The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-21
BIG LuMPS OF GOLD.
Some of the Most Valuable Nuggets
Found In California.

Some of the Most Valuable Nuggets
Found In California.
The first nugget of any great import
ance, and which played prominent
part in the early history of California,
was found by young soldier of Steven
sons regiment in the Mokolumme river,
while drinking from that stream. He
fastened to San Francisco and placed
his prize in the hands of Colonel Mason
for safety, after which it found its way
to New York, where it famed the
smoldering flame and caused the nations
to realize the Importance of California.
The nugget weighed between 30 and 25
pounds.
In November, 1854, a mass of gold was
found at Carson Hill, Calaveras County,
which weighed 1876 pounds troy. This is
the largest piece of gold ever found in
the State. Several other nuggets,
weighing from 9 to pounds, were found
in the same locality.
On the 18th of August, 1860, large
piece of gold was taken from the Monu-
mental quartz mine, Sierra County,
which weighed 1,506 ounces troy. The
nugget was purchased of the owner by
r. B. Woodward, of San Francisco, and
exhibited at Woodward's Garden. Mr..
Woodward paid S21, ,636.35 for it, and
afterward melted tho nugget, realizing
SIT, 94 from it.
A Mr.. Strain found large slab-shaped
gold quartz nugget near Knapp ranch,
half mile east of Columbia, Tuolumne
County, which weighed so pounds avoir-
dupois. After crushing and melting the
gold was valued at $500.
In 1S49 nugget was found at Sulli-
vans Creek, Tuolumne County, that
weighed % pounds avoirdupois.
In 1856, at French Ravine, Sierra
County, nugget was found which con-
tanned considerable quartz, but yielded
$4,000, while another was found at an
earlier date, in 1851, the gold from
which was valued at $4,000.
In the year 1867, at Pilot Hill, Ell
Dorado County, bowlder of gold quartz
was found which yielded in gold $4,000.
Several other bowlders of smaller size
were found in the same claim. The
bowlders were found in what is known
as the bowlder gravel claim, immedi-
ately west of the Pilot Hill post-ofiice.
A Mr.. Virgin and others found mug
get on Gold Hill, Tuolumne County,
which weighed $50 ounces and was val-
ued at about SO, 500.
In 1854 mass of wood weighing 800
ounces and valued at S6,62 was found
at Columbus, Tuolumne County.
1t has been reported that a nugget
weighing 266 ounces, and valued at
S., 600, was found at Minnesota. Sierra!
County.
In 1850 a piece of gold quartz was
found in French Ravine, Sierra County,
which contained 2j3 ounces of gold,
worth S4,S93.
1t has been reported that French
man found nugget of gold in Spring
Gulch, Columbia, Tuolumne County,
which was nearly pure gold, being worth
more than $1,000. The finder became
insane the next day and was sent to
Stockton. The French Consul recovered
the nugget, realized its value, and sent
the money to the finders family in
France.
On the 4th day OF August, 1858, Ira A.
Willard found on the west branch of
Feather River nugget weighing "a
pounds avoirdupois before and 491G
pounds after melting.
A gold nugget was found, date not
given, near Kelsey, El Dorado County,
which sold for S4,7O0.
In 1876 j. d. Colgrove, of Dutch Flat,
Placer County, found white quartz
bowlder in the Polar Star hydraulic
mine which contained S5,76O worth of
gold.
1t has been reported that nugget of
pure gold was found in the middle fork
of the American River, two miles from
Michigan Bluff, in the year 1864, which
weighed 226 ounces, and was sold for
S4,2O4. Another account of this nugget
states that the weight was 1877 ounces.
Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle.