Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-11-16

about noon tune. Aluer ma Sby ulh- der Miner, accompanied by old man Pearce, started out on foot without water or provisions, to explore the canyon. Night and darkness set in and Miner had not returned; fires were built and kept blazing. and sig nal guns fired at intervals during the night, in the hope of aiding Miner and Pearce to safely reach camp. Day light came on and no Miner appea red, so after breakfast meeting of the camp was held to consider the situza- ton. Some thought Miner and Pearce had been killed by the Indians; others that they had lost their way and were unable to find our camp, and the more sanguine believed Miner had found the gold and would return loaded down with the pure stuff that would astonish us all. We waited un- til noon, arranging in the meantime for picked lot of men to goin search; take their tracks and follow up until found or, if killed, bury the bodies,
 and about the time a start was to be made Miner and Pearce came into camp, hungry and dejected, and dis appointment stamped on their coun- tenances, not finding anything They sought to retrace their steps, got lost and camped out all night. Miner said the next canyon was the one. Some asserted that the next was Salt river, Miner earnestly contending that he knew it was not. To settle the mat ter we sent men the next day to ex- anime and report, Miner accompany
 ing the party. It proved to be Salt
 river. This being so, the Miner ex- petition terminated there and then.
 It consumed in all about months time from the beginning until it fig
 zled out. Miner was permitted to fol-
 low in the rear of the Salt river peO-
 pie en route for home, unmolested un-
 til he assumed to direct the route to
 be taken. This was too much for the
 boys and they quietly informed MT.
 Miner that if he spoke another word
 they would hang him on the first tree
 in sight. Miner got safely out of the
 country and back to San Francisco
 and secured an engagement in un-
 loading ships-his occupation before
 coming to ArizOna-where reports say
 he is to be found now, as laborer on
 the wharves. The general opinion
 was then, and is now, that in no other
 country would Miner have escaped
 hanging. Under the indignation of
 those he had so wantonly and falsely
 duped, and through the good nature
 and forbearance, characteristic of the people of Arizona, he was permitted
 to leave unmolested and unhurt. May
 God be just to the miserable sinner
 and allow him to be safely landed in
 hades before he can visit Arizona
 again. So we say and will ever pray.
 The writer of this article at no time
 had any faith or confidence in the
 truth of Miners story, offering to sell
 out all his interest for an old hen and
 chickens, in anything he might show
 us, barring what we might accidental
 ly find, and was induced to join the
 expedition under the promise of cer-
 tain parties that we would first go
 with Miner, as it would take not to
 exceed ten days from Grant as stated
 by him, then if it proved failure, 1 they would accompany me to what
 is now the Globe district or country i;
 SO with this previous understanding,
 after Miners fruitless trip was ended,
 a company of eighteen men joined
 me on further prospect trip on our
 town hook" To enable us to do so
 additional supplies were needed, and
 to obtain such three men with pack
 mules went to Florence, the others
 remaining in camp at the tanks (Whit-
 lows ranch) to await our return. On
 reaching Florence we were told that
 Gov. Stafford, in company with five or
 six other men, had gone out to see
 and locate some rich mines discovered
 on the Miner trip and not disclosed by
 the discoverer. On imparting this in
 formation on our return from Florence
 one of our party sung out diamonds
 by God, diamonds, boysp and then
 informed us that rich jewelry firm
 in San Francisco sent a man to ion
 the Miner party, expressly for the
 purpose of looking out for diamonds
 having learned from geologists that
 the formations of Arizona were favor able to the existence of diamonds, and that he had seen man pick up at g
 point between Camp Grant and Sar , Carlos, something shaped like and a. large as hens egg, all coated ovel
 with lime crustation, which on be 7 ing sent to San Francisco, must have 1 proved to be rough diamond. The result of this information was sucl
 that the party wanted then and there } to abandon further prospecting anC to travel on the double quick acros ? the country to the diamond fields beat Stafford if possible, if not, thel l to be there in time and before any eX : citement. But upon being told tha l the governor had week the start, i : was settled and we would go to Globe
 spend not more than day or two an, then hasten to the diamond fields : And such was the impatience that, ol 0 reaching Globe, not more than one da }. was spent there, and that in camp resting up. Gold, silver and coppe e mines, situated in that remote part ( }, the country, were things of little valu r compared to diamonds. So we haster r ed our departure and travelled continu l. Qusly until we reached and campe
 on the diamond fields, which wer plainly visible and readily recognize d from the fact that Gov. safford's pa ,- ty had built small stone corrals, whic n we found piled up with the suppose V rough diamonds of all sizes and shape q So all we had to do was to load ou r. mules with diamonds and be off fl ,s Florence, happy in the thought ths |; at last our trip had not been in vail y- and that each had enough diamond V to insure his happiness and comfol n the remainder of his life. Our wivt ,s and sweethearts were princely endov is ed, and great was our rejoicing unt It .e reached l lofence and aseertaine Ie that the supposed diamonds wei d worthless limestone crystals, of T ii value wbe 4ayer. Thus finally ende F the Miner sApedititss, md to Tesurre,