The Opelousas courier., 1885-09-05
FOUND BY A MULE
i sensational Mining Discov-
cry in Arizona.
aov Thres Prospectors Game Across a
Valuable Silver Ledge.

a sensational mining discovery was
made in 1875 in Arizona. It was
IL the most interesting finds eve made
III the coast. Three prospectors Cope
ind, Mason and another, were one day
lodging Indians in the neighborhood
of Queen Creek. Pinal County, about
fifty miles from Florence. The Indians
bad been very bad that year in that re-
gion End no p~rospectors felt safe a mo-
ment. One evening Copeland and par
" were looking for a place to camp
when all at once one of their pack
mules gave q snort and with ears poin-
ted forward stood stock still. A mules
scent for an Indian is keener than that
III any dog for game, and the party
knew there was danger ahead. They
dismountel and reeonnoitered. While
Copeland prepared toscout on the side
III 4 little rise, he tied his mule to a
clump Of sage brush which grew in
the cleft Of ridge of float rock. while
lie was gone something scared the
mule, and the latter jerked the sage
brush up and started down the
canyon. The party located a
~rancheria' Of Indians a mile
0f and wisely beat q retreat undis-
covered. A half a mile away they
Birked up the mule, the sage bush still
hanging to his bride. Copeland de-
gached it and was about throwing is
aWay when something clinging to the
T0ots attracted his attention. 1t was
i piece OF shattered white quarts. az
bGg AS a walnut, the disintegrated
mass being held together by a perfect
network of pure white silver threads
Ehe size of a number eight wire. Some
0f the roots Of the bush ran through
Tho quartz and firmly attached it.
The party were greatly excited. but
They did not then dare go back on ac-
count of the Indians. They staked the
locality, and Copeland fairly cudgeled
his brain TO impress upon it the exact
mot no had tied his mule. Two weeks
alter they ventured back and to their
5oy found the coast clear. For several
hours they searched among the rocks
and scoria Of the vicinity. and at lasl
Copeland found the place where tho
sagebush had been torn up. A few
minutes digging revealed the crown O
Ill the most beautiful silver quartz
ledge any of the ~prospectors had eve
seen. They dug for several days OF
The spot and laid bare a section TWEEN
III feet long and ten feet wide. Til
vein was without foot or hanging
wall, was of pure white quartz, will
asreaks Of native silver (pere white
siiverl and blotches OF black sulphur
eta running all through it. This wa
the discovery of the famous Silvei
King mine of to-day. This mine has
peculiar interest from the fact that S
many public men Of note invested il
M Soon after its discovery Coione
James nj. Barney, Of Yuma, bough
lhe property for $4,000, and place
the stock on the Eastern market.
The mine has paid since 49,
d,500,000 In dividends, and has pro
duced something like S3,40o,0oo
silver. Strange to say. the iedg
stands alone by itself. Scores of loo;
lions have been made around it, bt
nothing has over been found in any {
them. Ii any other evidence WEI
needed to prove that mining for Il
precious metals Is a game OF chanc
tho history Of the Silver King depos
alone would prove it.-Chicdgo Herah
M &AE&