The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-03-23
California's First Silver Mines

A few days ago l came across your
publication of early History of the
Comstock," December l6, 1882. As the
writer of that article seems to be
anxious to establish true historical facts,
l will make few additional remarks.
1t was in the spring of 1853 when
Comstock presented to Major r. Allen,
then Quartermaster General, in his
Office in San Francisco, piece of black
ore from Washoe. Allen showed the
same to Mr.. Killaly, miner from Real
del Monte, Mexico, and to me. Both of
US pronounced it at once very rich sui
phuret of silver, still an assay was @-
sisted on. Killaly took the specimen to
his Office and there we made the assay,
which was between 49, 900 and 1000 per
ton. Shortly after learned that KillalY
was dead. The excitement about this
rich discovery had killed him. Maj. Al
len promised to me to go to Washoe to
examine Comstock's discovery, but l
declined and returned to Arizona. If l
do recollect right, you may find some
notes on this in Blacks Mining Maga-
zine, published at that time.
In regard to the first working Of sill
yer mines on the Pacific slope, after the
country came into the possession of the
United States. there is no doubt that it
was in that part of Arizona south of
the Gila river. In the year 1854 l came
with Colonel A. 3. Gray on the pre-
limiiary survey of the Southern Pacific
railroad CEoss the country south of the
Gila. at that time known as the Gads-
den purchase or Mesilla valley. In the
month of June we arrived In San Fran
cisco. The interest in the Southern Pa
cific railroad was then at high pitch.
The information given by us did not
fail to create some excitement, particu-
larly our statement of the mineral
wealth, although we could not obtain
substantial proof of this. A large col
lection of minerals, gathered on the trip,
including specimens of silver and cop
per ores, was buried by the boys in the
Colorado desert. as useless stuff, when
the highly interesting pack-mule that
carried the provisions and frying-pans
declined to accompany us any further
Enterprising men like Major R. Allen,
United States army, j. ID. Wilson,
William Blanding. A. S. Wright and
others concluded to send out an explor-
ing party under direction of E. E. Dun
bar. In October we completed our out
fit in Los Angeles. and started, twenty
men strong, toward Fort Yuma. Twill
give you here the names of some OF the
company: E. E. Dunbar, McElroy, F.
Ronstadt. z. Brady, G. Kibbers, George
Williams, Joe Yancey, DR.. Webster,
Porter, Alfonso Carson, Carries Hay
wood, Bendal, McCook, myself, etc.
Taking the road by Tinyn alta. we dis
covered first the Ajo copper mines,
about ninety miles east, south of east
of Yuma. where we left eight men to
hold possession as best they could
Twelve of us continued to hunt for the
Arizona mountains and the celebrated
silver mine, Plancha de la Plata, of
which it is stated in Wards Mexico,
that a piece of native silver of 2700
pounds had been taken out by the Span
iards. After several months of search
we discovered this mine, finding first a
piece of pure silver of about four oun-
ces. A few days after piece of nine
teen pounds was taken out of an Old
shallow dlgglngs, overgrown by stout
oak trees.
About this time our party at the cop
per mine was attacked early in the
morning by company of Mexican
soldiers, headed by the Prefect and
other authorities, who demanded the
delivery of the mine, as situated in
Mexican territory. Che bonndry line
had not been run them. They threat
ened to take it by force if not surren-
dered inside of two hours. Mr.. Hay
woods spirited answer, "We don't think
of surrendering: if you want to fight
let US begin before the sun gets hot"
settled that question. The troops re-
tired to Presidio del A ltar, Sonora, just
in time to receive the news of our dis
covery of the long lost Plsncba de la
Plata. Immediately our company was
ordered to leave the country. Know
ing our latitude, and being well aware
that we had no right in Mexican ter
ritory. we thought it prudent to COM
ply.
From the Ajo copper mine the first
lot of exceedingly rich ore was shipped
to San Francisco in 1866, by the Ari-
zona Exploring and Mining Company.
The name of this company has been in-
strumental in comforting the name of
l"Arizona" to the Gladsden purchase