The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-06
A MANIAC GUARDED rHz MINE
Struggle With a Crazy Man for the
Possession OF a Rich Gold Nine.
From the Netc York Re,nId

Struggle With a Crazy Man for the
Possession OF a Rich Gold Nine.
From the Netc York Herald
VIRGINIA CITY, NEv., July 3.-Walter
Hyde, an old prospeotor who has been look
ing over tho old mining districts Of this
state for the past year in hopes of finding
some paying vein Of ore which has been
overlooked, tells a story OF strange ad-
venture which happened to him a few weeks
ago and which has resulted in rich dis
covery. 1t happened while he was pros
peckinR in the Black Rock desert, on .he
northern end of Mud lake valley, a egion
whose desolateness is such that it is cal eu
the DEVILS Home" by the people In that
vicinity.
The few Indians who live along the edge
OF the valley claim that the place is the
abode Of devils, who will kill any one that
tries to live or work in toe desert
Hyde says that he has always found that
such stories are generally told by those who
wish to preserve a place from interference,
and Ii Is In such places that the richest
mines are usually found. He therefore
determined to make a thorough search Of
the Black Rock desert. Providing himself
with mis- usual outfits and, in addition, q
heavy rife, In case there should be some
thing there which needed killing, he began
In little valley, through which trickled
small stream Of pure water, he sat down
TO rest, and while lying on the ground he
thought he could discern an old trail leading
up the side of the creek. Following this he
reached an old shaft. and near by stood a
cabin, which had evidently been occupied
very recently. At the mouth OF the shaft
were evidences that some one had been
there short time before, and In the cabin
was pile of sacks which served for bed
for the inhabitant OF the hut Going 10 the
mouth Of the shaft he peered in, and as he
did 80 he felt q nervousness come over him,
as IL some one was watching him from the
cabin. Hastily retracing his steps he went
all around and through the place, but could
see no one He returned to the shaft and
began hauling up the rope which was at
tached to the old windlass AS be did 90 he
heard a noise behind him and turned Just in
time 20 see large man rushing at him with
an uplifted club. .-
Quickly lodging the blow aimed at his
head he struck the man with his rifle and
knocked him down. Before the weird
miner could recover Hyde had him bound.
An examination proved that the man was
of piece Of gunny sack which he had
girded about his loins. HIS long matted
hair and beard showed that he had been IN
his present condition for years. He could
not or would not talk, but struggled des-
perately to break his bonds. He refused
food at first, bus after Hyde had cooked a
piece Of venison and held the tempting bit
to his face he greedily devoured it. An in
vestigation showed that the poor miner
had evidently gone insane over the dis
covery of a rich lode, for the windlass was
over a shaft. which reached to a wonderfully
rich vein of gold bearing quartz Hyde
took the man to Winnemucca, where he
was cared for, but 1t is impossible to tell
who he is or where he came from. The
mine will be cared for, and should the poor
fellow recover be will be a rich man.
DIR. Moss OF the English polar expedition Of
1857. among many other things, tells Of the
strange effects OF the extreme cold upon the
candles they burn. The temperature was from
So to 500 below zero and the doctor says that
he was considerably discouraged when, upon
looking at his candle, he discovered that the
flame "had all 1t could do to keep warm" 1t
was so cold that the flame could not melt all Of
the tsllow of the candle, but was forced to eat
its way down, leaving a sort of skeleton candle
standing There was heat enough, however, to
melt odd-shaped holes in the thin walls Of tai
low, the result being beautiful lace-like cylin-
- /.