The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-23
Some Curious Stories of Lucky Finds.

In the early days or Call1ornla poor
prospector, sadly out of luck, Tss return
ina to his camp after night, when he
was assailed by vicious dog. Having
no weapon with which to stand off his
enemy, he felt around in the dark and
laid hold of the first thing he could
catch, which was hefty rock. The dog
had sloped, of course, and the man kept
the stone in his hand until he was safe
in his own cabin. In the morning he
saw something bright in the missile Of
wer, and on closer examination he found
that the rock was full of gold. He re-
turned and found the ledge from which
the quartz bowlderhad foated, sold it for
large amount of money, returned to
to the States, bought farm, married,
and raised a large family of children.
A poor, but industrious, prospector in
this county had the misfortune Cor good
fortune) to lose his horse. It was an
old bay horse, and, like his master, was
a wandering prospector, only that he
prospected for grass, while the master
prospected for quartz. This particular
day the old bay wandered further than
he was wont do, probably because the
bunch grass was few aud far between.
At any rate, the prospector desired to
move camp, but could not do so without
the assistance of his bay companion. He
must needs find him. He was at last
successful, and, while returning with
the trlant, he noticed the head of
mountain ram sticking in the rocks.
Stopping to examine it, he saw rich
looking quartz scattered about, and, fol-
lowing it up, he hit upon what is now
the noted Ramshorn mine-the longest
and richest silver ledge that we know Of.
The district was named Bay Horse, as it
should have been, and is the richest sill
yer district in the Salmon river country.
L knew man once who followed min
ing and prospecting for period Of forty
years. He had been all through Cali
fornia, Colorado, and Montana, and had
rrospected twenty-five years in Georgia
before coming West. He was not much
on digging deep holes, but he would go
round hunting for shallow diggings so
long as the boys would "stake" him.
He was getting worn out prospecting
out of luck, and when, on the oath day
of July, 1864, he campcd ON tributary
of Prickly Bear creek, i'll Northern Mon
tana, he said to his three companions,
Lets sink hole on this bar it S the
last chance; if we can't find it here, /
don't know where next to prospect.
The younger members of the party put
the hole to bed rock, the diggings were
named Last Chance, and two years later
the old man threw away his tools and
went home to Georgia with joyful
heart and 300, 900 in clean gold dust,
but not until he had seen the city of
Helena, the metropolis Of Montana,
spring up about him.
A prospector in the Lower Wood river
country met with an unexpected streak
of luck that astonished him. While on
his way across from Bellevue to Croy
canon the pack on the horse he was
leading became loose, and in order to
adjust it he dismounted. While rear
ranging it he saw something at his feet
that resembled rich silver float" He
traced it up to the ledge, which was only
short distance away, and found that
he had one of the best prospects" in
Wood river. He located the original
and two extensions, and the best ore in
the vein assays up into the thousands.
On mountain trail in California there
used to be abigbowlderwhich furnished
favorite resting place for tiredfootmen.
Thousands of men had sat on that stone
and rested their weary limbs. In fact,
it was of so peculiar shape that it
seemed to fit every one who tried it.
With long usage it had worn as smooth
as ivory, and was greasy with frequent
contact with miners clothing. One day
an old prospector squatted himself upon
this favorite resting stone, and while
getting his wind he carelessly and I'M
consciously pecked away Mt the bowlder
with his pick. A piece of rock flew off
and revealed to him the surprising truth
that he was sitting on rich chunk OF
quartz. He Mt once proceeded up the
hill and found the ledge, and it was full
of gold AM drought him much wealth.
Western paDcr.