Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-09-25
FoUEDN An OLD SHAFT.
A Startling Discovery Made by California
1LInsrs-Deserted DiggIngs aud Hastily
Abandoned Camp-BiGhes Tor Two Aens


Years ago, when Sierra County was
first oyerrun by the gold hunters, scores
of mines were located worked fora time,
and then abandoned. Inc gold dis
cOveries in other parts of the State came
so thick and fast that it was then impOs-
sible to keep men at work IN any lead
that did not pay. Hundreds of the piO-
neer miners lost fortunes by their IN
ability to apply themselves to any one
task. If fortune seemed to uOWn on them,
news Of a strike IN some other district
Immediately filed them with a desire to
try their luck there also. In this way
many properties since found to be valu-
able were deserted. All over this part of
the State may be found abandoned cab
ms, sluiCes, shafts and drifts. These re-
minders of the ArgOnauts possess q
melancholy interest for newcomers, and
they are frequently explored by travellers
fond of adventure In the mountains.
In all mining countries may be found
any number OF men who believe that
their predecessors did not fully under
stand their business. A deserted mining
outfit is to their mind proof not that
gold does not exist at that very point;
but that the men who tried to find it
there years ago did not know how to do
it. Scores of these knowing prOspectOrs
are continually going over the old min
ing properties searching for evidences of
color or quartz. A few such have been
richly rewarded, and this has served to
stimulate the others. The argument
which they use to themselves and to
capitalists who may be called upon to
back them is always plausible enough.
1t is that, in the careless operations Of
the early days, many of the prospects
which promised to be rich from surface
indications were hastily abandoned, and
that they have never yet been carefully
and scientifically examined to see Wheth-
er the original miners worked their IL ads
fully out. The increased knowledge now
possessed as to the nature of the fOrma-
tons is also urged as anOtherreasOnW why
skilled miners should 90 over all these
old claims again and examine them as
carefully as If no one had ever delved
there before. When prOspectOTs OF
standing 90 into this business they never
back for money, for there IS fascination
about the thing.
The sight of strange men around the
old mines on the mountains has become
so common that not much attention has
been paid to it in this vicinity of late. A
recent discovery about four miles north
of this town, however, has set everybody
to talking, and people now expect that
every abandoned mine IN Sierra County
will have an OVeThauiing. James Dacey
and Herman Shaffner have long made
their home in an old cabin on the noun
tain side, from which they have gone out
on many extended prospecting tours
COnhning their attention mainly to the
deserted mines, they at length came up
on one which i'm pressed them profound
ly. Tools were scattered around as
though hastily dropped, though rust and
mould had gathered thickly upon them.
They found the mouth Of the shaft over
which it was evident a staging of some
sort had once been placed, but only
small fragments of it were now visible
A short distance on they found the ruins
Of a small cabin. The door and door
posts still stood, but the roof had fallen
in, and two sides of the building had
collapsed. The men set about the task
Of exploring the ruin. As the wood was
badly decayed they found the Job tedious
but after two days work they uncovered
an old leather Valise containing some
clothing and mOmentOes. There was the
frame of a daguerreOtype, but the glass
was broken. and the picture could not be
made out. a package Of letters were soak
ed and welded together so tightly that
even if the ink had not been faded and
Obscured by dirt it would have been i'm
possible to have separated them. Later
on they found an old pistol, a few knives,
some tin dishes and the remnants of a
coat.
It.began to dawn upon them that it
was no ordinary abandoned mine that
they had found. The men who worked
there thirty years ago never left it in
tentiOnally in that manner. What had
become of them and why had they gone
Off The prOspectOrs searched the cOun-
try round for further evidence of the
e Erre
tul. There were the ruined hut, the
yaWning shaft, the ditch which brought
them water, and the tools lying around
carelessly, but nothing else. They eX-
amined everything infinitely, except the
shaft, and after peering into that visit
fully a few times they looked each other
IN the face and said nothing. Neither
cared to 90 down in that hole, for both
suspected what might be at the bottom.
But dead men never yet kept live men
from the universally sought gold. They
resolved to descend the shaft. 1t took
them several days to make the arrange
ments. They got lanterns and ropes and
straps, and finally cast lots to settle
which one should make the descent.
The choice fell upon Dacey, and he
promptly tied the belt about mis- waist,
fastened the ropes to 1t and made ready.
ShaHner took one turn with the ropes
ABOUT Lr69s ana Wu6a every LnluB was
in order Dacey let himself down easily.
1t had been agreed that Dacey was to 20
down but a little way that day to en-
deavor to locate the depth of the shaft,
and determine, If possible, the nature Of
its contents. When he had descended
about sixty feet he signaled ShafneF that
he desired to ascend, and the latter made
the ropes fast. Dacey then unfastened
his belt, and clinging to the ropes with
his hands. pulled himself up hand over
hand. When he reached the surface
and was assisted ont of the hole by his
partner ne was as white as a ghost and al
most speeches.. He found the shaft
not over 100 feet In depth. but there was
Z . L------- .---L.-.-- II he n.-E.-- Of =