The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-08-07

my fortune seized by these gr edy ad-
venturers and Wresie.l from me. I
lived on here wretchedly, in ther hope
that Glen Eagle would cease Ter af-
tord peyin, diggin's, when, as soon as
ther camp was deserted, I would 60
and look after my treasures; which
now, as an dYin', bequeath to yer,
Mr. Harper"
Shortly after this declaration, the
poor man became unconscious, and
ere daylight had ceased to breathe,
| X x X x 4
When at length tho excitement
incident to the tragedy subsi6 ed.
Ned Harper and his partner started
for the place designated by the pa
pers found IN the money belt strap
ped about the person Of cd Benson.
One night in August Tie two young
men stretched themselves upon the
soft heather, near he base of the tow
cring range, and by the CHEEKY light
of their campfire regarded the manu-
script for the fftieth time.
/ 1t WAS rather a peculiar document,
wi itten in cramped hand and very
poorly spelled, the import Of winch
was:
Gloomy Gu!ch, Col. June 6. 80
''This document certities that [,
Rehert II. BENSON, have discovered Il
rich lode of silver in the western spur
Of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains,
about twenty miles southwest Of
| Garland Pass. and the location of the
same is as follows: Entering Gloomy
Gulch at the BouIderI Pass, proceed
tin ee miles in Girect line west, then
having sighted Il tall pine that stands
alone at the further extremity, strike
off twenty PAGES to the south, where
the canyon ends in an abrupt wall;
tl.en proceed three PAGES east, and by
tearing aside the underground an open
my will be revealed. On entering
this cavern the treasure will be found.
"RoBERT II. BENIsoN."
We Will not dwell upon the weary.
tortuous and for a long time fruitless
search that the Observation-Disclosures we're
obliged to make.
Suffice it to say one that morning in
September they at length discover
led ,he long sought cavern, upon en-
tering which they found unmistaka-
BILE evidences OF the existence of
vast deposit of rich. silver-benring 9
quartz.
El;tted, they pushed their investi-
gauons further, and before long their
search was rewarded by the discove-
ry OF large quantities of virgin silver
some in sparkling PARTICLES, some
in small nuggets. and much more inn
be,ldcd firmly in the quartz that form
ed the walls of the cavern.
They estimated the mine TO be
worth large fortune.
The question. however, that pressn
ted itself WIS. How to profit By their
"fnd2"
To take out the treasure would re
quire too much time.
Il have an idea" muscd Crestline.
"WellT" queried Harper. anxlouslY.
''Pll remain here and guard our
clsi'n, while you go to Del Rorte,
have it recorded. and take out a pa
tent; after which try to get somebody
to buy US out"
To this proposition Harper readily
assented, and he took his dcpar.ure
that afternoon.
Three das later, he wts at Del
Norte, where, having brought some
specimen pieces of quartz along, he
had them assayed.
Then, with the assayer's certificate
: he hurried to secure his title, aft
which he vent to the miners exchange
aud fled bill descriptive Of the ricI
e strike he wished to dispose Of
? Two days hal scarce elapsed ere ht
, was besieged by purchasers.
: To few of the most reliable o
j these he made ovcrtures.
A com,nittee was formed. and three
E men with power to aet IN the matter
r accompanied Harper on his returr
trip.
1 When they had spent come time il
the interior of the mine, they wer,
5 amazed at the richness displayed or
j every side.
; "Well, gentlemen, what do yol
wasn't for this claim?" they asked. afte
" a deliberate and protracted debat
: smong themselves.
n Three hundred thousand dollars
and little enough that Is for thi
a mountain of silver" returned Ne,
r Harper, impressiYeiy.
Il "Pshaw, men. you're crazy" laugh
u ed their spokesman.
is sSee here. gentlemen. observe,