Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-21
GOLD AMI SILVER.
Some Lively stories Of Acct
dental Finds of the Pre-
eiOus Metals.

lJFs UudAd AANusN hppuuAIaAsl
That rich mines are often discOy-
cred by accident, history, both ancient
aud modern, verifes. Numerous in
stances 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" isa good one. In such cases it
would seem thai it is even better TO be
born lucky than industrious. Only
last spring 4 prOspeetor, not twenty
miles from here, after hunting many
days for a quartz ledge, tired IN the
search and threw down his pick and
shovel il disgust and took up bis rife
ard szuntered forth for game. For
tine favored him: his luck came sud
denly % him. as il we're. lie shOl 4
deer. which, in It's death struggle, fell
over the rocks and rolled down the
mountain side. When the hunter
reached his game be found it lying
on the outcrOp Of an immense gAleDa
ledge, which he soon after sold for a
good round sum-fgures not stated.
In the early days Of California, a
poor prospector, sally out Of luck, was
returning to his camp after night,
when he was sssailed by a vicious dog.
Having no weapon with which to
sand of his enemy, he felt around in
the dark and laid hold Of the first
thing be could catch, which was a
hefty rock. The dog had stopped, Of
couise, and the man kept the stone in
his hand until be was safe in bis own
cabin. In the morning he saw some
thing bright on the missile Of war,
and on closer examination he found
that the rock was full Of gold. He
returned and found the ledge from
which the quartz bOWlder had foated,
sold it for a large amount Of money,
returned TO the states, bought a farm,
married, and raised a large family Of
children. About four years ago a
poor but industrious prospeetOr in
this county had the misfortune (or
good fortune) to lose his horse. 1t
was az old bay horse, and, like his
master. was a wandering prospectOr.
only that he prospected for grass
while the master prOspeeted for quartz.
This particular day the old Bag wan
dered further than he was won't to do,
probably because the bunch grass was
few and far between At any rata the
prOspeetor desired to move camp, but
could not do 50 without the assistance
Of his bay companion. He mus: needs
find him. He was al last successful.
and while returning with the iruant
he noticed the head Of . mountsin
ram sticking In the rocks. Stopping
70 examine il, be saw r~ieh-looking
quartz scattered about. and, following
it up, he bit upon what i now the
noted Ramshorn Mine-the longest
and richest silver ledge that We knox
Of The district wa named Bay
Horse, as it should have been. and q
the richest silver district IN the Salmon
river country.
l knew a man once who followed
mining aud prospecting for a period Of
forty years. He had been al through
California, Colorado and Montana, and
prospected twenty-five years 10 Geor-
gia before coming west He was not
much on digging deep holes, but he
would 60 around hunting for shallow
~digglngs 50 long az the boys would
stake him. lie was getting worn
out prospecting out ofluck. and when.
on the 24th day Of July. 1854. he
camped on a tributary of Pnekley
Pear creek, in northern Montana. he
said to his three companions. Lets
slnka hole on this bar its the last
chance; 1t we can't find Il here / don't
know where else to prospect" The
younger members Of the party Dut m
hole to the bedrock, the digqinqs were
named Last Chance, and two wear
later the old man threw away bis tools
and went home to Georgia with a joy.
full heart and 100000 in golddust'bu
not until after he had seen the city 81
Helena-the metropolis Of Montana
spring up about him.
Only last August a prospector in The
lower Wood river country met with
an unexpected streak Of luck hat as