The Delta independent., 1889-08-06
SOME OLD MEXICAN MINES.

Some weeks ago we republlshed
description OF region in Old Mexico,
where correspondent OF the, Bullion
had found some abandoned mining
and smelling works. A second letter
gives more detailed description as
follows:
These mines were exploited as late
as the year 1912, for an inscription OF
that date over one Of the buildings yet
erect establishes the fact. Well pro-
vided with candles and other articles
required, my party proceeded to large
opening on the flank of the mountain
and that from surrounding appearance
of huge dumps, reads cut in the solid
reck, ETC., lead me to believe that 1t
had been the great producer of the
vicinity. The opening in the mine
was fully 10 by 10 feet, and consisted
of an arch of solid masonry in a per-
feet state of preservation. After pro-
ceeding few feet into the tunnel the
candles and lamps were lighted. This
illumination of Il scene that for more
than two centuries had not witnessed
light, startled thousands OF bats and
nocturnal birds that made these aban-
doned chambers their abode during
the day. The movement of their wings
extinguished our candles and our ears
We're deafened by the noise they made
in their wild flight to some more Sc
questered portion of the old mine. For
one mile or thereabouts the main ave-
nue. Of the mine remained fully 10 feet
in width, with occasional chambers in
which n cathedral might be placed
without cramping it. These chambers
had been exhausted of their ore so close
ly that scarcely enough ofitremained on
the walls or perchance is some small
crevice by which to distinguish its
character. Every nos and then from
the opening to the distance of about
mile, galleries or drifts had been made
leading from east to west. These
drifts were of different proportions
some of them equaling in size the main
tunnel in which the party had ven-
tured. l was surprised to see that
some Of the smaller galleries that In
tersected the main tunnel were nearly
closed by what ut distance seemed to
be concrete, but upon close inspection
was found to be the accumulation OF
bat excrements. DESTROYS of investi-
eating why the winged occupants OF
these solitudes should select any one
OF these drifts in preference to others,
our party turned to the left and en-
tered one of these galleries when count
less thousands of bats disturbed by our
lights, and alarmed by the unusual
presence of man rushed IN wild con-
fusion in advance OF us with q roaring
sound like torrent in the distance.
After proceeding for perhaps quar-
ter OF mile we were suddenly ushered
into an immense chamber into which
we sank above our knees into the de-
posit OF bat guano. and were SO over
powered by the ammouiacal fumes that
to escape sufrocation we beat n hasty
retreat. The day is approaching when
the contemplated Sonora, Chihuahua
l. Sinaloa railroad will afford an OPP
portunity TO send this almost incredi-
BILE amount of guano TO market.
Once more in the main tunnel
we proceeded on our journey until we
were prevented from going further by
wiuze that was fully the width OF the
tunnel, this working being 10 by 15
feet. Here our ropes were fastened
to a well preserved timber and one
by one we commenced the irregular
descent OF the shaft; the old notched
ladders were in place, some OF them
well preserved, others in the last
stages OF decay. After descending
22O feet We arrived at the lower level
of the mine, where we found it OF the
same proportions as the upper tunnel,
but the conditions were different for
large quantities OF the ore were in
sight consisting OF iron quartz in
which the sulphide Of silver and occs-
;onally threads of the virgin metals
appeared. To ascertain the volume
Of the mineral body was an impossible
ity, first owing to the foul air our stay
could not be long, and because 1t would
have required days OF hard work to
throw light upon the subject. After
enduring as long as possible the bad
air we once more returned to the upper
tunnel provided with a fair average OF
the mineral of the mine Gas We could
take it, After exploring numberof
the mines arteries in different direc-
tions, we once more return TO the open
air, having spent ten hours in our sub
terrancan journey.
--s---7------