The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-11
GOLD AND SILVER.


A. #5& ~- &
That rich mines are often discovered by
accident, history, both ancient and modern,
verifes my observation. This Is said to be
luck, but IL matters not whether It Is luck or
science, so long as the find Is good one. In
such cases II would even seem that 1t Is bet
ter TO be born lucky than industrious.
One spring prospector, not twenty miles
from here, after searching many days for a
quartz ledge, tired in the search, threw his
pick and shovel In disgust aud took his rifle
and sauntered forth In search. Fortune ia
vored him; his luck came suddenly TO him,
as IL were. lie shot a deer, which In Its
death struggle fell over the rocks and rolled
over the mountain side. When the hunter
reached his game he found 1t lying on the
outcrop of an immense galena ledge, which
he soon after sold for good round sum-hg-
utes not stated.
In the early days of California, poor
prospector, sadly out of luck, was returning
TO his camp after night, when he was assailed
by a vicious dog. Having no weapons 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 stone. 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 some
thing bright on the missile of war, and on
examination found the rock was full of gold.
lie returned and found the ledge from which
the quartz boulder had foated, sold 1t for
large amour: of money, returned to the
States, bought farm, married, and raised
large family of children.
About four years ago poor but industri-
Gus prospector had the misfortune, or 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 the 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 desiredto move camp
but could not do so without the assistance OF
his old bay companion. He must needs find
him. He was at last successful, and while
returning with the truant he noticed the head
of a mountain ram sticking In the rocks.
Stopping TO examine 1t, he saw rich looking
quartz scattered about, and following 1t 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
Hsrse, as It should have been, and Is the
richest silver district In the Salmon River
country.
knew man who followed mining and
prospecting for period Of forty years. He
had been all through Colorado, California
and Montana, and had prospected 25 years
iu Georgia before coming west. He was not
much on digging deep holes, but would 60
around hunting shallow diggings as long as
the boys would stake him. He was getting
worn out prospecting out Of luck, and when
on the Path day of July, 1884, he canped on
tributary of Prickly Pear creek, In North
ern 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 1t here ! don't
know where to prospect next" Theyoung-
er members of the party put the hole down
to bedrock, the diggings were named Last
Chance, and two years later the old man
threw down his tools and went home to Geor-
gia with joyful heart and 100000 In clean
gold dust, but not until after he had seen the
city of Helena, The metropolis Of Montana,
spring up about him.
Only last August prospector In the lower
Wood river country met with an unexpected
streak of luck that astonished him. While
ON his way across from Bellvue to Crow
Canon the pack on the horse he was leading
became loose and In order to adjust 1t he dis
mounted. While rearranging 1t he saw some
thug at his feet that resembled rich silver
float. lie traced It up to the ledge, which
was only short distance away, and found
that he had one of the best prospects on
Wood river. He located the original and
two extensions, and the best ore in the vein
ASSAYS up into the thousands. Recently he
sold out for snug little fortune.-Cor.
Omaha Republican.