Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-02

Old Mfnes to he Again Developed
The Guadalupe Mountain sflver
Mines.

The Guadalupe SILVER
Mines.
The Arizona News says: "Mr. Thomas
B. Langley, Of Nevada, is just in from
Guaymas, and is here in the interest OF
certain parties who are investing in Sonora
mines. They now have the Candelaria, in
Magdalena District, and the Vasco de
CANA further south. These are claims
that were worked no one knows how many
years since, and operations on them we're
eventually discontinued because OF Mexican
and Apache revolutions. On the former
shafts and inclines aggregating l,5O0 feet
have been run, out of which tine ore was
packed on the heads Of poems. The Can
delaria at one time belonged TO the Mission
priests of Cocospera. and negotiations are
now pending for the purchase of a large
tract of land embracing this claim. The
richness aud extent OF these mines are said
to be fabulous. The day is not Tar distant
when Sonora, with her admirable coast IA
~cilities, great mineral wealth and railroads,
will be the Ell Dorado Of this continent"
In those distant border regions, once in
the hands of the old Spaniards, but now
again overrun by and in the possession OF
various bands of Indians, there are doubt
lfss U1dUt Olu bllFtt Hut VI S -"
The Spaniards we're good prospectors. and
priests. and all hands constantly kept an
| eye open for silv er ore.
In the Guadalupe mountains are ancient
| silver mines, about which are seen the
ruins OF buildings and owns. A Texan
who came through those wild regions to
California in the early DAYS. some years
| ago informed the writer-at the time that
| silver was first struck or the Comstock-
that on his way from Texas to California
he was shown a place where silver mines
had been worked many years before.
In their party was an old scout and
guide who had before been through that
region. Smith the Texan referred %
above4says that during the trip the
encamped in a valley near the Guadalnp
mountains for the purpose OF resting ane
recnperating. While at this camp the ole
guide-who had taken a liking to him
asked Smith IL he would like to go a days
iournev into the mountains and see an an.
Gent Spanish town and some old silver
mines.
Mr.. Smith was ready for the adventure
and the pair started on their expedition
Ii was a very dangerous one. as the coun'
try was full of hostile Indians, bands Of
whom sometimes dCgged the train for days
together.
The two men managed to keep out of the
sight Of Indians and finally came to The
top of a high hill. In a deep valley before
them they saw the walls of many build
ings, some Of which were very large.
The place whence they had this view was
at the head of a large canyon, which they
had followed a long distance, and on either
hand mountains rose to a great height. LII
the side of one of these mountains was 8
tunnel. and at its mouth a dump, on which
was piled a great lot of what the two mer
concluded was silver ore. Mr.. Smith put {
piece OF this in his pocket, and he and TIN
old scout then went to take a peep at thu
tunnel.
They were stopped ct the mouth of the
tunnel, gazing at the darkness within
when a number of rocks came tumbline
down the slope Of the mountain. Believ
ing the rocks were a~ccidently started by
Indians who were prowling above them
the two men beat a hasty retreat, and safe
ly reached their camp.
The old scout said he had never beer
down into the ruined town, and did no
know what was to be seen there. The
principal object of the trip was an inspec
ton OF the ruins, and this was defeated
as we have seen, by the scare given the
pair at the tunnel.
Smith saws the valley in which they vert
encamped at the time the trip to the mines
took place was almost a dead level and was
covered with shells, as though it had onct
been the bottom OF the sea or a great lake
In the midst of the valley stood a grea
~~--.~sn of a sngar-loaf shape.
He carried his piece of ore with him
and in passing through Mexico showed i
to miners. who assured him that it wa,
silver ore and very rich. Having never
since heard of any ancient town or mine:
being discovered in the Guadalupe noun
tains, we are of the opinion that no white
men have since visited the place described
The Mr.. Smith from whom we had the
above account Of the old mines is probably
still alive and somewhere in California
In 1859 he was a constable at Omega, Ne
vada County, California.