Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-12-25
'ERY OF THE
CHAMBER.
BRIDAL

From the Sierra County Advocate.
The discoverer OF gold in California
died comparatively poor man, as did
also the discoverer OF silver in Colo
RADIO, the discover OF iron on Lake
Superior, and likewise nearly all other
discoverers, not excepting even the
famous discoyercr OF America. In
deed that some philanthroplst has not
long ago suggested the institution Of
home for discoverers might well be
wondered at, when it is considered
that these men as a rule seldom bens-
flt from their work and are inyaribly
iispossessed. But the discovery busl-
ness has its advantages, however, and
far be it from the purpose OF the Ad-
vocate to bellttle any OF them. The
discovercr Of gold in California will
have a statue, and the finder Of
America a Worlds Fair, 80 that In
the foregoing paragraph we desire
only to prepare the reader for what to
him might under other conditions be
4 very astonishing statement-name-
", that the discoyerer of silver In
Lake Valley, George W. Lufkin, is
not an extremely wealthy man. TO
the contrary he is obliged to work for
the urual wages to maintain himself,
and lives ina rude stone cabin rather
than gilded palace. He has how
ever, been 4 great benefactor, many
times greater than he who makes two
blades Of grass grow where only one
grew before, and should and perhaps
really does enjoy more comfort in such
proud distinction than the possession
OF enormous wealth might possibly af-
ford him. A few minutes walk from
town brings one to his cabin, whore
the visitor Is sure to meet cordial
miners greeting. Lufkin is now a
man in the sixties, well preserved
physically and as alert in movement
rs most men at thirty-1Ye. He tells
the story OF his discovery which at
tracted the whole mining world quite
readily, and it is as simple as stories Of
like nature usually are.
II was frsighting trip or two be-
tween Mesilla and Hiltsboro for a
man named Gibson" said he, "and
while passing through here in Aug
ust, 1878, became faVorably impressed
with the appearance Of the country
and concluded to prospect it for min
cral. Consequently, one morning
shortly asterward threw saddle on
one OF my horses jumped; into It and
was soon prospecting the hill yonder,
In less than three hours uas re-
warded by finding several outcrops OF
silver ore. Knocking of some sam
pies and putting them in my pocket l
rsturned to Hillsboro and gave them
to Joe Yankee, an, assayer, to teIt for
me. These specimens ran from
So, 900 to SO, $50 in silver to the ton.
or course was highly elated and re-
turned to Lake, locating the Lincoln
and Stanton claims. Shortly after
ward went in partnership with John
A. Miller, now OF Grant county, and
together we located two claims more,
making four in all. Notwithstanding
the fact that my samples had yielded
90 we'll and We were taking out silver
from every cut we made, black-capperf
. in TIillsboro and Silver City we're on
the alert and did much l tell you &c
weaken Millers confidence in the new
Vocation. They referred to the find al
only blister and dubbed me mere
crank, while all this time we were
running cuts directly toward the
famous Bridal Chamber and the orr
was growing richer and more plentiful
at every foot
For nearly two years Lufkin wa
the only white resident Of tle camp
IIssecured his supplies at Georgetown
and Silver City. carrying them K
camp on a pack-saddle. lie carried
water for cooking pnf?oses from th'
lake and for drinking use fr3m Crysta
Springs, both places being about
4 mlleand half distant. Ills trips 70
fresh provisions and fer waite
: were usually made az Aight th