Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-25
HE DISCOVERED BRASS.

How Scientific Superintendent Know
Too Much for His Own Good.
The cousin Jack" gold mine in Ell
dorado County, Cal, was at one time a
prosperous claim that paid it's owners
large monthly dividends and gave every
promise of still more profitable future.
The owners had considerable trouble
with their superintendent, a burly Cor
n1sh miner, whose love of alcoholic
stimulants and pred;sposition to fight
were a source of constant annoyance.
AS often happens in gold mines the vein
was "pockety," being very rich in some
spots and barren in others.
1t was while running through one of
these barren streaks that "Big JIM"
the superintendent, became involved in
a dispute with the owners as to the
proper course to pursue to find the pay
chute again. Jim was very ugly, and
the owners, as was always the case when
a'horse" was encountered, were them
selves far from amiable. The outcome
was that Jim received his congo the day
following and a new super was in de-
raand.
No one about the camp being avail
able, l, being one Of the parties inter-
ested, set Off for San Francisco in search
OF the man we wanted. I found him
sooner than i expected. He was not a
practical miner, but had, he said-aud
his letters of recommendation seemed
to back up his statements thorough
scientific knowledge of gold ores, was
an expert chemist and assayer-in short,
was almost ready to state that he could
make the mine profitable whether the
gold was in the rock or not.
1 forthwith engaged the services Of
this man of science, and we were soon
at the mine, where Mr.. jackson, my new
acquisition, was duly installed as super
intendent We had paid "Big Jim" $50
month, but Jim was only practical
miner and not scientist, so we could
not, in all conscience, offer Mr.. jackson
less than a fifty-dollar advance on Jim's
salary.
Look here" remarked one of the
partners to me one day after our new SUI
perintendent had been with US about
week. II don't think that that new
scientific mining expert of yours knows
any more about mine than Piute In
diam" l was obliged to admit that
myself had grave doubts on the subject.
Mr.. Jackson obtained some remark
able assays from rock that wouldn't
show ''color" in the pan, and when l
sought to pin him down to any definite
question as to the value Of ores he gave
cvasive answers. He was certainly an
expert at lodging questions if at moth
ing else.
IN the meantime "nig Jim" had
begged hard to be taken back, promising
all manner of good conduct
II dom know nothin' about them air
assays" said ne, 'but yer kin bet yer
life knows good rock when 1 sees it,"
Jim was particularly severe on our new
superintendent, claiming that he (Mr.
Jackson) couldn't tell gold mine from
brass kettle. In this Jim was right,
as the sequel will show.
Shortly after this Mr.. Jackson came
rushing over to the cabin one morning
with number Of bright pieces of metal
in his hand. Was it possible, thought
!, that r1cn pocket mad peen 1ound2
"What's the matter, Jackson2" I
asked.
you've got the richest mine in the
world, SIR" said be. "Look at these
bits of metal They wcro knocked down
ct tho last blast. I've tested them and
they're nine hundred fine at least"
''Why, you tarnation fool" broke in n
voice over my shoulder, that's BRASS"
1t was Jim who spoke. He had owl
IDENTIFY put no a job on our new superin-
tendent, though where he got the Jumps
of brass from | never learned. He was
soon back in his old position, however,
and Mr. jackson was seen no moro in
those parts. L haven't heard Of or from
him since.
The "Cousin Jack" paid we'll for about
aycar after that and was thon abandoned.
n. Y. Herald.
ar,RAsiAoaS