The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-16
Romance of n Gold Mine.

In 1852 party of five unknown
miners were working in the bed of one
Of our rivers, where they took out
large amount of gold-one chunk
weighing $1,000, with quartz at
tached. 1t is well known that in those
days, little, if anything, was known
about gold-bearing quartz by the COM
mon California miner. However, the
proof of the pudding was in the eat
ing, and to find the common carrier of
this gold was the question which
sorely puzzled them. Above their
claim to the right was large conical
mountain, standing with nearly per-
pendicular sides and rising 1000 feet
above the river, where the miners
supposed the gold to come from
which fed the river. To as
cend this for the gold-hunt was at
tended withigreat danger and difficulty,
/ having to cut steps for Il foothold in
the solid slate rock at the top. Upon
arriving at the summit the scenery at
either quarter was grand as far as the
/ eye could reach. But scenery was thin
| Cruel to miners hungry for gold, and
f
an inviting spectacle lay exposed to
view at their very 1eet. rethe foot
steps of man had never before intruded.
| Mammon was the only god who had
hid in this secluded basin this vast
profusion of yellow, shining, glittering
gold and had used the elements of the
storm king as the milling process.
Here truly was the picture for high
art.
They collected $4,000 in a short
time, and, covering up their footsteps
as they descended, returned to san
Francisco. Here shortly after their
arrival one of the party died; not,
however, until he had made map
and given description of the mine to
his wife, and also the $500 specimen.
In the meantime the surviving four
parties returned for more lucre, and it
was on their homeward trip to the
"Bay" that they We're murdered, not
far from their claim, by number Of
MeXicans, supposed to be the band of
Joaquin Murietta, with large amount
of gold in their possession-the graves
of these unfortunate men being we'll
known to the old residents of this 10
cality, which partially confirms the
statement.
How many "Will'o-the-wisps" and
"wild-goose-chases" in the shape of
big deposits have miners followed
without successful termination The
air is teeming with them from "Gold
Lake" up-a period covering thirty
three years in California. The one
under our present notice is the first of
the many "secret expeditions" in our
mind that has been realized.
BY some unexplained means DR.. ORA
per became acquainted with this legend,
also the widow of thirty years be-
reavement.
The interview was satisfactory, and
the identical $1,000 lump, which had
been religiously kept, produced.
Six weeks ago, armed with the de-
scription and map above alluded to, in
company with four others, he had no
difficulty in finding the deserted claim
and locating the grounds. In less than
six days work, lowering the ore with
ropes down the mountain side, they
have taken from the mine the round
sum of $65,000, which the receipts of
the San Francisco mint, in Draper's
possession, will show. The doctor also
informs us that there is at least one
hundred tons Of rich ore on hand ready
for the milling process. This claim
will undoubtedly develop tho bos;
bonanza of the State.--Tuol,tmne ( Cal.
Independent.