Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-18
KENTUcKYs LOST sILveR-MINE.
Counterfeit Dollars That Recall the story
of the Rich Deposits of Ore.

An Alexandria Station (Ky.) telegram
saws: The arrest here Yesterday Of George
w. Williams and James IT. Clark by United
States officers on the charge OF dealing IN
and manufacturing counterfeit silver, uoI-
lars which have in their composition large
percentage Of silver. has awakened a dis.
cussion as to whether or not the swift
dollar. which passes current in this State
and is made OF pure silver. is not n coun,,
terfeit The bogus money manufacturer
by Williams and Clark was skiltully al;
though rudely made, and readily passed
current, "a the percentage OF silver IN It's
composition made il almost impossible to
detect ito baseness by ordinary tests;
As far back as the days Of Daniel Boone
and Simon KentOn IL was known tnat
somewhere in mountain Kentucky there
was a large and rich mine OF silver. The
Indians knew Of the existence OF this mine
and converted the ore into ornaments Tor
their person. even casting IL into bullets,
which wee cred with deadly aim OF the
hardy pioneers on the dark and bloody
ground" Shortly after the settlement
Of Kenton's Station, on Limestone
creek. above Movsyille. two adventurous
men. named Castleman and Swift, pene-
trated 10 the remote mountain region, that
acts as a watershed 10 the Kentucky, Lick
ing. Little Sandy. and Big Sandy rivers,
]
terms with the Indians, who at that time
held undisputed domain over the forests
and mountains. Swift was something OF
doctor. and he had family in Old VIZ
ginia. Castleman was also married man.
and his descendants are to be found AZ thls
day in Kcntucky-men of honor and pro
| bity-one Of whom, General John Is. Gas
tleman, of Louisville, having been AdJu-
tant-General of the State :.
bfC "a mpI1-
! cine-man 10 relieve the sufferings Of SICK
| Indian chieftain, was rewarded with the
secret Of the rich silver mine, and he ana
Castleman carried away from the place
| when they returned 10 civilization several
| tons of the precious metal loaded on the
| backs Of ponies They were on friendly
| terms with the Indians. and from time To
| time returned for fresh supplies of silver.
! Finally Caetleman died, and he left as q
! legacy no information as TO the location OF
| the mine. After his death Swift added
several trips 10 the rich Ore-bed, on two OF
more occasions accompanied by his eldest
son. lie was eventually killed IN hght
with small band OF Indians that were on
| the war-path. The son knew the secret OF
| the mine. and he visited IT. took the large
! quantities of the ore, and, being an enter
| prising mon, melted the metal ana cast IL
| into trade dollars which, intrinsically; are
worth one tulFu more iubu thc "Nii"''
! issued by the Government.
| These coins are crudely made. On the
diverse side is the efiigy Of an Indian and
| the words, "Onc dollar On the reverse
side is the legend Liberty" and the
words estate Of Kentucky" cncircling a
| bear rampant. There is no telling how
many Of these coins Swift put in circula-
ton. but they are still 10 be found among
! the mouutaineors. and the Swift money
| passes current whenever presepted
when Swift died the secret Of the mine
persisted with him, but among his effects
! was found % rudcly-drawn map which fixed
! the location Of the precious deposit.
| Guided hv this map many searches have
| been made for the mino, the entranse 10
Witch" according to the directions ap-
pended TO the map, is moste carefully
and adroytly concealed from human OBJ
servayshion." The mine is supposed to
be located in Wolf county, but It's exact
| location remains a mystery unless the clever
counterfeitcrs arrested yesterday ut this
place have discovered 1t.