The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26
Some Curious Stories Of Lucky Finds
of Precious Metal.


That rich mines are often discovered
by accident, history, both ancient and
modern, veriies. Numerous instances
Of this kind have come under my own
observation. This is said, to be luck
but it matters not whether it is luck or
science, so long as the ''find" is good
one. In such cases it would seem that
it is even better to be born lucky than
industrious. Only last spring pros
pector, not twenty miles from here, after
hunting many days for q quartz ledge,
tired in his search, and threw down his
pick and shovel in disgust, and took up
his rife and sauntered forth for game.
Fortune favored him; his luck came
suddenly to him, as it were. He shot a
deer, which in its death struggle fell
over the rocks and rolled down the
mountain side. When the hunter
reached his game he found it lying on
the outcrop of an immense galena ledge,
which he soon after sold for good
round sum-fgures not stated.
In the early days of California poor
prospector, sadly out of luck, was re-
turning to his camp after night, when he
was assailed by a 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 on the missile of
war, and on closer examination he found
that the rock was full of gold. He re-
turned and found the ledge from which
the quartz bowlder had foated, sold it
for large amount of money,
returned to the States, bought farm,
married, and raised large family of
children. ..@Dr,
About four years ago poor but in
dustrious prospector in this county had
the misfortune Tor good fortune) to lose
his horse. 1t was an old bay horse,
and, like his master, was wandering
prospector, only that he prospected for
grass, while his master prospected for
quartz. This particular day the old bay
wandered further than he was wont to
do, probably because the bunch grass
was few and far between. At any rate,
the prospector desired to move camp,
but could not do so without the assist
ance of his bay companion. He must
needs find him. He was at last success
full, and while returning with the truant
he noticed the head of mountain ram
sticking in the rocks. Stopping to
examine it, he saw rich-looking quartz
scattered about, and following 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
silver district in the Salmon River
country. I E|a" ..e.. ia
| knew man once who followed
mining and prospecting for period of
forty years. He had been all through
California, Colorado and Montana, and
had prospected twenty years in Georgia
before coming West. He was not much
in 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 9th day
of July, 1864, he camped on a tributary
of Prickly Pear Creek, in Northern
Montana, he said to his three compan-
ions, "Let's 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 100000 in clean gold dust,
but not until be had seen the city OF
Helena, the metropolis of Montana,
spring UP about him. 'ai
Only last August prospector in the
Lower Wood River country met with an
unexpected streak of luck that aston
ished 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 dis
mounted. While rearranging it he saw
something at his feet that resembled
rich silver ''tioat." He traced it up to
the ledge, which was only short dis
lance away, and found that he had one
of the best prospects in Wood River.
He located the original and two extern
sions, and the best ore in the vein assays
up into the thousands. Recently he sold
out for snug little fortune. ia
On mountain trail in California there
used to be big bowlder which fur
nished favorite resting-place for tired
footmen. 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 at the bowlder
with his pick. A piece of rock flew off
and revealed to him the surprising truth
that he was sitting on a rich chunk of
quartz. He at once proceeded up the
hill and found the ledge, and it was full
of gold and brought him much wealth.
We are told that once upon time a
young man left the home of his child
hood, babe farewell to his weeping
mother, kissed away the tears of his
little sweetheart, and went out into the
wilds of the West to become miner.
The tradition goes that he at length
struck mining camp, and, being mex
perienced, he sighted veteran for adj
vice as to the best place to dig. Seeing
his visitor was s'tenderfoot," dressed