Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14
KENTUCkY'S LOST SILVER NINE.
Counterfeit Dollars That Recall the
Story of the Rich Deposits of Ore.

A special to the Cincinnati Enquirer says
The arrest here yesterday Of George w. Viii.
lams and James H. Clark by United States Off.
GERS on the charge of dealing in and manufac.
turing counterfeit silver dollars which have in
their composition large percentage of silver
has awakened discussion as to whether or no,
the 'Swift' dollar. which passes current in this
state and is made of pure silver is not coun-
terfeit. The bogus money manufactured by
Williams and Clark was skillfully although
rudely made, and readily passed current, as the
percentage of silver in its composition made il
almost impossible to detect its baseness by or.
binary test.
As far back as the days of Daniel Boone and
Simon Kenton it was known that somewhere in
the mountains Of Kentucky there was large and
rich mine Of silver. The Indians knew of the
existence of this mine and converted the ore into
ornaments for their persons, even casting 1t into
bullets, which were fired with deadly aim at the
hardy pioneers on the dark and bloody
ground" Shortly after the settlement of Ken
tons station, on Limestone creek, above Moys-
vile, two adventurous men, named Castieman
and Swift, penetrated to the remote mountain
region that acts as a water shed to the Ken
lucky, Licking, Little Sandy and Big Sandy
rivers, and for several years lived on amiable
terms with the Indians. who at that time held
undisputed domain over the forests and noun
tains. Swift was something of a doctor and he
had family in Old Virginia. Castleman was
also q married man and his descendants are to
be found at this day in Kentucky-men of
honor and probity-one of whom, Gen. John
b. Castleman OF Louisville, having been adju-
tant general of the state.
Swift, exercising his powers as q medicine
man to relieve the sufferings of sick Indian
chieftain, was rewarded with the secret of the
Ri all mi ia Casflamau n lad
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 Indians and from
time to time returned for fresh supplies of
silver.
Finally Castleman died and he left as a
legacy to his descendants no information as to
the location of the mine. After his death
Swift made several trips to the rich ore bed, on
two or more occasions accompanied by his
eldest son. He was eventually killed i'll 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 the large quanti-
ties Of the ore and. being an enterprising man,
melted the metal and cast it into trade dollars,
which, intriuscally, are worth One-third more
than the dollars issued by the government.
These CONS are crudely made. On the OBJ
verse side is the efigy of an Indian and the
words Zone dollar" On the reverse side is
the legend Liberty" and the words State of
Kentucky enclrcllnS bear rampant There
is no telling how many Of these coins Swift put
in circulation, but they are still to be found
among the mountainecrs, aud the Swift
money passes current whenever presented.
When Swift died the secret OF the mine per-
ished with him, but among his effects was
found a rudely-drawn map which fixed the
location Of the precious deposit. Guided by
this map many searches have been made for
the mine, the ''entranse to which," according
to the directions appended to the map, lis
moste carefully and adroytly concealed from
human obseryayshion." The mine is supposed
to be located III Wolf county, but its exact loca-
ton remains a mystery, unless the clever coun-
terfeiters arrested yesterday at this place have
discovered it.