Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-11-13
INTERESTING. IF UNTRUE.
Thrown Down a Precipice, a Horse
man Discovers Rich Mine Of
Treasure.

Thrown Down a Precipice, n Horse
man Discovers a Rich Mine OF
Treasure.
[Denyer News.l
A long line of heavily ladened burros,
followed by two horsemen, were climb
ing steep trail in the San Juan noun
tains. William and Frank Smith, the
drivers and owners OF the train, we're
brothers. William, the elder, although
yet young man, had been in the
country long enough to be considered a
pioneer. Frank, the younger, had on
ly arrived from the East about two
months before. He was graduate
of Yale College, also of an Eastern law
school, the train had reached the most
dangerous portion of the trail, where it
wound around bluff on the very edge
of canyon whose jagged and pre-
cipitous sides and rocky bottom
threatened instant death to the luck
less traveller who would make one
misstep.. Familiarity with the trail
and its dangers had made the young
man somewhat careless, and it so hap
pened that just as he was caroling a
sparkling air from "Pinafore," and
while the echoes of his musical voice
were still ringing through the canyon,
his usually sure-footed horse stepped
upon loose stone, and instantly both
horse and rider were hurled over the
precipice.
The Mortified brother saw the ac-
cident from point short distance in
advance, just as he was about turning
the bluff Instantly he ran to the
edge, and on the rocky bed of the
canyon, where the little mountain
stream boiled and hissed with its tiny
white spray, he saw the mangled body
of the horse, lying crushed and al
most shapeless mass Making a de-
tour, with infinite difficulty he climbed
down the sides of the canyon and
reached the body of the horse, out
strange to say, that of his brother was
nowhere to be seen. Loath to leave
without having discovered his broth
er's remains, he spent the whole after
noon in the search. The next morn
ing party was organized, who spent
the whole day in an unavailing search
for the missing man.
The mystery deepened, and in the
minds of the superstitious miners
savored strongly of the supernatural.
Toward the close of the second day a
group of men, sitting at the door of
the largest cabin, which did duty as a
store and post Office, discussing young
Smiths disappearance, were suddenly
startled by seeing the figure Of a man
toiling painfully up the steep trail and
over the frail bridge that crossed the
centre of the little settlement. Upon
his approaching nearer, what was their
surprise to discover In him the miss
ing man, but so covered with bruises
and so haggard looking as to be hard
ly recognizable. A crowd of willing
hands assisted him to the door
of the store, and after his wants
were attended to, the chief one of
which was hunger, their intense curl,
ositv was gratifed by his relation OF
the following marvellous story:
'lt must have been several hours
after my fall before I regained con-
sciousress, and found myself lying on
the floor of cavern, terribly bruised
and hungry. Tie walls on either side
were steep and high, and upon CROP
ing around l found that the cave ex-
tended into the mountain through a
perfect labyrinth of passages. Taking
one of them at random, I wandered for
hours, dragging up weary limbs
slowly and painfully over the rough
ground. Finally, overcome by fati.
que, l lay upon the ground and slept l
know not how long. Upon awakening,
to my other pains was added the
keener one of hunger. I still pushed
on, however, knowing that to remain
would be death, yet without any idea
of different fate should I continue,
uncertain as l was that I was not get
ting farther away from light and liber
ty. Suddenly saw a CLEAN of blessed
sunlight coming from l could not tell
where, but heightened and magnifed
by the object upon which it was shin
ing. This I found upon examination
was mass of glittering ore. Follow
ing the direction of the thread of
light I saw far above me An opening
in the roof of my prison. With terri
BILE labor, and after several falls, 1 sue
ceeded in reaching the top and made
my escape, emerging scarcely one-halt
mile from the camp"
The next day the young man, hav-
ing considerably recovered from his
injuries and hunger, accompanied by
several of the miners, proceeded to the
place with ropes and tools, and found
one of the most enormous deposits oI
rich mineral ever found in the State
with natural shafts and tunnels, adding
immensely to the value of the find
"This,' said the narrator of the
above story to the News reporter yes
terday, 'is the story of the discovery
of one of the greatest producing mines
in the State.'