Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-06-01
Gold in our Connty.-The followiu,

Gold in our Comfy following
statement in relation to the discovery OF gold
deposits in this county we take from a letter
rom Washington to a northern paper. While
we cannot vouch fo- the truth Of the story We
give it fer what it is worth
The recent gold sensation in Georgia has
revived the gold fever which so seriously at
tackled many residing within ten miles OF this
city several years since. Ii is certain that there
is a great quantity of gold in Montgomery
county, Md, in the ueighborhood of the
Great Falls, on the Maryland side OF the
Potomac, from one to three miles from
here II was discovered, during the war, in
this way Connecticut regiment, the name
and number Of which i have forgotten, but
may be remembered by some Of the renders OF
this, was stationed alongside Of The Potomac
doing guard duty between the Chain Bridge
aud the Grea, Falls One OF its soldiers
while digging in the woods near hy one day
struck upon a gold mine watch he worked n
qpiet way for a long time before he said
anything about il. According to the sinte-
Inenis of the jewellers to whom be sold the
auggets in Georgetown he dug out quartz
rock. etc, that he sold for 81 800. Besides
this he crushed oui aud washed good deal Of
gold quartz and sent the gold TO Connecticut.
lie refused to tell where his mine was located,
and upon finding that his movements were
watched by others with the hopes Of ascsr-
tanning The location Of the wealth, he gave
Hp mining altogether Soon atierwGrd the
regiment was ordered away couple OF
years after the war WAS over the same man
made his appearance in the region OF The Chain
Bridge lie boarded there for several months
lie told the people he stopped with that be
WAS geOlogist, and he was prosecuting his
studies among The rocks in that location -
Frequently he would send away large Trunks
VI the rocks thai he gathered in his studies
Finally il was discovered that the rocks eon-
tanned gold Still the Ccuneccui man. whose
name ! cannot remember refused to disclose
his secret Al last he agreed that be would
tell the owner Of the land the place where he
found his valuable rock upon receiving deed
of one-lalf OF the land This was consented
to- and the deed was properly made out. He
declined to give up his secret until bis deed
was properly examined and recorded in
the Office Of the recorder OF deeds at Rock
VILE the county seat OF Montgomery couAty,
Md As soon as the papers were made out he
drove over 10 Rockville a distance OF about
twenty miles. It was very warm day, and
he was overcome by the sun on his way, and
forced TO remain at a house about midway be-
tween both places for several days before he
sufficiently recuperaied TO hnish his drive.
After recording his deed he drove to Wash
ingtou He stopped at the Nationa! hotel.
His illness became worse and In few days he
died To this day the man who decided away
half Of his farm does not know where tbs
gold mine on it is located lie has spent all
the money he could raise prospecting for il,
but gave mp the job couple Of years since DR..
j B. Magruder, who attended the Connection;
man, gave il as his opinion al the time he died
more from over-excitement consequent Of his
supposed great wealth than from the effects
OF the sun. ! have frequently done little
prospecting in the vicinity Of the Grea, Falls
since, on my own hook, in the hope Of being
able 70 find 'big bonanza" bat have moi
as yet succeeded. | have, bowever-and sc
have many olhers-found small pieces OF gold
quartz in the streams about there know Of
several men who now make living hunting
about the streams for pieces Of gold quartz -
One of them has made. he Saws for the past
two years from So to Sc per day. The other:
have been less fortunate. Several Californis
men here who are experienced in golddisgnG
have devoted considerable time hsr.abouts, boz
never were able 10 strike big fad. Sever2
companies have been Incorporated to mini
for gold, but all of them have given il NJ
after losing all the money they had in pros
pecting.