Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-03
a Fortunate Adveniurer.

The recent dispatch announcing the
discovery of gold on the yukon river
in Alaska recalls one of the romantic
experiences Of Western mining life.
The Alaska d%iscoverer, whose name
should have been given as Scheiffelin
instead Of Schuffelin, as telegraphed,
is the nan who located the rich mines
at Tombstone, Arizona, and founded
and named the town. The story Of
the find" is a remarkable one ED"
Scheiffelin, with his brothers and one
or two companions, was p%respectingi in
Southern Arizona some four or five
years ago, when the country contained
comparatively few white men, and was
overrun by hostile Apaches. The
party, in Western parlance, were
down on their luck" They had
made no strikes, and their supplies
were running low. 1t was a
condition Of affairs which Scbeife
lin was Injured to, for he had
been so reduced as to live on meal and
beans given him in camp as an act of
charity. Finally they resolved, in
desperation, to start across into what
is now known as the Tombstone Dis.
trict. Other projectors had kept away,
from fear OF the Indians. The coun
try was dry and desOlate, and coptainel
but little game. The few intruders
had never returned.
When Scheiffelin's little prrty an
nouneed their determination it was
generally predicted that they would
meet death by Apache bullets or by
starvation. "All you will find will be
your tombstones," was the sarcastic
farewell Of a miner as the adventurous
band started into the barren bills.
They iouTneyed through cacti and
mesquite, crossed arroyas and
climbed hills, examining lodges and
groupings and ~scrutinizing every rock
for signs Of pay ore that might lead to
the discovery of a vein. All the time
they kept a keen outlook for Apaches,
They slept with rifles in hand while a
faithful watch was kept throughout
the night. But they found nothing.
F%ootsore, weary and discouraged, they
oamped on the site of the present
town OF Tombstone. Their provisions
we're nearly exhausted. 1t was imper.
alive for them to find food at once, or
give up their attempt and turn back
ward. One Of the party, taxing his
rife, went out to hunt for a deer. In
his absence the others almost hope.
lessly began examining the rocky
ground near their camp, and at last
fortune proved kind. When the hunt
er returned he learned that he and his
comrades were millionaires. They
had found a rich outcropping Of ore
that limited ct the wealth beneath
their feet. They located their claims.
and after a period Of waiting partially
developed them.
In May, 1880, ed" ScheifFelin and
his brothers sold their share in these
mines for a round million to a Phila.
delphia syndicate. Now a town OF
some Eve thousand inhabitants stands
on the ground where the penniless
adventures camped. When the news
OF the strike went out and prospectors
rushed in, Scheiifelin. as the oldest
inhabitant' and founder, was asked TO
name the town. He recalled the part
Ing words Of the miner when he started
out, and said, Call it Tombstone"
The out-crop FIRST discovered was ann.
posed to be from a vein, but on
exploration has proved to indicate a
rich deposit, in place Of which
there is now an immense yawning