The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-21
A RICH MINE
In New Mexico In Which Wheeling Peo
pIe are Largely Interested.


An IETElMeEScER reporter yesterday had
a brief but very interesting chat with Mr..
Harvey B. Ferguson, OF the law firm Of
Cracraft, Jacob & Ferguson, who for over a
year past has been looking up an immense
gold mine claim in New Mexico for clients
residing in this city and Pittsburgh. The
story connected with the case is not without
several romantic details, and although pub
lished by Wheeling papers a few years since
will bear repetition. Over forty years ago,
John +. Winters left hia home In Pittsburgh
and went away, no one knew where. At
that time he was 10 years old. Part Of MT.
Fergusons work has been to,trace Jack Win
tiers since that time, aud he has learned that
he went into the Mexican war, then loated
into California, where he remained until the
rebellion broke out, when he again entered
the service. After that was over he again re-
sumed prospecting and mining, by degrees
working his way down to what Is now White
Oaks Lincoln county, New Mexico. Here
he secured half claim and sinking shalt
struck 1t rich in 1880 His fud surpassed
estimated TO be in the millions. Itafterwards
appeared, however, that the vein he had
struck was ''pocksty" and that in sinking his
shaft he had struck q remarkably rich pocket
Still his claim was wonderfully rich one
and miners commenced locking In and the
town of White Oaks was built. u
Jack Winters did not live TO enjoy the
fruits OF his labors. He died and his for
tune was left, 10 whom his comrades did
not know. One OF them had heard the de-
ceased speak Of having at one time lived in
Pittsburgh, and he wrote to the postmaster
OF Pittsburgh, telling him that II any OF
Winters relations were alive there was
fabulous fortunes regular bonanza, aWait-
Pittsburgh papers early In the year 1888 1,
and met the eye OF Winters relatives, for
several were living, and among them sister,
who had married and who Is the wife OF Mr..
Kerster, The undertaken, doing business on
Main street between Twenty. first and Twenty
second streets In this city. Thus 1t was that
M. Ferguson came TO be the chief attorney in
the case
BE went to Now Mexico and found that
several parties we're endeavoring to have an
administrator appointed to sell Of the claim
in order to settle alleged debts, said to have
been contracted by Winters. All OF these
claims, Mr.. Ferguson says, are bogus, being
merely q scheme to secure Winters' rich
a few days to New Mexico, where testimony
Is 10 be taken relating 10 these claims. He
ssys that even had Winters contracted debts,
the gold taken out since his death by the
parties now trying to secure entire posses
lion OF the laao would more than have paid
their claims. The mine was supposed to be
entirely "pockety" until about SIX months
$50. when gold was found in different for.
nation and OF an average grade. These for
nations are Eeyaral in number and are large
and important, milling on an average $50 10
the ton.
White Oaks, although containing only q few
hundred Inhabitants, Ia the principal mining
town in Lincoln county, county larger
than the State OF West Virginia and without
foot OF railroad in It the nearest railroad
station is socorro, on the Atchison: Topeka q
Santa Fe, so miles distant from White Oaks.
The hills around about the place are almost
bursting with gold and silver, Mr.. Ferguson
says, that has been UNEMPLOYED by capital.
Several railroads are projected there however,
and they will bring the capital. Old miners
and thoss qualified 10 judge state that In o
abort time, the rapid growth and wealth Of
Leadyille will be far surpassed Of White
Oaks. There are one or two stamp mills there
now, very imperfect affairs that do not obtain
more than so per cent OF the precious metals
There Is, Of course, g big opening here for one
OF those large mills that obtain from s. to so
per cent. $50.
silver, Is rich In timber grazing lands and
minerals. It's coal fields, as far IS examined,
are very fine. At FL PaEo, 100 miles from
White Oaks, four railroads terminate. Hunt
ington's from the east, the A. T. & s. Fe from
the north and new road from the City OF
Mexico from the south. Heretofore Gould
and Huntington have been obliged to pur-
chase their coal from the mines OF the A. T.
& 8. Fe, but now they are actively at work
preparing To build to White Oaks, and In adj
dillon to opening up rich country secure
their coal. To this end they haye recently
invested over $4,000 In coal lands near
White Oaks.
White Oaks has future and money will
be made there. At present poor Winters
mine 10 estimated to be worth cool $780,
coo were It TO DO sold to.dGy. With the com.
ing Of railroads, theimagination can scarcely
conceive It, value.