Richland beacon., 1877-11-10
A Lucky Gold Miner.

country for many years, ana a. rIch
perbaps as was ever made, we here
have the pleasure of recording. a.
o. Bell, commonly called Pike Bel,
who. with his family, has lived FOR
many wears on Bald Hill, few miles
North Of Auburn. as many know, ls
dauntless prospector. Though occa-
sionallv making a strike Of some con-
siderable importance in the past he
has managed, like most modern pros
pectors, to keep poor. Last WINTER
in particular, lie was in very siralten-
ed instances, and having no
money, and the merchants refusing 10
credit him, he offered bis only horse,
worth about $50, for $40, that be
might buy bread tor bis children, aud
falling in his Efforts to sacrifice bis
horse, be pawred ring from his
wife's finger to obtain the necessarits
of life. Day by day be continued bis
searches for the glillering Treasure,
and whether TIE passing day bad
revealed a color or not, his spirits
were always jubilant, apparently kept
up by the hope that seened never to
have deserted him-Uf doing better
on the morrow. At last the lucky
day came.
Ii was about three weeks ago when,
bunting around over The bills, he
struck his pick into little mound
which rcscnbled somewhat in appear
ancc an an,hiIl, and to bis delight he
unearlhed some pieces of decOmposed
quartz. attached to which were some
colJrs Of gold Encouraged at this
prospect, be began 10 sink bis new
lead, and was rewarded by finding
more or less gold at every stage II
descent. Last Saturday be had
reached a depth Of about thirty feet,
aud had taken out in sinking that far
rock estimated TO be worth about
500. The rock being extremely
rotten, or what is called by quartz
miners decomposcd, be had with little
effort pounded out in mortar enough
TO pay expenses as be progressed lie
had hired men 10 assist HIM In work
ing the mine, and on last Monday
morning they went 10 work as usual.
The gouge, as we would call it. as ii
is too rotten to he properly called a
ledge, was discovered by noon to have
become suddenly richer. In the after
noon chunks Of almost pure gold
were taken out, and the deconposed
stuff that filed The interslices between
the rocks was SO rich in gold that
Pike began TO wash it out With pan
From three panfuls Washed Mondas
afternoon be obtained gold esliu ated
TO lie worth between $4,000 ant
$4,000.
That evening he came into town
and giving Us a hint of what he hat
got, invited us 10 60 and see 1t. Or
Tuesday afternoon, in company Will
sheriff McCormic, we visited the mine
We found Bell with pan of gold il
his hands worth from 81 600 To 81 800
which be assured us all came from
one pan of dirt. but" said he, Il
YOU don't believe il, | will wasl
another pan and show you" w
told him to wash. The pan was sen
down into the shaft and soon returned
filed with mass of muddy, rock,
stuff that sparkIed all over with piece
of gold. This was washed out an'
found TO contain fully as much Of th
precious metal, if not rore, than th
one be had JUS, finished panniug whe
we arrived On "Wednesday evenin
Mr.. Bell Git is Mr." now-it wa
Pike befoie) Informed US that be ha
taken out $4,000 IN three pans tha
day that he bad taken out, all tolC
up to that time, between $4,000 an
S36, 900, aid that be bad IN offer an
was about to sell for $4,000. Whe
asked his notion for selling, be said b
would get away with about $50, ,00l
, and that was rooney enough for bin
Placer { Cat Herald, June 24tI
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