Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-26
DISCOVERY OF A LOST NINE.
Rich Finds That Were Operated by
the Jesuit Fathers.

II
From tie Ventura tCOl.l FREE Press.
I Some Of our readers are familiar with
( tradition that the Jesuit Fathers. who
once conducted the San Bueneventura,
santa Barbara, san Ynez, La Purisslma
and Sau Fernando missions, ence sue
cessfulIy worked mine located probably
in what is now Ventura county. Tradi-
ton has 1t that the mine was worked near
the BEGINNING oil the present century,
after when it was covered with earth
and all traces OF Its existence destroyed
as far as possible. from which time its
location mas been mystery 10 all but the
few " no worked it and we're familiar with
| Its existence.
An old Indian whom the writer knew,
and who died a few years ago in Santa
Barbara county, aged. according TO the
baptis pal records of Santa Barbara Mis-
sion, los years, claimed to know where
the rich mine was located. but he fully
I believed he would be struck dead should
| he reveal it. He said that ne and other
| friendly Indians. VINO KneW OF 1t v hen the
mouth was covered up and the mine
abandoned. il ne mistakes not, on account
! OF hostile tribes, had taken solemn oath
never to let any one know the place
/ where it was located. and that they had
! been assured that treachery on their
1 part would result In sure and sudden
/ death. He, and We believe all others
Z who profess to know anything about its
! existence, were Unanimous in saying il
| was on tue side OF a mountain, and tlat il
was tunnel. But those VINO professed
/ 10 know anything concerning its location
/ have passed away, and by many it had
come TO be regarded as their tradition;
/ and as much tlm9, money and laoOr had
/ been expended 10 searching for it, many
! had come 10 believe its existence was
mythical.
/ But about three weeks ago a profess
sinnal prospector,a gentleman thOrou 9hIy
conversant with the mines of Arizona,
New Mexico and Colorado, tracing the
| Calico ledge into this county, accident
ally came upon an old tunnel penetrating
the side of a mountain. which he believes
TO be toe lost Jesuit mine. He roughly
estimates the length to be 300 or 400 feet,
with the sides ''coylied'' in various direc-
tions. The gentleman and his partner
were attracted to the spot by seeing
cottonwood trees growing ON the side OF
| a mountain, and after reaching the spot
| they found them growing in the mouth OF
tunnel.
Their appearance indicated that cotton
wood limbs had been placed on end at
the mouth of the tunnel and covered
with earth, the dampness from within
having caused them to grow. But the
earth caved in, and, washed DY the rains
of probably sixty or seventy winters, ex-
posed the Tunnel which had been so
effectually concealed.
Near by were found the remains OF old
smelling works, and silver brick weigh
ing about one pound, which the pros
| pector exhibited to US yesterday, was
| picked up. This prospect0r, who is an
unusually intelligent man, first traced
the Calico ledge into Arizona, and then
returning he traced il into Ventura coun-
ty, and believes that be has found ledge
of mineral far more valuable than the
| Waterman or any other mine, vet discoy-
cred in San BerDardino county. The
! specimens exhibited to US Indicate rich
ore, some of them carrying free gold, aud
| il once developed may be a source of I'M
mense revenue to this county. TIE ledge
| Is an extensive one and can easily be
| worked.
We are not at liberty at present to give
| the location or reveal the names OF the
| parties interested in this find. The terri.
| tory will be surveyed by competent men
and lines run, and as soon as all legal
matters have been adjusted and the dis
| coverers secured In their rights, it will
| be no longer a secret. The place can be
reached from Ventura by wagons,
/ aud there is plenty OF water for mining
! purposes.
| Among the Oras eXllDlteQ were Qalena,
| gold, native silver, chloride and sui
! phurets of silver, carbOnates of lead, horn
silver, etc. AS we have stated, the ledge
| lies in tie Calico belt, between a gypsum
| and porphyrv contact with pearl smell
! belt lying near the porphyry walls. Our
prOspector first made himself familiar
! with the Calico belt, which ne believed
extended into this county. In the eX-
IRENE south of this belt lies first a lava
| belt; next 10 it bro wn sandstone is found;
then comes granite, trachite, black slate,
pearl shell belt, porpbyritIc material and
| forms contact against gypsum.