Delta chief., 1883-04-11
The sl,en, Friend strike.


To say that the luc. owners and their i'm
mediate friends are excited over their find is
but tame way of expressing it. The North
Fork is booming, for right upon the heel of
this discovery, and before the people had
time + recover from their surprise caused by
the above rich find, came a courier galloping
into town upon foaming burro from the
Silent Friend mine, alighted in front of the
company's office on Main street, and telling
the gasping crowd that wonderful cave had
been struck in one of the. drifts, that men
went down in ropes from GO to IS feet, and
that bottomless depth was beyond; that the
rope gave out and that he was sent to town to
get more rope; that as far as explored every
thing wac mineral The manager, Mr. David
Sapp, and one of the owners, Mr.. O. II. Al
den, of Pueblo, Immediately procured several
hundred feet more of rope, jumped upon
their horses and went to the mine. There
they found at the end of the 90-fo0t level a
large hole and black chasm yawning them
in the face. A stone was thrown down and
it was fully six seconds by the watch before
il was heard to strike anything, whether the
TO tell. But soon the ropes were fastened and
men went down in the darkness, among thym
Mr.. Sapp. For 275 feet the perlous journey
continued, when bottom was found, ard the
first human beings that ever invaded this
cavern of perhaps eonean ages looked won
deringly around them. The small miners
lamps only penetrated the darkness short
distance, but the men soon discovered that
the fabulous riches Of the cave of Count of
Monte Christie was n farce compared with this
Immense stalactites of the most fantastic
shapes hung down from the roof and project
ing rocks. Some appeared like gigantic chan
deliers, some like immense pipe organs.
Everything was tinted in very delicate pale
green, and all these formations seemed to
have a translucent character.
Upon the floor Of the cave were strcwn
pebbles an1bouldcrs, from the smallest grains
to lotion boulder. Some of these were broken
by the invaders, and lol and behold, they
were solid masses Of fine galena, gray copper
and carbonates. 1t is estimated that not less
than $4,000 of ore alone is lying loose ready
for the bucket, at the bottom of the cave.
Some of the beautiful crystalized stalactites
were broken Off for specimens to tnke to
town; another surprise awaited the explorers
for underneath these green, lustrous crystal.
cations nothing but the. glittcrine metal was
found, some Of it hanging still to the broken.
Off fragments, The walls then on all sides
were attacked by the picks of the men and
the gratifying diecoyery was made that every
thing was mineral and 1t is estimated by the
manager, Mr.. Sapp, that million, compared
with what he has in sight, is like drop in a
bucket. Specimens of the ore and staIactites
were brought to town, and never was there
handsomcr carbonate ore and galena seen
anywhere. The stalactiies are the most beau.
tiful specimens imaginable.
1t is probable that still another cave exists
beyond this one, for strong draft issues from
some parts of the cave. 1t will be fully ex-
plored this week, when will give particulars.
The finding of this cave, lined on all sides.
with the rich mineral, places the Silent
Friend mine into the foremost rank of mines
in the county.