The morning call., 1893-03-16
FIRED LUCK AT HIM.
An Enemy's Cannon Ball
EnriCi1es Maxwell.
1T UNCOVERED GREAT WEALTH
Mine Was Located in
Chile.

'The richest of the rich." said Expert
Crowell.
Beats the Candelaria mine all hollow"
remarked Al Cooper. secretary Of the Mar
tin White.
"Tne Silver King never produced such
rich ore as that" observed another by
stander.
The cause of these enthusiastic remarks
was specimen of natural Chilean silver
ore from the Ovija mine in North Chile.
which Mr.. l.. Il. Maxwell, superintendent
of the Oyija Consolidated Mining Company,
was exh biting to a crowd of interested ex-
perts on Montgomery street yesterday after
noon.
Il have an interesting story that 1 can
tell you about a mine which am going to
open up In Chile" said MIR. Maxwell few
minutes later to n CALL reporter.
II am in California for the purpose Of
purchasing suitable machinery to work a
mine which l discovered in the most re-
markable manner.
Mote this specimen" continued the gen.
tleman, producing a grayish piece Of ore
s:rcaked with white quartz-llke veins.
That, sir, is a specimen of outcropping
broken off by a cannon ball.
You smile ineredulously? Well, my
story is not fiction; permit me to relate 1t
to you.
81 was travelling In North Chile during
the recent revolution and had occasion to
visit the country contiguous to the nitrate
fields.
The bloody battle of Pozo Almonle had
Just Few days previously been fought aud
the forces of both the COngressionalists and
the Balmaredans were scattered in dis
Jolnted regiments and bauailons over an
area covering hundreds of square miles.
II thought 1t better. 10 avoid unpleasant
contact With these undlscipllned troopers,
to hire guide and move to the south over
the coast COTdllleTas. in the direction OF
Iacna or some other port south of lqulque.
II started with pretty lOnS caravan, my
party being augmented by the addition Of
Mr.. Samuel Ewing, London capitalist,
and jerome CARRIER of New York, news
paper correspondent.
I'VE encountered several detachments of
General Urrutina's artillery, and once while
our mule train was cHmDering labOriUusly
over some rocky ledges a puff of white
smoke suddenly formed on the brow of an
elevation of land about one-QuaTter Of q
mile away, and a cannOn-bal struck the
rocks directly in front Of our yequa madrina,
Or bell-mule.
the shot struck violently, scattering bits
OF rock in all directntss and tearing piece
OF the ledge away near its surface.
The insurgent artlllerist mad taken US
for enemies.
Being curious to observe more closely the
effects of this solid shot on the ledge l dis
covered that it had exposed rich vein of
silver and groupings.
II took note Of the location and some
months after the war was over was able to
locate 1t again, not, however, Till | had
almost given up IN despair of ever finding it.
with the aid of several Chilean capital
lists | sank shaft in the hin, at the base of
which my silver bearing ledge was exposed,
"A ttpr pOiuu dawn ON faaf w. CT ba
mother lode, and the richness of the ore
taken therefrOm is equal to If not greater
than that of the celebrated Ovja mine.
The only difficulty in working this piece
OF property Will be in the scarcity of water
which Will have to be piped for miles.
mo one has any idea of the vast amount
of mineral wealth in North Chile" con-
tinued Mr.. Maxwell.
tIhe natives still operate in a primitive
fashion, and do not know good mine when
they see one.
"They turn all their attention and capital
to the working of copper ore. There Is an
old saying among the Chileans that II you
want to lose your money, but II in silver
mine; If you wantt0 lose half of II, put it in
gold mine; but If you want TO make
money, invest it in a copper mine,' and
upon this principle they work almost ex-
elusively.
IAN amusing incident occurred during
my visit TO the mineral districts Of the south.
- 4iaN hloIuhSAGH Muub u6 sup
posed was copper mine. He sank a shaft
down few feet and struck vein Of ore
which looked very much like copper
He Immediately impaired the news of
his discovery to an Englishman, who, upon
examination of the property. discovered
that the supposed coppervein was nothing
at all; but directly under it was q rich
strata of gold-bearing quartz.
The Brlon purchased the claim for a
copper mine, paying small price, but SUBJ
sequenty developed one Of the richest gold
properties in the province.
This goes TO show tile average mining
knowledge of the Chilean peon"
Mr.. Maxwell declares that there is a vast
field for American capital in Chile.
The working of Chilean mines by Amer
lean capitalists" said he, "is consumma.
ton devOutly TO be wished"