The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-09
GOLD IN FRISCO.
Paving ouartz Discovered Close 20 the
California Metropolis.
yrrom The san Francisco Chroniclc.l


rrrcm the san Francisco ChroniclcI
During the past few days ripple OF In
terest has been created In and about the
Office Of the city and county recorder by
the entry OF dozen or more quartz-mine
claims. As most OF those making the en-
tries are wel-knowu citizens linen OF ms
ture Judgment and standing well in busi-
ness circ,es--their action excited more than
ordinary comment Up TO 4 O'Clock yes
tcrday about a dozen claims had been
piaced on record in due form. Among
those who have recorded claims arc Thomas
Burke and others in NolaD's bookstore;
George Bryant, Of the firm Of Jones d
Bryant; +. II. q. Smith, Henry Adams,
Grin Jones, IL Brown, and James Mccoy.
The last-nsmed claims 10 be the discoverer
of this alleged gold quartz deposit. A re-
porter Of the Chronicle found quite num-
her Of persons in the recorders Office re-
cordng their claims, but none were willing
10 give any Information relative to the
character or location OF the auriferous de-
post.
ASSAYS or THE ROCK.
Learning that George Bryant could give
some satisfactory details, the reporter paid
him visit. Mr.. Bryant was quite reticent.
He said be knew very little about the mine.
He knew, however, that the assays had
been made by Professor Price, on Sacra-
meufo street. and the "blossom rock
broken OF the surface Of the "croppings
assayed as follows: First assay from
piece Of rock picked up by the dis
coyerer, James Mccoy, S2.07 gold a
ton; second assay, from piece OF sur.
face rock selected by visitor, traces OF |
gold: third assay, from piece OF surface
Il, ol~a,, hr,er mos
OF the mountain, gold S6.l0; gold value
a ton, Sl2.40; silver value n ton, 81 cents
total value of rock per ton, Sl2.92. Mr..
Bryant declined to express any positive
opinion relative TO the commences OF the
reported "find," but referred the news
seeker TO the site Of the mine, where the
discoyerer might be found at work, and
observations might be taken on the
ground.
SCENE OF THE OPERATIONS.
The scene Of the mining operations is
located near the top OF the highest rocky
peak upon the san Francisco peninsula,
about midway between the bay and the
ocean. 1t Is about two miles north OF the
Industrial School, and one mile west OF the
San Jose road. To reach the mine it Is ne
cessary TO turn westward from the san
Jose road and proceed over the bills to
grove of bluc-gum trees, known as Will
sons nursery. There il becomes neces-
sary to leave the road, pass through three
successive gateways, and enter narrow
valley or canyon devoted to pasturage,
upon the sides of which the au-
riferous rocks are said TO have been
discovered. Far up the precipitous
face of the bill, forming the west
side Of this canyon, 900 feet OF
ho frin1 in, tln
were discovered at work. Some were
ecrambling and crawling about powders
and rocks near the summit with hammer
and pick in hand, chipping and breaking
off specimens. Some were measuring off
claims and driving stakes, while at long in
feryals a whcelbarrOw emerged from a
tunnel in the side of the hill and scattered
q load OF fine broken quartz upon newly
formed dump" Of small proportions. II
requires cool head and more than ordinary
leg-muscle to successfully scale the hill and
reach the mouth of the tunnel. In
some places the hill is almost perpendicu-
lar, and a slip OF the foot is liable to pre-
cipitate the unwary climber down an alb
rrpt descend of at least 200 feet. Several
old miners claiming years OF experience IN
Nevada were found at the mouth of the
tunnel discussing and commenting upon
''SDtcllIltfls anu - lHulCdtlouS. NHiit III
the furthest end OF the tunnel, busy with
pick, drill. and shovel, were two men.
One Of these was the discoverer, James Nc
Coy; the other his son.
STORY OF TIE FIND.
Calling him to the mouth OF the tunnel,
the reporter asked for his explanation or
history OF the discovery. He said:
81 have been working here about eight
bov ri
BILE to avoid publicity. did not want the
newspapers to get on to it until l had
something more satisfactory to show.
There is nothing in sight except the crop
pings, which are away up there pointing
to the top Of the hilD. propose TO drift
straight into the face Of this hill until |
strike the lead. / estimate the distance
will have to tunnel before striking the lead
indicated by the blossom rock at - feet,
when expect to strike one OF the biggest
stakes ever struck in California. What
makes me think so, you ask? Oh, just what
have found already. have spent nearly all
my life in the mining regions. One day in
1871 / was walking along the Southern
Pacific railroad track there, and / noticed
this high ridge OF 'croppings.' came up
this gulch and found lot OF surface bowl
ders down there which gave signs of gold.
up hHOthCu vi SOlIIt
pieces of rock, had them assayed, and
found gold. l determined to go TO Ne
yada, make raise, and come back here and
try this ledge. That is nine years ago.
have had hard luck, and never made
raise; but here / am at work. II l fail to
find what am seeking it will be nobody's
loss but my own and the gentlemen who
are assisting me-"
The rocks forming the sides and the face
OF the tunnel are of Il volcanic formation.
They seem TO have been piledup in irregular
layers-some OF them vertical, some hor-
zontal, and in general confusion. The
sides OF the tunnel show veins Of decom-
posed quartz, while in the centre a compact
mass OF petrfiied lava, blended with slate,
resists excavation by any other force than
that OF powder. Several old miners,
drawn to the spot by curiosity, expressed
the opinion that the signs OF mineral were
good.
A COMPANY FORMED.
After leaving the mine the reporter
learned that mining company had been
formed with the following shareholders
q. w. Smith, William Graham, |. A. Dona-
YAM, James Nugent, +. Ii. Burguignan,
Phillip Bellisle, William Granville, III.
Scott, ii. q. Adams, Andrew McGovern,
George Bryant, George Francis, William
Spofford, and q. ". Gale. The company
has elected Ernest Burguignan president.
ii. q. Adams secretary, and George BRYANT
treasurer. The fourteen members of this
y