The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-07-19
aOEESsOR CLtYION'J CLAIM
ID -. TED.
San Franci,co Chronicle !

have seen an article in your paper OF the |
2ith OF June copied from the Salt Lake |
Tribunel in relation 10 the alleged dis |
covery Of white topaz by Professor Clay
ton in Utah, ON recent trip through |
that Territory. The article states that |
''one Of the special objects OF the Pro- |
fessors trip" was to ascertain the locality |
mentioned in Professor Simpsons report
to the War Department in lS53-54,
wherein he stated that he had found
topaz, Now, whether the discovery of
topaz was mentioned in Lieutenant Simp-
sons report or not, | am unable to say,
not having the opportunity of reference
to that document; but for the following
facts, OF which | was fully informed at
leastsiX months before the publication
of Professor Clayton's recent trip and his
alleged discovery of white topaz in the
locality described, can vouch in the
amplest and most emphatic manner.
Sometime in 1901 John O'Dougherty,
pioneer OF Nevada and Utah, at present
Superintendent of the Total Wreck Min
ing Company, having been extensively
engaged in mining at the time in both
places, with his headquarters at Egan
Canyon, New, learned from a Goshute
Indian who was working for him at
salt marsh in Snake Valley, Utah, that
mineral had been seen by one of his tribe
on the borders of the Sewer desert, north
of Sewer lake. Mr., O'Dougherty re.
quested the Indian to bring. him 20 the
place. For 100 miles, through a portion
of the country almost unknown and Alto.
gether unexplored, Mr.. O'Dougherty ac.
companed hi, Indian guide until they
struck the spot where they had heard
| the mineral was seen. Arrived at the
| place--an extremely bleak and desolate
region-Mr ODougherty found the MN.
eral, which was copper, but not in sutti'
Gent quantity to be of value Food get.
ting scarce with Mr. ODougherty and
the Indian, the latter went out to look
for game. On his return in the evening
to camp he brought back with him some
very beautiful, clear and perfect crystals.
AS the crystals were dissimilar in form
and shape to any Of the ordinary quartz
crystals which he had ever seen, Mr.
| O'Dougherty retained them until he was
at Salt Lake City, when he showed them
to Professor Clayton, at the same time
giving him several specimens. Professor
Clayton was not familiar with this class
OF crystals, but in order to ascertain
what they were he sent them to Professor
Newberry of Columbia College, New
York. Professor Newberry wrote to
Professor Clayton, as the result of his
examination, that the supposed crystals
were topaz, and that topaz meant tin,
viz, that the finding of topaz indicated
the probability of finding tin in the neigh.
borhood
| L
at least, its purport, Professor Clayton
sent to Mr.. O'Dougherty, with request
that Mr.. O'Dougherty would inform him
of the locality where the topaz were
found. --information which Mr.. ODough
erty at once furnished him,
Having thus a3certained from Professo,
Newberry's letter that the supposed crys
tails were topaz and that topaz meant
tin" Mr.. O'Dougherty and his brother
made trip to the place where the Indial
had found the topaz and discovered tn
) white topaz in great abundance and SOM
fine straw-colored and palish- blue speci
mems, very beautiful, but moet of tn
latter married by flaws and ble,nishes
For many days Mr.. O'Dougherty and hi
: brother remained in the district prospect
ing for tin, but without success. On hi
} return from this trip Mr.. O'Doua 'hert
| a second time gave Professor Clayton
! large number of specimens of the topa
thus found and gathered by him and hi
brother, and also an accurate and detaile
description of the place where they ha
/ been found.
t 1t was not, therefore, from seeing Pro
> lessor Simpsons report that Professo
Clayton knew exactly where to go
!, where to find these topaz--but from tn
e information he derived from Mr.. O'Dough
t erty on the two separate occasions re
e ferred to.
o ! have heard Mr.. O'Dougherty fro
: qnently express his regrets that he wa
s not able to continue his explorations j
h the vicinity OF these topaz beds, as tn
formation Of the country had every II
vorable indication for finding tin, but tn
region was an arid desert, and, provii
!. ions having fallen short and water scare,
his brother and he were reluctant
= obliged to give up their search muc
!. sooner than they desired.
= Imay here state that having been co.
infant of this fact that Mr.. O'Doughert