The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-06
PIONEER "PROSPECTOR
Cass Hits's Wandsrlnes 0Vsr the West
Searching for Gold.
First Trip Attempted Down the
Whiriing Waters OF the Grand
Canon OF the Colorado
His Discoveries.

Cass Hite, one of the most noted pros
pectors that ever traversed the defiles of
the mountains, has been a guest OF the
Brunswick hotel for several days says
the Denver Ne,cs. For twenty-four years
Mr.. Hite has searched continually for the
hiding places of the precious metals and
his efforts have not been altogether unre-
warded. During this long period he has
passed through every hardship known TO
frontier life. Yet he has never lost an
hour on account of sickness and his spir-
its are just as buoyant to-day as they were
a quarter Of n century ago. In the course
of his travels he has explored nearly ev-
cry gold n silver district from British
America To the Mexican republic. The
first ten years Of his experience was
passed prospecting in Montana, Idaho
ana the head waters of the Columbia and
Missouri rivers. Gradually working to-
ward a warmer climate hcpassed through
Colorado, New Mexico, peered into many
of the mining regions of Mexico, returned
through Arizona, and finally stuck his
stake on the Colorado river in SOUTH
eastern Utah. This was about nine years
ago. During the time that has since
elapsed he has thoroughly explored the
Colorado river for a distance of 500 miles,
often in imminent danger of his life, and
is indeed the pioneer of a remarkable re-
gion which promises 10 become one of the
leading gold producing districts of the
United States.
Mr.. Hite is a quiet, unassuming man
and il is with considerable difficulty that
he is induced to speak of his discoveries.
His presence in Utah has been looked
upon by the Mormon rulers with uncom-
promising hostility and il had been only
through undaunted nerve and the protec-
ton of a number of associates and the
friendly Navajo Indians that Hite is
alive to-day. Twice the blood
were sent To destroy the prospector, but
in each instance their object was thwarted.
The Mormons fear that the country will
be thrown open to settlement and then
good-by TO their cherished institutions.
Mr.. Hite states that Salt Lake Mormonism
is OF an entirely different character from
that found in the more distant parts of the
territory. N he hates the Mormon elders
as hc does a rattlesnakc.
IL is to the credit of Mr.. Hite that not
outstanding his dangerous surroundings
he was the first man to establish a perma-
nent mining camp on the Colorado river.
Scores of adventurous spirits nave lost
their lives in similar attempts. Hite's rep
utation as a dead hot and the impress
sion among both indian and Mormons
that he never sleeps ave rome a long way
toward cnsuring his safety. His present
location is at Dandy crossing in South
eastern Utah. the only crossing of the
Colorado river for a distance of 400 miles
in its course. This crossing was discov-
cred by Mr.. Hite n at that point the
government has established a postoffice
known as lite p~ostofiie. The river at the
crossing is LOO feet wide and is crossed
by n ferry established m owned by Mr..
IA nwR.aNuIEataI - ..rw ~ ~ Co.. .-l.
rises on either side Of the canyon leading
10 the river. The crossing is approached
by easy grades and doubtless at some
time in the future "A railroad bridge will
span the river at Dandy crossing.
Mr.. HIte states that the placers on the
Colorado have been worked in a crude
way for five years. and hat at least 500
men are now operating in small parties
along the river for a distance of 200 miles.
A communication is kept up between the
different parties, so that gold hunters can
assemble quickly at any point for protec-
ton in case of trouble from the Indians
and Mormons. The chief obstacle To
placer mining has beer the difficulty i'm
obtaining water, the sandbars being thirty
or forty feet above the surface of the
river. Attempts are being made this sea-
son TO operate with water motors, doing
away with the necessity for costly ma
chincry and fuel.
VI NV itS ni't ~ 'aTflui stuht Oh
the ruins of the cliff jewellers. and knows
as much upon that subject as any man
living. He estimates that many of the
stone houses were built 5000 years ago.
basing his stimat upon the depth which
the river has cut into the solid rock below
the lowest line Of dwellings. He has
made large collection Of relics from the
houses of the cliff jewellers, and at no
distant day proposes to write a book upon
"The Life Of IA P~rospector," i'm which
there will he an original discussion of the
Mormon question and a graphic picture
of life i'm the Grand canon of the Colorado
l6,uD years ago,