The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-09

Iu IL speech delivered III the House oi
Representatives, II. B. Vance member
Of Congress from North Carolina, said
TINT the first discovery OF gold in thr
United States was mndG in Mccklen-
burg, III that State, in 1920. A CORE
spOndeut of North Carolina newspaper
cOrrcct1 this statement, saving that tn,
first gold was found in CabArrus, in
1893, and refers to Wheeler's History
OF North Carolina for evidence.
Old chroniclers give mn account OF n
province callei Cofcch;G-:, which vas
visited by Dc Solos gold hunting expo
lition in 1538.40, md which was TN
lraced in what a!terwa:tl became the
States OF Florida, Georgia, Alabama
and Mississippi, and. according to
Logan, in his history OF "Upper Caro-
lina," Ind its center on tho west
ern limits OF South Carolina. Its
capital and chief town stood
upon the tongue Of land between the
Broad river, OF Georgia, and the Savan-
nah, Just opposite the modern district OF
Abbeville. The Spaniards entered this
capital after n two months march, and
found tho country ruled bya beautiful
Indian queen, Adalla, who entertained
the Spanish governor ard army with
much ceremony. Here they found
hntchets formed from an alloy Of gold
aud copper. By this their cupidity was
greatly excited, and they concluded That
they had found n country abound:ng i'll
tho long coveted precious deposits OF
gold, And SO indeed they had, says
Logan (whom we quote freely, but it
was neither their good fortune nor their
Desert to find out the precise spot where
gold could be obtained. Iu less than
fifteen miles southeast OF the town, on
tho opposite or Carolina side OF tho
river, lMy ono Of the most extraordinary
gold deposits in tho world. Tho Choro-
KEGS were well acquainted with the Dom
niue. This is shown by tho numerous
relies Of their handiwork scattered
around it, and there can he little doubt
that tho massive nuggets Of its outcrop-
ing gold supplied them abundantly with
tue finer metal OF tho alloy that 40 ut
tractcl the eyes Of the SpuniNtds. 1t ia
10 less known, to few who have III.
Quircd into the traditions OF the Rboiigi-
nes, that tho gold and copper, found in
their possession, in tho form Of solid
masses or curious trinkets, by the first
white men who visited the country, were
obtained from these sources
fl'I,, t. .,f 1,,Nn1ttrn, tl,nr.
metals was ono OF the most remarkable
devices OF savage ingenuity; in practical
efficiency the famous blowpipe of Dc.
Haro was scarcely superior. Logan tells
us that, having first followed out fiat
stonu ia tie form Of basin, til = filled
it with charcoal, and upon this laid the
nuggets OF metals. A number of ln-
dians now seated themselves in circle
around the basin, each having in his
haud long reed pi reed through it's
entire length and armed at one end with
Il c!ny tubo or pipe. Everything being
ready, fire wis applied to the cllnrcoal,
aud tho whole MAST instantly Flown into
n powerful heat through tho reeds, the
clay cxtrGmities of which wcro inserted
in tho basin, while the Indians blew
through them upon the charcoal with
all their might, and with protrNctcd cx.
piratiou. No ordinary lump OF either
gold or copper could long maintain its
solidiiy IN such a crucih'c. With this
process the Indians could easily pro-
dnce nny variety of ornament from
those metals. using them either alone or
III alloy. This method was known to
!iavc been in usc among tho Indians who
lived upon tho gnli producing laads Of
North Carolina, aud the same process
must havo been known to tho Chero-
KEGS.
These chronicles aud traditions go to
confirm what lawson says, that the In
,liaus, from timo immcmorial, were nc.
quAinted with valuable mines Of gold
aud silver in Upper Carolina.