Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-06
A Lucky Accident.

known during the century. Rumors
of this richness have been afioat for
more than year and early In the
summer two young men named Mer-
rick and Mathews were known to
have started out with the declared
purpose of finding them or losing
their lives in the attempt. 1t now
transplres that after weary journey
lasting some weeks eventually reach
ing the mountains of which they
were III quest. After several days
Wanderings, during which they met
with frequent signs of Indians, they
came upon a rude sort of forge or fur
mace bearing evidences of having
been at one time in active use in fab
ricating some kind of metal; this
from evidences found in the neigh
borhoOd, they soon discovered to he
gold, and in fact a piece of the
precious metal of considerable size
was found which had been sub
Jected to the action of fire and
partially hammered into shape.
In the vicinity they also picked up
NUGGETS OF CONSIDERABLE SIZE.
While looking for the ledge from
which this float had come they were
surprised one day by the Indians, who
came upon them IN considerable force,
and before they could make any at
tempt to defend themselves poor Mer-
rick was killed His companion, af-
ter enduring incredible hardships, es-
capped from the country and made his
way back to the home of Merrick's
parents, carrying the mournful news
of his fate, but also bearing tangible
evidence OF the wealth of the country
In a small bag ofnuggets of surpassing
richness The secret was confided to
only a few and company was at once
organized with an abundance of capital
to find and develop the deposits. A
committee of twelve men were elect
ed by lot from the stockholders, as an
exploring party, and started out Au-
gust I'd. Cautiously at first they be-
gan their search, but not meeting any
Indians they soon divided up into
small parties and made a somewhat
thorough investigation of the country,
but for long time without success.
MR.. CHARLES T. JOHNSON,
who IS now in this city, stopping at
the Winsor house, was the lucky
man of this committee, and he tells
his story as follows: One day [ be-
came separated from the party to
which [ was attached and found my
self in
A FOREST OF FALLEN TIMBER,
through which it was impossible to
ride. Fastening my horse to large
trunk and noting particularly the sur
rOundings | started in search of my
companions. [ had not gone far,
when stepping upon some loose brush
I suddenly found myself falling down
what seemed an inclined plane. How
far | went | know not, but upon reach
ing the bottom. [ discovered myself
in sort of a cave which [
soon ascertained was the under
ground workings of a mine. My
fright soon gave way to my prospect
ing instincts, especially as I found [
was none the worse for the fall, and [
lighted a candle, which fortunately [
had brought with me. Two galleries
led from the bottom of the shaft and
taking the one the least encountered
with debris | had penetrated perhaps
some fifty feet when [ found [ was in
vein of pure white quartz
RICHLY SCANNED WITH A SHINING
METAL
mineral, which [ knew at once was
gold, but in thicker and richer streaks
than had ever been known In the his
tory of gold mining. All around
about me shOne the precious metal,
and it is no eXaggeration to say that
millions were in sight in every direc-
ton. In my excitement and elation
at the Importance of the discovery [
had made, [ lost all idea of time, but
as matter of fact [ had spent
number of hours in the tunnel before
I realized thoroughly my position and
it flashed through my mind that un-
less some means of getting out of my
cave of riches was found, [ should
perish
IN THE MIDST OF ,NExHAUsTIBLE
WEALTH
like the miser of old. Ny candle had
become exhausted, and cropping my
way back to the foot of the shaft [ es-
sayed in vain to climb its precipitous
sides, with but little hope of its being
of any avail. [ began shouting at the
top of my voice until [ was hoarse.
Suddenly I heard an answering cry
and pretty soon felt rather than saw a
cord or rope touching me on the face.
Grasping this tightly I felt myself
raised quickly to the surface and was
landed in the midst of my compan-
ions. It seems that shortly after had
become separated from them they had
missed me, and, ever fearful of In
dams, had began
A CAUTIOUS BUT THOROUGH SEARCH
of the neighborhood led on by occa-
sional prints made by the hoofs of my
horse. These had enabled them to
find my faithful animal standing
where l had left him, which was not
far from the shaft They had exam
med almost every foot of ground, call
ing frequently, and had almost given
up the search when they heard my