The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1893-11-22

about the probable silver deposits in
the Wichita mountains, situated in the
Chickasaw nation, that in order TO fur
nish its readers with reliable informa-
ton on the subject TnE LEADER dc
tailed an expert I'm mining 10 visit
those mountains for the purpose OF
determining whether or not they held
in their fastnesses silver in sufficient
Quantities to make it profitable TO
open and operate there. The follow
ing is his report:
WICHITA MOUNTAINS
CHICkAsAW NATION. NOV. l9. 1875.
Special 10 the Leader
Through the courtesy of the Indian
police have spent six days Of unin
terrupted examination Of these noun
taius At various points along their
north side and center find numerous
shafts and other evidences of mining
industry that evidently antedates the
Louisiana purchase from the French by
this government, but it was not until
had reached their south western slope
we're the evidences unmistakable that
the solitude Of these hills was broken
by the clang Of the pick and shovel in
the hands of sturdy Spanish miners
hundreds Of years ago Here are seen
many broad and deep shaft from
which the glittering ore was raised TO
the surface, ancient smelling works,
with their heavy stone foundations
well defined prove beyond question
that mining operations were carried
on here many generations ago. Now
let us see Il Spanish history throws
any light on the question. From a
pamphlet written in 1867 by Spanish
monks find tina. mining operations
were carried on in these mountains by
the Spaniards from 1857 until about
1870, during which time over 81 C9J,OJ0
was taken out and shipped 10 Spain.
The discovery OF silver a. this point,
as also at several other points TO the
east, happened ia this wise: In l6i7,
when the entire country west Of the
Mississippi river was under the con
troll OF the Spanish crown, a number
Of Spanish monks OF the Franciscan
order came over from Spain and set
tied at Matagorda bay in Texas. These
monks took upon themselves the task
OF civilizing and Christianizlng the In
dians, and 10 that end, aided by the
Spanish exchequer, they commenced
the erection OF a Gordon Of mission
buildings, many Of which ar still to
be seen in Texas, Arizona and New
Mexico, which were used for the dou-
BILE purpose of fortifcations and
churches 1t was while the work Of
building these missions was In prog
ress that the Indians employed in the
work were questioned by the monks
as To the manner in which they pro
cured tie silver worn by them as or
naments of various descriptions and
upon learning that it was found in
abundance at distance of eight days
TO the north the fact was reported to
the Spanish government, aud large
number Of Spanish miners, with min
ing machinery, were sent 20 this coun-
try, and under the guidance OF In
dians crossed the country from Mata-
gorda bay TO these mountains, where
they opened mines, which they op-
Grated most successfully for many
years, and until driven out Of the
country 10y hostile Indians. The pam
phlet report, as made by these monks
before referred TO- states that the cost
Of the various missions built by them
cost the Spanish crown over 81, 600, 900,
s5, 900, 600 of which was reimbursed by
the products Of the mines in these
mountains.
The Indians OF to-day have well de-
fined traditions relating To the enor-
nous amount OF the precious metal
taken from these mountains, and, be-
lievlng as they do that they still con
tain untold wealth in silver and gold,
the whites are not allowed 10 explore
them except by the permission Of the
Indian police, and then only when ac-
companied by Indian guides.
The evidences of extensive mining
operations at different point, show
most conclusively that silver in album
dance is to be found here aud that
these hills will be forced to disgorge
their wealth as soon as the footstep of
progressive civilization swecDs over
them
1 was told by an old French resident
living near Duncan TO the north OF
these mountains that Colonel j. II
Wheeler of Montana, in company with
several other miners. entered the fast
nesses of these mountains in 1876, dur
ing which time they made excava-
tions at points where the old spanish
smelling works are situated and were