Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-18

sive work, however is being done by
the Ernestine Company, composed of
Louisville people, which has invested
500, 600 IN machinery the past sum-
mer. 1t has an immense engine.
with 50-horse-power boiler to run the
machinery aud hoisting apparatus at
the shaft. The drilling is done with
compressed air. 1t Is said that $50, 900
will be invested In machinery, which
will make this one of the most scien-
tiically drilled mines in the Union.
Around Dahlonega and Nucolsville,
SO we'll known ID miners of forty
years ago, over 300 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 1t 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 $50 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-
tire 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 glitterjng tales of gold that he
was regarded as visionary. His per-
slstence was such that few gentle
men agreed to humor him, formed a
company and gave him small sum of
money to work on. This was aoout
SIX weeks ago. The lands on which
the mines were discovered were pur-
chased on conditions, and a small
company went to work with hearty
good will. The mountain has been
penetrated only fifteen or twenty feet
and tunneling has just been COM
menced. Solid masses Of ore have
been encountered from the beginning,
and the deeper the miners 90 the rich
er is the yield. The first ASSAYS aver
aged So 40 per ton, the second ASSAY
averaged so, and the third and last
assay made shows all average of 800
per ton of ore. The value increases
as the mountain is penetrated, and
some specimens taken out will assay
So, 900 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
confidence in the wandering miners
representations aud who did more or
less kicking when called upon for an
additional appropriations to push
matters Finally, to get rid of what
he 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, 900 for his ''claim" which
was only ona sixth of the company's
stock
The sensation created by these de-
velopments among the miners Is
wonderful. It sounds like the Cali
fornia talk of years ago. Fhe noun
tain = daily being crossed by parties
of men looking for indications. It 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 it's name
from the Indians who had fort upon
1t, 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
adversaries 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 nov Ia 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.
The mum l.or of ntspils ATTENDING the