Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-18
A MOUNTAIN OF GOLD.
Report of New and Startling Discov-
cries I'm Ceorgia--An Enthusiastic e-
count.

mining regions of Georgia, which be-
gins around Villa RIGA, in Carroll
County, following the mountain
ranges northeast into Murray and
across into the Dahlonega region, are
such as to have revived the interest
which was turned away by the won
derful California discoveries of forty
years ago. Important discoveries of
veins, some of them are said to equal
the Comstock lode, have impelled the
miners to invest heavily in around
Villa Rica, from which $4,000, 600
were extracted in the decade proceed
ing 1850, are now yielding immense
sums daily. The Clopten mine has a
vein 1900 feet wide, which grows
richer as it is penetrated. Thirty
stamps will be running this winter.
Full City mine is another which is
giving a rich yield. The most enten-
sive work, however, is being done by
the Ernestine Company, composed of
Louisville people, which has invested
$t00,000 in machinery the past sum
mer 1t has an immense engine,
with 80 horsepower boiler to run the
machinery and hosting apparatus at
the shaft. The drilling is done with
compressed air 1t is said that $50, 600
will be invested in machinery, which
will make this one of the most scien-
ti6cally drilled mines in the Union.
Around Dahlonega and Nucolsvlllc,
so well known to miners of forty
years ago, over 200 stamps are
in operation. The great sensation OF
the Georgia gold belt, however, is
connected with the mines situated in
Cohuttah Mountain, six miles from
Spring Place. For years it has been
a tradition among the natives that the
mountain was a mass of solid gold;
that it had been marked by De Sofa as
he crossed the continent seeking the
great river. Those who had penetra-
ted the fastness reported that eviden-
ces existed that work had been once
carried on there. An old furnace of
rude design was described, and those
who had examined it found nuggets
Of gold worth from $40 to $50. One
of the citizens of Murray, who visited
the Chicago republican convention,
met there an old New Mexican miner
named Wrinkles, to whom he told the
tradition. With the spirit of adven-
ture characteristic of his calling,
Wrinkles found his way to the spot
He spent week in the mountain,
and when he came back it was with
such glittering tales of gold that he
was regarded as visionary. His Eer-
sistence was such that a few gentle
men agreed to humor him, formed
company and gave him small sum of
money to work on. This was ABOUT
six weeks ago. The lands on which
the mnes were discovered were pur
chased on conditions, and small
went to work with a hearty
good will. The mountain has been
penetrated only fifteen or twenty feet
and tunneling has just been com
Solid masses of ore have
been encountered from the beginning,
and the deeper the miners 90 the rich
err is the yield. The FIRST assays aver
aged 50 40 per ton, the second assay
averaged $40, and the third and last
assay made shows an average of 500
per ton of ore. The value increases
rs the mountain is penetrated, and
some specimens taken out viii assay
81, 600 to the ton. The depth of the
lead is unknown, and its richness be-
yond computation Among the gen
tlemen whose services were enlisted
in the enterprise was Mr. Smith Stew
enson, who, however, had but little
in the wandering miners
and who did more or
less kicking when called upon for an
additional appropriations to push
matters. Finally, to get rid of what
be considered white elephant" he
sold his claim to Walter Anderson, of
Springfield, Ga, for $500. Mr.. An
derson has Just been offered and re-
fused, $50, 600 for his claim which
was only one sixth of the company's
stock.
The sensation created by these de-
velopments among the miners is
wonderful. 1t sounds like the Cali
foraia talk of years ago. The noun
tain is daily being crossed by parties
of men looking for indications. 1t is
claimed that three other veins have
been struck equal to this great mine,
and parties are now negotiating for
machinery to begin work at once.
This mountain received its name
from the Indians who had fort upon
II, the ruins of which are still to be
seen. Clayton, in Rabun County,
and the apex of Cohouttah Mountain
were the two strategic points for all
the Indians from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi River. At these two
points the warriors would assemble
and swoop down upon the country ON
all sides and they would retreat to
them whenever driven back by their
The region is rich III rem
inscences of Cherokee times. In fact
many of the citizens have Indian
blood in their veins. They were
great gold hunters but were very sec
retive, keeping the knowledge of
mines to themselves. This knowl-
edge is now in possession of many of
these half breeds who after the dis
covery of the points will at once tell
of their past history, and from the
awakening which is taking place in
Georgia mines a lively year may be
expected among the gold hunters.