The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1875-08-26
THE HARDIN LEAD.
Discovered by Enigrants Twenty
Years Ago, and yet not Found
hardin and Others Now search
Ing for the Bonanza

w
believe, an emigrant named Hardin
while away from his train hunting
in the vicinity of Blackjack, on the
Lassen or Cape Horn, as it has since
been appropriately called, route to CAL
iiornia, discovered what he then be.
leved to be lead mine. He took a
chunk of the metal to camp with him
from which he made bullets for his
trusty rifle One or more of these
bullets were taken to California. where
an assayer in casually examining them
discovered that they contained large
percentage of silver. The discovery
created no excitement at the time;
as Hardin and California miners
paid little or no attention to that metal,
knowing nothing and caring less for
anything else than gold. in the metallic
line. Years passed on and the discovery
OF the Washoe mines and the excitement
created by the Comstock, recalled the
assayer's remark to the mind of Hardin,
who told the tale of his discovery to
others. A party was organized in 1861
or '62 in California, of which Hardin
was member, for the purpose of ex-
ploripg the Blackjack country, and
locating the mine from which he had
obtained his bullet material. Hardin.
of course, supposed he could guide the
party direct to the locality, but in this
he was mistaken, and after days and
weeks of fruitless search, it was given
up, and tho party returned to Cali-
fornia. Since then several expeditions
have been organized, with Hardin as
leader, for the purpose of finding the
mine, which is supposed to be fabu-
lousy rich; but all of them, like the
first, after searching in vain for the
treasure, were unable to find trace of
it, aud gave up the search in despair
A prospector who accompanied Hardin
on one of these expeditions, Informed
the writer that he believed from the
appearance of the country and the
description given of the locality by
Hardin that the lead had been covered
up by q cloud burst, and that it was
useless to attempt to find it. Honey
Makers, who have heard Hardin describe
it, have been making periodical pill
grimages to Blackjack for years. but
have never found trace of the miner.
Since the bursting of the bubble which
assumed such gigantic proportions
through the manip ulations of Isenberg
and the amalgamator at Dall's mill in
Washoe Valley, several years ago, the
idea of finding the Hardin ledge has
been abandoned by all bu. Hardin him
self, whose faith in the locality has
never faltered. Recently he succeeded
in interesting men of means in Visalis,
California. and they equipped party to
renew the search. A member Of the
expedition arrived here few days ago,
and said tha; be had been with Hardin
in the Blackjack country, but owing
TO a disagreement with the leader had
started to prospecting on his own 40
count. He SAID that Hardin and others
are now Il the mountains west from
Bartlett creek hunting for the lost lend
and that be was GOING back TO resume
has search. and left here with that in
tentlon. From what We have heard Of
the Hardin LEAD we fear ii is &s myth
cal rs the Coaos Island treasure and
that searching for il Is labor II VAIN.
The Black Rock country Was thoroughly
explored st the time Of the lsanberg
excitement ana the chemists attached
to the Government geological expeal-
ton. reported through j. D. Hague,
Professor OF Minerolagy IN Yale College,
that ANALYSIS 0f the se-calied Blackjack
ore. disclosed DO trace Of any kind Of
metal. and no oue, except lssnhere
aud the analgamRtar hi Dall's mill
were able TO extract silver from the
volcanic matter Of the blRckronk
mines.
ISDIAN FNED.-Two or three Piutes
7rn4S he9 tar rnueh whisky the other