The morning call., 1893-02-15
GOLDEN FLEECES.
A Rich Placer Discovered
i'm Arizona.
Results of a Consignment of Wool to
This Market-A Rich Sheep-Owner
Becomes a Miner.

Some time ago a prominent firm Of CON-
mission merchants received a large cOnsign-
ment OF wool from a wool-grower in the
central part Of Arizona. Like all wool
from that State it was of fine quality and
staple, but very heavy, much more so than
the wool raised in localities where rain is
more frequent. Dust and dirt is contracted
by the sheep in their search fer fodder and
can only be got rid of when the wool is
secured in the strongest lye it will bear.
This particular consignment was from the
ranch of r. Gal!egos. resident Of Ell Fra
cateIlo. a hamlet of Maricopa County. some
forty miles north Of Phenix. Galle9o's
focks number about 10000 in all, but only
portion of the wool from these. or about
10000 pounds, was sent TO this market,
where Ii arrived last August
The heavy shrinkage of the consignment
deferred the purchasers from handling 1t
and il was not Until after the 1st OF Jam
uary that securing establishment on Fifth
street decided upon its purchase as specu-
latiOn.
The wool was duly delivered and paid for
and large number of graders put to work
preparing it for cleaning. This operation
uecessltated the handling of every fleece,
which is first united and then spread upon
a table when the ifferent grades, which are
always TO be found in every fleece of wool,
are carefully separated aud thrown into
different piles, whence 1t is taken 10
the scourer. In this process of handling the
wool large percentage of the dust which
clings TO il falls upon the table and Is then
swept 10 the floor and afterward burned.
A glitter in tie dirt attracted the notice OF
one of the graders one day and he spoke to
the others about il. Another one observed
the same thing, and then another, who be-
gan 10 speculate as to the cause. One who
had been a miner had his suspicious
aroused. but said nothing. only uDon his
departure from the s0rting-rO0m be quietly
took pound or two of the dirt and sub
jected it to a primitive test. His suspicious
were verified. The gliStenlng particles
were gold without doubt
In the morning the sorter called the atten-
ton of MessTs. Mcclellan and Flint TO the
occurrence, who also instituted 9n inyestl-
cation, ana who arrived at the same sur
prisng conclusion. They accordingly or
dered that all the refuse from this partlcu-
lar lot of wool should be preserved. and
when the whole lot of wool had been han
died hey found themselves with a pile Of
dirt weighing about 5000 pounds. Another
test was made and gold was found az be-
fore. and after the whole pile had been
treated By an assayer fetal OF ~ ounces
of fine gold was secured.
letter was then sent TO the conslguee of
the wool. Mr.. Gallcgos, at Ell Fracatello.
acquainting him with the facts. aud the re-
ply from that gentleman has just been re-
ceived. The letter is of jublant tenor.
and in il he gives particulars Of the sur
prising discovery which has resulted from
the finding of gold in the 1eeces. The par
ticuiar flock from which the wool sent to
San Francisco was known TO Mr.. Galleg0s.
and a careful search of the corrals and
stopping places OF the sheep in their search
for feed was instituted, and at a watering
place on a little creek. which flows through
that section of Arizona and empties into
the Salt River just above Phenix. were
found unmistakable indications OF very rich
placer mines.
1t had been the custom of the herder TO
rest his sheep at this point. where they lay
upon the ground, attracted by its eooliD z
moisture. aud In this way attached the loose
particles OF gold to their fleece.
Mr. GallegOS did not mention the exact
locality of the placers discovered In so ex-
traordnary manner, but congratulated
himself on his luck In sending the c0nsign-
ment to this market He further predicted
that the discovery would prove 10 be I'M
poTtant, as the prospect OF a large deposit
of gold was most encouraging. He had set
three men at work. and the yield so far had
proved surprisingly profitable.