Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19

outcropping of the marvellous lode. Itwas a bee
OF black sulphide of silver. The men did no
know what it was, but tried it for gold ant
| were astonished to find the bottoms Of theil
rockers covered with the yellow stuff, which
they were soon taking out at the rate of 81 ,00t
day "Old Pancake Comstock, another
| prospector. so called because he fed on pan
| cakes chiefly. claimed and secured n share in
the property. They all were in the habit o.
heartily cursing the internal blue sand, which
subsequently proved 10 be silver ore. which
ciogged the rockers. The lannon's big
Bonanza" was a slice of ore. yearly half silver,
300 feet in width and of unknown depth ex-
| tending across the Comstock lode. For many
years past it has yielded from 5000 to 81 600 0
ton
HARD LUCK OF p1scovERERa
Good luck seldom attends those who discover
mines Comstock sold his share of the lode for
Sli,o00, went broke and blew his brains out.
U Riley disposed of his slice for ESQ, 900, lost
the money and went TO prosp' citing again.
be became insane and thought he heard voices
! IN the rocks prattling OF great creyices hlied
| with pure silver and caverns lined with gold.
Finally he was shut up in a lunatc asylum.
| "Old virginia Fennimore who located claim
\ on the lode and gave his name to virginia
| City, baptizing it with bottle of whisky, was
! thrown while drunk by bucking mustang and
killed. One Of the richest men now at Aspen,
| Col. ID. C. r. Brown. purchased for
$50 feet of lumber one-third OF mine worth
at present sl.500, 900 year. Another discovery
\ worth mentioning was made by two men VINO
| were grub staked by ex-senator Tabor, this ar
rangement siguifying that Tabor supplied
| them with provisions and was to be entitled to
one-half of whatever they might find They at
once proceeded to get very drunk ana con-
Guided that it would be just as well to sink a
hole on Fryer Hill, Leadville, although there
| was no sign of a prospect. At the depth OF few
| feet they struck the famous ore body OF the
Little Pittsburg mine.
William Wright better known as Dan de
| guile, tells a remarkable story OF young
| matrons adventure in Virginia City, which Is
built directly over the mines OF the Comstock
lode. She went to the well in her dooryard
one morning to draw some water and let the
bucket go down ''by the run" The instant the
bucket struck the water out dropped the whole
| bottom of the well. Every drop Of water in
| where it had been but a black and yawning
| chasm in which dangled the bucket The lady
rushed back into the house.
What did tell your cried she to her hus-
band. Il knew that the men who dug that
well were taking no pains with their work"
What is the natter" asked her spouse.
Matter? Matter enough! The bottom has
dropped out of the WE'LL
Bottom dropped out of the we'll u exclaimed
the husband, surprised.
"Ies, the bottom has dropped out OF the
well, and am not one bit astouished. knew
when saw the men putting the bottom in the
we'll that II would never be Of any account"
FOR RACKS OF MIRRORS
Silver has one interesting use that is very
little known about. Nearly all good mirrors
are backed with it. and not with mercury, as
is generally supposed. Before it is put on the
glass has to be cleaned with the utmost care.
Everything depends on that. because if it is not
perfectly clean the metal will flake off. Finally
the glass is laid with its back down in a bath
OF eel, ILL
| added, causing it to deposita film of chemic-
ally pure metal all over the surface. The
total product OF the silver mines of the world
from the year 1900 to the present time has
beer about 400. 900 pounds.
LAYING A MINE GHOST.
So many men have been killed in the mines
of the Comstock lode that all of them are SUP
posed 10 be more or less haunted by ghosts
4 very troublesome spook haunted the 700-foot
level of the Ophir mine for u long time. The
electric bells were continually and nnaccount-
ably rung. and persons set to watch at the
level were frig htened nearly out of their wits
by groans. shrieks, flashing lights and all sorts
of fearful things. This preplexed the electri-
clan of the mine not q little. One day, there
fore, when signals were coming from the
haunted level he took dark lantern and went
down to that point.
Hardly had he stepped off the descending
cage before he was saluted with an awful groan.
Advancing into the drift binding light
flashed into his eyes, and he heard low, CUR
Cling laugh that almost froze the blood in his
veins. Nevertheless, he advanced toward the
laugh, throwing the light of his dark lantern
before him along the drift, but it was empty
Far away, however. he heard groans, and then
a fearful shrek. Pushing on and flashing his
light this way and that, he pursued the ghost
Time and again the light WIS flashed in his eyes
and the low, mocking laugh was heard; but,
however quickly he might turn his own light in
the direction whence came the sound, he could
see nothing. A moment later the whole mine
would seem to be lighted up in the distance and
the laugh would be heard far away.
Did he attempt to advance, the light flashed
in his face from some nook near at hand and
a shrek was uttered almost at his side. Be-
coming desperate, the electrician charged about
at random through the level, flashing his
lantern in all directions. At length his light
fell upon man just as the latter was making
into the mouth OF an old drift. Keeping his
light upon the spot. the electrician rushed for
ward and found his man croucbed behind some
timbers. Being caught. the fellow rose up and
coolly said, We'll, you don't scare worth a
lantern which he had been flashing In the face
Of the electrician. and be owned to having a
confederate similarly equipped.
RATS As MAscoTs.
Mines are always filled with rats The miners
never kill or moles: them, aud therefore they
become quite tame and saucy, living well on
the fragments OF the workmen's lunches. They
are really Of great service, inasmuch as they
devour all scraps of meat and bones thrown
upon the ground. When there is about to be a
great cave-in In mine the rats give the miners
their first warning. They become uneasy and
are seen scampering about in an unusual
manner. 1t is supposed that in the begin
ming OF the settling they are pinched in
| their holes and haunts by the waste rocks and
timbers, being thus obliged to 60 forth in
search Of new quarters. A fire in q mine
kills them by thousands. Poisonous gases gem
Grated by combustion penetrate to every part
of the levels and drifts, and not a rat is le It
alive. Sometimes after such a catastr ophe
they are gathered up on the floors BY bushels
In trying to jump across the main shaft rat
occasionally miscaiculates the distance and
| tumbles to the bottom. Falling 1000 feet and
| striking a miner on the head it is sure to knock
the man down.
DETECTING RICH STRIKE.
When strike in mine is learned Of and
a strict secrecy is maintained by the owners
| then the mining reporter has a chance to dis
play his genius. On one such occasion a bright
youth got information that was worth money
In a very curious fashion. He ioitered about
| tho closed works until the superintendent came
| out and changed his clothes, throwing aside
his muddy boots and clay-besmeared Overalls
| and shirt Watching his chance the hungry
| seeker after news darted into the
1 dressing room and with bis ;acbIn,fa