Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-08-22
BIG GOLD NUGGETS.
The Largest Piece of Gold Yet Found
Was Worth Nearly Sl5O,OOO.

W ~S w OAsh INCoiiy VlcOeOOOs
In order to correct many misstatements
that are going the rounds of the press in
regard 10 the largest nuggets of gold ever
found, the editor of the Silrer Dollar desires
to publish the following facts which he
obtained while commissioner to the great
mining exposition at Denver, Colorado, in
1882. These facts were obtained from the
gentleman having charge of the Australian
exhibit, which included models Of all the
large nuggets discovered in that great gold
field.
The largest piece Of gold in the world
was taken from Byer and Haltman gold
mining claim, Hill End, New South Wales,
May 10, 1872. Its weight was $40 pounds;
height, feet inches; width, 2 feet, 2
inches; average thickness, 4 inches; worth,
$148,SOO. 1t wa found imbedded in
thick wall of blue slate at depth of $50
feet from the surface. The owners of the
mine were living on charity when they
found it.
The Stranger nugget was found on
Mount Moliagel, February 8, 1869. weighed
100 pounds, and was worth $45,600. This
nugget was raffled for $4,000 at SIS
chance, and was won by man driving
bakers cart. 1t was sold to the bank for
it's true value and melted.
The Welcome nugget was found at
Bakery hill, June 8. 1868; it weighed 184
pounds ounces Is pennyweights, and was
worth $44,356; was raffled for $4,000 at SIS
a chance, and won by a small boy in bar
ber shop.
Lady Hotham nugget manned in honor
of the wife of the Governor Of New South
Wales) was found in Canadian gully, Sep
tember 8, 1854. 1t weighed SO pounds 10
ounces IL pennyweights and was sold for
$23557
Union Jack nugget, found at Buningorg,
February %, 1857, weighed % pounds 5
ounces, and was sold for $500 1t was
found by a runaway sailor, who sold it for
the sum named and spent the money in
just four weeks
No name nugget, found at Eureka, Daul-
toms Flat, Feb, Z, 1874, fifty feet below the
surface, weighed SO pounds 1 ounce and
was sold for $12, 500.
The Leg of Mutton nugget was found at
Ballarat, Jan. 81, 1853, at depth Of IS feet.
1t weighed 134 pounds IL ounces and was
sold to the bank for $32, $3.50. This nugget
was shaped like leg Of mutton, hence its
name.
No name nugget, found at Bakery hill,
Ballarat, March 6, 1855, near the surface,
weighed AZ pounds Z ounces and was sold
for $11, ,42O.
No name nugget, found in Canadian
gully, Ballarat, Jan. %, 1853, at depth of
twenty five feet, weighed "a pounds 3
ounces Is pennyweights and sold for
$2O235
The Kohinoor nugget, found at Ballarat
July 81, 1860, at depth of 16O feet from
the surface, weighed SO pounds, and was
sold for $16,6SO.
Sir Dominic DAILY nugget, found Febru-
ary 81, 1862, weighed 26 pounds, and sold
for $624O
No name nugget, found at Ballarat Feb
ruary %, 1855, only sixteen feet below the
surface. The discovery was made by
small boy. The nugget weighed 30
pounds II ounces 2 pennyweights, and
sold for 81 1865.
No name nugget, found at Webbville
August l, 1862 weighed IL pounds, worth
$2,2SO
No name nugget, found at Ballarat Feb
ruary 3, 1853, just twelve feet below the
surface, weighed 80 pounds, and sold for
S6,36O
No name nugget, found in Canadian gull
ly, January 20, 1853 at eighteen feet below
the surface, weighed SO pounds 1 ounce II
pennyweights, and sold for $22, $50.
No name nugget, found at Bakery hill
March g. 1855, weighed 40 pounds and was
worth $1,000.
Nil Desperandum nugget, found at Black
Hills, Nov. 80, 1859, weighed 45 pounds
and sold for $1O,SOO. Oates & Delson mug
cot found of nonneIIv GOLD field in 1890 at
the roots of tree, weighed 139 pounds and
sold for $4,000
In addition to the above were the Heron
nugget, worth $2O,O4O, and the Empress
nugget, worth $27 ,661.
Gold in the drift deposits has been found
in larger masses in Australia than in any
other country. Many large nuggets were
found in California during the era of placer
mining but we have no record of any to
compare with those we have described in
Anstra1