Fergus County argus., 1891-10-15
The M0CCASIN MINES.
A District Rich in Gold, Sill
yer, Copper and
Lead.
Fully 200 Locations Made Within
a Year and the Majority
Looking Well.
VALUABLE PLACER GROUND.

VALUABLE PLACER GROUND.
On last Thursday afternoon the editor of
| the ARGUS, in company with DIR. DAILY, left
Lewistown for the now famous mining dis
trict OF the North Moccasin mountains.
Reaching Buchanan Bros place about five
| O'Clock in the evening, were given a
hearty greeting by those sturdy mountain
eers and invited to unhitch and put up for
the night, but being destined for the camp
OF Arnold and Riser. we made only "A brief
stop. Reaching the camp of helatter in n
few minutes, we were gratiiied to learn hat
we were Just in time for supper. The same
cordiaIity which is characteristic OF the
prospector WAS again manifest. Assisted
with our team we were soon ready to par
take of a meal that would have been rel
ished by frequenter of Delmonico's. As
Messrs. Arnold and Riser, with u party
from town, had spent the day on Warm
Springs hunting chickens and ga altering buck
berries were fortunate enough to sit
down to a chicken supper prepared by Mr..
Riser. Supper was followed by resort to
pipes, cigars and stories of various fiavors
until bed time when some remained in the
cabin to sleep, while others chose the shady
side OF a hay stack. We woke up with hay
seed in our hair.
On Friday morning, with Tom Riser as
our guide, we started across the range for
/ the head M PInnn craaE tn limo in ba
iority of the most promising claims on our
way.
| The first prospect reached back of the
cabin is the Hill Grove, property of Arnold
and Riser. The ore is lead carbonate, and
the float shows a width of fifty feet. But
little work has been done on the claim.
Farther up the mountain we came to the
Anderson, owned by the same parties.
Here there is considerable good ore on the
dump, though the shaft is not over 30 feet
in depth. Ore from this prospect has as.
sayed high as s27O per ton in silver.
The owners will run tunnel 200 feet to
tap the lead during the coming winter The
ore is free smelling.
Not far from the Anderson is the North
Star, a fine prospect, carrying both gold
and silver, but as yet little work has been
done. It is owned by the Buchanan Bros
The Southern Cross is another good
showing which belongs to the same parties.
| The ore is lead carbonates. There il con.
siderable ore on the dump. Assays from
this prospect have gone as high as 20 to sc
ounces in silver, and so to 40 in lead.
The Squint Eye and Thunderbolt, owned
Inv
the best showings in the district, and assay
well in gold and silver. The former has a
40 foot tunnel and Sc foot shaft; the latter
60 foot shaft and 20 foot tunnel.
Near the head of Mcclure gulch is located
the wonderful prospect known as the Co
lumbian, owned by George Mcclure. Fol
many years placer gold has been taken
from this gulch in paying quantities, vary
ing only with the supply OF water for wash
ing out the gold. 1t was always supposed
that the placer gold came from a rich lead
somewhere in the gulch, bnt just where re
manned a mystery until something over 8
year ago. when Mr.. Mcclure by carefully
panning the dirt along the rim of the gulch
located what he believed to be the lead
He commenced work, and every shot anc
every stroke of the pick verified his judg
: ment, and although no great amount o
work has been done, there is i'm the neigh
borhood of goo tons of ore on the dump
and large quantity in sight. There ar
two openings on the property; one is il
about 30 feet, the other about 90; the lat
ter was made to ascertain the width of the
ore body. but was unsuccessful. Both tun
nels are in quartz, making face OF over 81
? feet OF ore. The float can be traced Coz
feet up and 900 down the mountain. Mr.
Mcclure intends to sink shaft 100 feet a,
] the mouth of the openings to get below tn
j ore body. Assays from the ore dump ar
5 said to be very rich just what figures W
a were unable to ascertain. 1t is fine look
5 ing prospect, and il put under development
: would no doubt be paying property a
e once, either for shipping or operating
] mill.
e The Iron Clad, owned by John wertz, i
e also ii promising prospect. This propert
e lies on the east side OF the mountain, an
y is in granite formation. 1t has shat
e down So feet, and is equipped with hoistin
= works. There is considerable ore on tn
y dump, which assays at good figure.
= Sheridan & Spencer have several valuabl
claims at the head of Dog creek, whic
{ show up well in both gold and silver.
PLUM CREEK.
On Plum creek Arnold and Riser hav
two fine prospects, called the Dayton an
Union City. Ore from the former carrie
copper, silver and gold, assays from whic
: show I6 per cent copper, IL ounces OF si
: yer, and a trace Of gold. The latter has
40 foot shaft. The ore vein is large an
. very rich. Assays show 66S per cent cor
per and 2s ounces in silver. The ore bod
is constantly widening with development
There is a large quantity OF good millin
ore on the dump.
At the head Of the creek is some ric
placer ground. the property of Buchans
Bros. The ground was worked during tn
past summer by Messrs. Schaefer an
Mauer. the owners realizing percentage
The ground paid well while water wa
, plentiful.
h IRON CREEK.
l. In the gulch through which this cree
flows is the home Of the Buchanan Bros