Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-15
A LOST SILVER MINE.
Counterfeit Dollars That Recall the Story
of the Rich Deposits of Ore in hen-
tucky-An Opposition to the

tucky-An Opposition to the
Regular Hint.
ALEXANDER STATION, K y, September
14.-The arrest here yesterday of George
W, Williams and James 81. Clark bv
United States officers on the charge of deal
ing in and manufacturing counterfeit sill
yer dollars, which have in their compost
ton large percentage of silver, has awak-
ened discussion as to whether or not the
"Swift" dollar, which passes current in this
State and is made of pure silver, is not a
counterfeit. The bogus money manufac-
tured by Williams and Clark was skillfully,
although rudely made, and readily passed
current, as the percentage of silver in its
composition made it almost impossible to
detect its baseness by ordinary tests.
As far back as the days of Daniel Boone
and Simon Kenton it was known that some
where in mountain Kentucky there was a
large and rich mine of silver. The indians
knew of the existence Of this mine and con-
yerted the ore into ornaments for their per-
son, even casting il into bullets, which were
fred with deadly aim at the hardy pioneers
on the "dark and bloody ground" Shortly
after the settlement of Kenton's Station, on
Limestone creek, above MoysvilIe,
two adventurous men, named Cas-
tleman and Swift, penetrated to the
remote mountain region, that acts
as a water shed to the Kentucky, Licking,
Little Sandy ard Big Sandy rivers, and for
several years lived on amiable terms with
the Indians, who at that time held undis-
puted domain over the forests and mount
aims. Swift was something of doctor and he
had family in Old>Virginia. Castleman
was also a married man and his descendants
are to be found at this day in Kentucky
men of honor and probity-one of whom,
General John B. Castleman, of Louisville,
having been Adjutant General of the State
Swift, exercising his powers as medicine
man to relieve the suferings of a sick In
dian chieftain. was rewarded with the secret
of the rich silver mine, and he and Castle
man carried away from the place when they
returned to civilization several tons OF the
precious metal loaded on the backs of ponies.
They were on friendly terms with the In
dians, and from time to time returned for
fresh supplies of silver.
Finally Castleman died and he left as a
gift to his descendants no information as to
the location of the mine. After his death
Swift made several trips to the rich ore bed,
OL bWO OF IuOTe OCCdSlOuS Dy
his eldest son. He was eventually killed in
fight with small band of Indians that
were on the war path The son knew the
secret of the mine, and he visited it, took
large quantities OF the ore, and, being
an enterprising man, melted the metal and
cast it into trade dollars. which, intrin-
sically, are worth one-third more than the
dollars issued by the Government.
These coins are crudely made. On the
diverse side is the efigy of an Indian and
the words: lone dollar" On the reverse
side is the legend, Liberty" and the
words estate of Kentucky" encircling a
bear rampant. There is no telling how
many of these coins Swift put in circula-
tion, but they are still to be found among
the mountaineers, and the "Swift" money
passes current whenever presented.
When Swift died the secret of the mine
perished with him, but among his effects
was found rudely drawn map which fixed
the location of the precious deposit. Guided
by this map many searches have been made
for the mine, the entrance to which," ac-
cording to the directions appended to the
map, sis moste carefully and adroytly con-
cealled from human observayshion." The
mine is supposed to be located in Wolf
county, but its exact location remains a
mystery unless the clever counterfeiters ar
rested yesterday at this place have discov-
cred it.