said that Hardin and others
are now in the mountains west from
Bartlett Creek. hunting for the lost lead,
and that he was going back to resume
his search, and had left there with that
intention. From what we have heard Of
the Hardin lead. we fear it is as mythical
as the Cocos Island treasure. and that
searching for it is labor in vain. The
Blackjack country was thoroughly ex.
plored at the time of the Isenberg excite
ment, and the chemists attached to the
Government Geological Expedition re-
ported through j. D. Hague. Professor of
Mineralogy in Yale College, that an
alyses of the so-called Blackjack ore dis.
closed no trace of any kind of metal.
and no one, except Isenberg and the
amalgamator at Dall's mill, were able to
extract silver from the volcanic matter of
the Blackjack mines.-[ Silver State, 26.