The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-15
STRUCK a BONANZA.
Story of Prospecting In the Early Days
Mining In New Mexico.

| S'oAy Va III inc I.urly lays oil
Mining In New Mexico.
No one ever heard of Il bonunza that
was discovered in plain. mattcr-of.
fact way. a mine which is rich enough
to have stories told about it is always
stumbled on in the most unexpected
manner, and not unusually there is Il
bit of the weird and uncanny thrown in
to give additional interest to the nara.
ton. Thus writer relates how, In the
summer of 1867, while he was looking
for a stray horse in the famous San
Juan county, in New Mexico, he STUN
blcd upon one of the richest mines ever
found III that territory. His story is MS
follows:
Descending one OF tho lofty peaks 1
was soon Enclosed in beautiful can
yon which led out to Ute creek. here
met two miners preparing to explore
an old mine, or rather II worllcd-ou
mine, They asked me to join them, to
which asscntcd and started with them
to- explore the mine. This mine was
about two miles away and soon we
were there. Arrived ut the mine, and
Judging from the dump of country rock
plled up it was either a very rich mine
or no mine ut all. No signs of ore were
on the outside dump. An open cut was
at an incline of forty-fivc degrees
we entered and were soon in what
enc would suppose to be IL cave Cam
dies were lighted and IL general search
followed. The formation was por-
phyry, and, Judging from the
gouging done, it was apparent
that great quantities of precious
metal had been taken out. There were
no timbers, and the only support was
one large pillar left in about the center
of the workings, about four feet in da-
meter at the center making the out
look very dangerous. l was about to
get out on account of few pieces of
wallsa'ock giving way from the pillar,
when | was called back by one of the
miners. He had discovered 4 streak of
solid gold running through the center
of the pillar 'and about two inches
thick. AT this time 1 rctraccd my steps,
and there, with candle in trembling
hands, stood two excited men pointing
out the pure yellow gold. For n mo-
mcnt was unable to speak. One OF
the miners said to me: We'll, don't
you see it?'
Yes said I, pointing to the cell
ing, and don't you see the trap set for
us?'
Course the trap This is death
against gold Meanwhile had fin
gcrcd around the gold, when part of
the pillar gave way, cXtinguishing the
lights We found our way ont safely,
and then we planned to get the pillar
without icopardizing our lives. de.
clined having anything to do with the
affair unless could get an outside Job.
This, OF course. WAS out Of the cues
ton, as there was only one sack of ore
to be removed. SO | was considered
out of it, which was only too glad to
accept. My companions then entered
with horn spoon and small pole
pick and were soon ut work. Shortly
they came out, and, picking up an old
coffee sack used for a saddle blanket.
re-cntcred the mine. They were very
soon out again. They had cut the pill
lar and filled their sack. Then came a
grand handshaking on their success.
The sack was opened. Never in nv
life did behold such Sight. A coffee
sack full of nuggets!
II was told to pick out the finest
specimens for my own use, which did.
1t was piece as large as my fist and
contained Sl50in gold Camp was made,
matatc procured and grinding at once
commenced. lttooll six days to reduce
it to pulp, the grinding being done by
hand. Then the pulp was washed out
III prospecting pan. The gold was
mostly coarse and very bright The
tine Did required amalgamating There
being no quicksilver the remaining pulp
was taken to Taos and there amalga-
mated The proceeds of that sack of
ore melted OBI ounces Of gold, amount
ing to Sl5, 900 in coin.
Il returned to Santa Fc month later
ana learned that a great mining discov-
cry had been made at the identical SPOT
where we had found the gold. Tucson
Citizen