Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-17
NUGGETS ON THE ALTAR.
One or the Stories Told of the ong
 Lost Mines Of Arizona.

one or the stories Told Of the oug.
 Lost Mines of Arizona.
 From the Arizona Epterprise.l
 The legends of lost mines of fabulous wealth in Pima county are almost number less, and, it might be truthfully added, generally mythical The old-timers can tell of them by the hour, and few have been shown glittering evidences in confir- nation of the wonderful tales reluctantly recited with superstitious dread of the consequences of their peridy by almost superannuated Indians and Mexicans
 That the precious metals are mined on gigantic scale in the dim past the many re- maining evidences already discovered fully verify, yet the investigation of those that chance has revealed has seldom proved financially successful. Old arrastras, cov- cred with the decay of centuries, and crude smelling furnaces that have almost re- turned to the dusty destiny of all matter, speak of industries once in active operation that history, and even aboriginal tradition, fails to mention
 Some of the traditions told sound like fairy tales. and one, however skeptical, can nos but become deeply interested in their recital. As a sample of the highly plausi- ble, well-authentieated, and extremely se- ductive narratives, one related by Charles o. Brown of this city may be received with interest.
 Speaking of old mines," ssid Mir. Brown, 'I have spent great deal of time and money in hunting up clues, and one of them was actually found, and can % to it any time. Out in the Silver Bell country I can take you to a mountain so full of tun- nels and shafts that, if they were in good and safe condition, you could travel through all day long and not reach the end. A mum bers of old-timers have visited it, and, ,judg- ing from the vast work done there so long ago, they concluded that a great mine of some kind existed there, which had likely been worked out. Many times has it been located, and though its walls, roof, and floor were carefully scanned and sampled, the result, while showing some gold, was discouragiug, assays showing from a trace up to several dollars per ton.
 Many years ago I talked with an old Pspsgo Indian, with whom I was on very friendly terms, having often extended him little favors, about the gold and silver mines. In burst of confidence he told me that great many years ago, when he was Q very small boy. the Indians at San Xavier del Bac made weekly trips to a very rich gold mine. On Saturday night they returned with the product of their toil The priest in charge Inf the mission kept a small table in front of the altar, covered with s white cloth, upon which the pious toilers placed their metallic offerings to the church. This tAbl. was often covered with golden nuggets varying in size from a pea 10 One's fist, and it was a rich sight. After the usual service the priest would descend, and as he picked up each precious ii. k f.s. .t- -N donor, and aft-rwArd would call them for ward to receive the special blessing of heaven. On the following Monday they would again take np their march in s north westerly directioa far the mines. and for a very long time this was repeated until the priests wrre driven uut uf the country, when they abandoned mining entirely. ''Ths ola Indian had at one time gone with the miners. who followed a we'll beat en trail toward the Silver Bell country, and he saw them take ont the gold. He agreed 10 show me the place, and out of curiosity l Sen; a man with him one day. They went out to the old mine have spoken of in Silver Bell country, and when they reached a certain gnlch the Indian pointed 10 the top of the mountain and said be would find a shaft there, covered with cat-claw bush- es, ont of which the most gold was taken. The man found everything just As the old Indian told him, but long disuse had filled up the shaft until it was nearly full. ''On returning the old Indian could not be found. He had gone ahead, and was not met for several days. He then said he did not dare to show the mine to the white people, and protested that he did not show it for fear the great spirit would take his life. He ssid the white man had found il, but he did not show it.
 ''I visited the mine nfterEard, but the work necessary to clean ont the shaft was too great and too expensive to undertake, and it has never been touched
 ''The formation is singular one, and samples ot the white rock sent to Califor- mia were pronounced an exceedingly fine quality of ksolin. such as fine porcelain ware is made of. Through il were streaks of iron rust, and it is likely the gold was l found in them. Whether it will ever pay for the necessarily expensive exploration and prospecting is quite doubtful, but there | is gold to be found there."