The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-23
GOLD In INDIANA.
Excitement Over a Recent Discovery in Scott
County.
An Old ProspectOr's Long Search at Length
SuccessfuI-An Indian Tradition of
Rich Silver Mine Revived.
Lexington. Ind. Special

Lexington, Ind, Special.
Considerable excitement was created here
yesterday by the announcement that Isaac
Mace, prospector, had found gold mine,
or at least rich evidences of one, on the farm
of William Hastel. Professor Powers, the
Well-known geologist, examined the speci-
mems of precious metals taken out, and pro-
nounced them to be very pure, and worth
about $2O67 per ounce. Mace, the discov-
erer, offers to work the mine himself, and
give the owner of the land one-eighth of the
product therefrom. 1t is generally believed
that Mace's assertions are true and that he
has found the mine. The State Geologist
says there is a strong sprinkliDg of precious
metals all over the district, and local geolo-
gists have found a peculiar kind of clay, such
as is found in California mines, which is
thoroughly impregnated with silver. About
one hundred pounds of this clay placed in
quicksilver testing retort at Jacksonville
recently, yielded twenty-five dollars worth
Of silver In very pure form.
Mace created some excitement few
months ago by finding gold nugget worth
Sill. A another time he went down to a
point on Woods Creek and found sieve
full of peculiarly colored sand containing
a large quantity of gold dust. He has been
discovered for eleven years
The story of the existence of such a mine
be SAYS was confided to him by an old far
ner named Hastings who said he heard OF
it'from the Indians. Mace is now ffty-eight
years of age. When young man he and
his brother went to LOOK for the nine and
prospect for oil. Both were in love with the
same young lady, and during the hunt her
name was brought up. They quarreled, and
Isaac drew revolver shooting his brother
through the head, killing HIM instantly. He
was arrested and acquitted, the Jury finding
him insane. After about years stay in the
asylum he was pronounced cured and dis
charged. He again began his hunt for the
mine. About year ago he went home
greatly sgitated, and said he had found the
mine.
During the night, in his dreams, he raved
about il, and in glowing words described its
fabulous wealth. The next morning he was
raVing mad. He was again sent to the ssy lum,
and sgain returned IS cured He also again
commenced the hunt. Last week he discov-
cred an oil well, which everybody visited.
1t IS located on what il known a. Gold Hill.
The oil. in considerable quantities, was
f0und at a depth Of three feet. The well, for
such the evidences certainly points that it IL,
will be worked Immediately BY capitalists.
In conversation last night, Mace said: II
am certain that there is more silver IN Clark
County than in any other in the district. 1t
will be found there in paying quantities some
time scott County contains the gold
deposits Gold is always located in or near q
creek. river or streamlst; at least have
found it so. There is an Indian tradition that
there is a silver mine near the mouth of Bull
Greek, which was worked N late a. 1901 by
the Indians. So the story goes AfArmer who
had settled there, and had been good to the
Indians, was taken, after being blindfclded,
into the mine and allowed to carry away all
he could in his pockets. He was then taken
H. -. HI II.
dams afterward went West and never re-
turned. The farmer spent his whole life
looking for the mine, but was never able to
fad il again. This is the story, and believe
it TO be true, because / have found indics-
tions of silver in the nsighborhOod."
'What do you mean by the indications?"
asked the reporter.
"Well the magnetic needle points that
way. A magnetic needle, so-called among
PrOspectors, is not really q needle, and bears
ne resemblance to one. 1t consists OF
piece of wItch-hazel followed out
like a bottle. Inside is placed a gold
dollar, a silver dime, and a small
portion of quicksilver and Eulphate of zinc.
The hole is plugged ~, and the whole sus-
pended from q silken cord. 1t is held per-
fectly still in the hand, and the witch hazel
needle will vibrSte in the direction of either
gold or silver; no other metals will attract it.
That is the way located my recent gold dis
covery."
'Mr. Mace, what do you think about the
supposed Spanish pirate treasure which ira
dition says is buried on the falls opposite
LouisVillePn
'Tbere may be something in it. l have
seen hundreds Of holes dug down there by
treasure-seekers, and / believe one man did
find $13, 900 in a crock. He was q Louisville
Jew. But as to the Spanish pirate story, 1
take no stock in it. 1t is true the magnetic
needle will vibrate over certain fields near
the falls below Jacksonville. but my
theory about it is this: The ground
in that section is sprinkled with silver
ore in large quantities, and the peculiar clay,
which is similar to the California mining
clay, contains the silver which attracts the
needle. | am an old man, have made miner
alogy life study, and l tell you it is nay
candid opinion that there is Just as much
gold in Indiana, and particularly the Third
District, as there is in California. If this
mine have found produces any great guam
tity of the precious ore, have no doubt but
what millions of dollars will be put into
mining operations here. We have found
coal, iron, natural gas, silver and petroleum
here, and one can readily see that the min
ing interests of Indiana, if sufficiently de-
developed, would be expensive"
Mace and his brother together are worth
$1,000 which they will invest in developing
he min