The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-12-14
Discovery of Gold in America,

CfaDongress from North Oar Ina,
Said that the fret discovery of gold
in the United States was made in
MScklen6mrg County, in that Safe
in 1920. A correspondent OF a North
Carolina newspaper cOrrects this
statement, saying that the fist gold
was found in Cabarrus county in
1899, and refers to Wheeler's "His'
tory of North Carolina for evidence
Old chroniclers give an account "f
aproVince called Cotachiqhi, which
was visited bv DeS"to's gold hunting
expedition in 153S-4O, and was en-
braced In what af,erA ards became
the States Of Florida, Georgia, Ala>
bama and Mississippi, aud according
GoLogan in his history of upper
Carolina" had its center nn the wes>
torn limits of South Carolina. Is
capital and chief town stood upon the
tongue of land between the Broad
river, OF Georgia, and Savannah, Just
opposite the m"dern district of Abbe
Vile. The SpaniarCs entered this
capital after two months march,
and found the conutry ruled by a
beautiful Indian queen. Adalla, VIII"
entertained the Spa ish governor md
army with much ceremony II re
he found matches formed from an al
10y Of gold and copper. By this
their cupidity was greatly excited,
and they concluded that they had
found a country abonnding in HE
long coveted deposits Of gid AnA
90 indeed they had said L,gan (whom
We quo'e treely,) but II was neilhor
their good fortune nor their desert to
find ont the precise spot where z id
could be obtained. IN less than tit-
teen miles southeast of the town, on
ths Opposite or Croli "a side Of the
river, lay one ofthe most extraord,
nary gold deposits in tho world. The
Oherokees were we'll acquainted with
the Dorm mine. This, is shown BY
the numerous relics If their handi~
work scattered around il, and There
can be little donbt that the massive
nuggets of its outcroping gold Sae,
piled them abundantly with he fine,
metals of the alloy that s. attractv'i
the eyes of the Spania, ds. II is NJ
less known 70 II few who have il
Quired into the traditions ut The ah r.
igines, that the gold and copper fund
In their possession, in tho torn Ut
solid masses or curious trnkets, by
the first white men who visited th.
county, were Obtained from these
SOnrces.
The Indian method OF smelling
these II. etals was one ot the most res
markable devices Of savage i, gepui-
ty. In practical efficiency the ta
nous blowpipe Of DR.. Hare WIS
scNrcely superior. Logan tells us tt at
having first followed a fiat stone in
the form OF a basin, they tilod it
with char coal, and upon this laid The
nuggets of metal. A number IF IN
dians now seated themselves in cir
Gle around tho basin, each having in
his hand long reed pierced TIN oush
lts entire length and Il med at one
end with a clay tube or pipe Ev-
orything being ready, fire WAS ap
piled to the charcoal and the whole
mass Instantly blown into q power tuI
heat through the reeds, the clay ex
tremities Of which were inserted in
the baein, while the Indians blew
through them upon the charcoal with
all their might, and with protractel
expiration. No ordinary lump Of
gold or copper could long maintain
Ats solidity in snch a crucibIe. with
this process the Indians could ea>il>
produce any variety Of ornamen
from those metals, using them o. her
in alloy or alone. This meth d was
Enown to have been in nse amony
fRIA Indiana a. br l;,,oJ