Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-11-20
Gold Mines in Michigan.

Gold Mines in Michigan.
The correspondent in Ontonagon Of the New
York sun has sent the following letter TO that
journal:
Grufsc BroIuvell. chief of party OF men
who are locating the lines of the Milwaukee,
Lake shore ~ Western railway between this
. point aud Eagle river and between Rhineland
or aud Ashland, reached this city to-day after
three months of wandering through the wild
erness on both sides OF the Peuokec range.
The Pcuukcc range consists Of a mass of rock
+ running across the northern portion OF Niscon-
sin into the northern peninsula Of Michigan.
1 Without apparently a break in their continuity,
/ these embryo mountains seemed To preclude
the building Of railroads from Chicago TO the
greatest of the fresh water seas But the
Wisconsin Centrars explorers found the gap
made 10y the Bad river, and that after bridging
that stream seven times within "A few miles, and
building the highest trestle In use on a railroad,
they crossed the divide
While in the woods one day last month the
chain bearer called attention 10 what seemed
20 be- an opening in the forest ahead Of them.
Pressing forward, Bromwell and his compan-
ion soon came a. the edge OF the opening. il
was about mile TO the other limit OF the cut
ting, but they were unable TO cross Signal
ling % the Others 10 come up 10 them, the two
men sat down on a log and awaited the ar
rival of the Indian aXmcn, expecting them To
cut through the brush that seemingly was all
that blocked their path. The Indians sent one
OF ihtI uulllfI ul "a TAN pune Tree 10 ldht "a
survey of the proposed route. When he had
reached "A sufficient hight he shaded his eyes
with hi> hand and looked out over the scene
He al first seemed startled and then really
frightened Quickly descending, he at once
Invested himself Of his trapDings. and, pointing
out over the opening, said 10 his tribal com
pinous "Manitouw and "Nanishn and
started on run 10 rctraCe his steps 10 their
last camp. The other Indians were at once
thrown into a state If great excitement, and
huf too l.llf
BromWell fired bullet, over the head of the
retrcating Indian. who fell to the ground when
be heard the Whistling Of the piece of lead.
When commanded 10 return be hesitated, but
Bromwcll threatened 10 shoot him, and the
order was obeyed
The Indian said it was evident that Mani
ton. The great god, was displcased with the
white mans intrusion into the country, and to
stop him had sent Nanish, the god of the
winds 10 NOW down the trees and Law them
across the path The other Indians confirmed
the statement that death waited any one who
went forward. The white men laughed at the
fears Of the Indians ANA climbed into the
trees 10 see what had excited them.
As far rs the feel glass could reach 10 the
southwest or northwest not tree could be-
seen standing Most Of the trees had been
simply blown over, and their roots were stick
Ing out high above the ground, while great
holes, half full of water, marked their former
resting pace. The limits of the storms de
structon we're as sharply defined as If wrought
by a gigantic sCythc When the tornado went
up into the air again spur OF the range. com
posed chiefly Of sand, iutted out at right an
giles 10 the main hills. There most singular
phenomenon was discovered
\ forest fire had swept through the timber,
and all the pine trees had been killed and their
tops Wcr., OF course, rs pointed as a pike.
The wind hau torn these trees out Of the
ground, and, as IL carried them along, IL drove
tho iharp eLds into the spur hill Some of
the irecs were driven in 10 depth of 10 feet
The side Of the hill looked like a boiled ham
ON free lunch table filled with cloves, or a
woman pin cushion, and Brumwell remained
there daN t0inakc investigation. Trees with
boughs had been taken high into the air and
dropped on The further side Of the emuencc.
Nearly LOO Of the pines were found in the
titanic pin cushion.
Bronwcll determined 10 burn his way across
the waste made by the winds Waiting until
the wind was blowing strongly from the south
be started several fires about noon one day,
There was nothing 10 do bat wait. That night
when al were asleep but one OF the Indians,
whose turn il was 20 bc the sentinel the wind
gradually changed around to the norhward.
The first few pulls brought back the peculiar
aromatic odOr OF burning pine, and then smoke
began 10 drift along The Indian awoke Brom-
well and told him they were in danger from
the lire which they had started. Everybody
was awakened and the camp equpage placed
IN readiness for instant removal.
The vind began to howl, and the great
clouds Of smoke nearly stiied the little band.
Goals If fire as large as mans head were
blown over their heads, and numerous little
heaps OF brush began to burn brightly. rs the
flame, became hotter the wind increased In
velocity and seemed to be blowing in every
direction. The fire spread laterally, and soon
new danger became apparent All the bears
aud other Wild beasts and reptiles began 10
hurry 90 the little stream that ran by the
camp From all directions they came, and
the savage brutcs, in their terror, fought as
they ran for thc advantage In the pathway
BrOmWcll CAV, the order 10 move, and told the
mcu 10 be especially careful Of their ammun
tion, and to place 1t az the uprOoting Of the
trees. They moved about a quarter Of mile
aud fouad spot quite free from debris. The
air nov again began to get stilng,as the wind
once more changed about and the surveyors
were themselves compelled 10 jump into the
excavation on the borders Of which they had
placed their cartridges. Here they had TO
stay for about 10 homs They then
found that 10 Gre had cleared the way 10
the mouut1ins and was sweep
ing through the forests on the PERCEPTIONS
sides. They dragged Themselves along In the
hope Of finding ,Ot1c recess among the rocks
where they could sleep. When the mountain
side was reached they followed IL short dis
lance 10 a cleft ia the side 81 great cliff, and
entering found rOomy cavern, on the sandy
roor oi which they ~ once sank 10 sleep.
About O'Clock next day they aWOke. 10
was raining hard aud as IL continued all day
and through the night the forest fires were ex-
tingushed. The Indian hunters soon brought
IN deer which they had shot, and the party
Toasted on this meat and i9asted nuts.
The mineral wealth Of the country through
which BrOmwell's party travelled Is almost be-
yond computation, The northern cxtremties
Of Wisconsin and Michigan are well marked
with the pits that have been sunk In the min
ing Of copper and iron. But Bromwell en-
Enthusiastically asserts that his discoveries In
the Prnokee range will astonish the country.
The railroad as located passes a mass OF hema
tite iron ore that towers 200 feet
above the bed II the line. IL seems
TO ~ solid mass OF mineral
BroLIwell also says be found network OF !