The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1893-12-21
Our Regular Correspondents
Newsy Letter.
STRUCK A RICH SEAM OF GOLD ORE
Interesting Facts and Figures Re-
gartling that Rich Gold Country
Jack Wants to 60 and Fight
King LObengu1i i'll Company
With 25 or 80 MOntanians.
Regular Correspondence of THE MAIL.

received your letter few days ago had
mailed one to you the same day. but as
I feel like writing will answer your last,
or first rather. Am sorry to hear of the
disasters in America, as it is the only
country on earth that is worth claiming
as ones home. This could be made a
great country if the right people were
here, but the English want to hog every
thing and do nothing with it, and the
Dutch don't want anything themselves
and are determined no one else ehall
have anything. It is a terror here if
one wants wood to burn and sends boy
out and picks up an armful Of dead
wood that would lie on the ground and
rot he has to pay the government SIX
pence. The Dutch are enlightened, too,
as will be shown by the president saying
that he did not see why they wanted
railroad here; the bible did not say any
thing about railroads, and il God had
wanted people to have them he would
have said so in the bible.
There is going to be a big war just
north of the Transvaal. The Chartered
company will try and take Matabeleland.
It has started now, so 1 hear, but don't
think it will amount to much this sum-
will be some fighting. Lobenguli, king
10000 fighting men, and a great many of
them are armed with rifles, and it IS
rumored that the Dutch will help him
out. I see where one Dutchman says he
will go up with 1000 men, and the Dutch
are dangerous when they have their rifle
and are shooting at Engllshmen. Well,
the Chartered company is starting the
war with about 400 men. They are re-
cruit1ng as fast as they can. They give
volunteers a 4,000-acre farm, twenty
mineral claims, share Of cattle cap
| tured and five shillings per day. 1t is
a big country and the richest part Of
Africa. I have talked with men who
had been in the country and they all say
it is very rich in gold.
If our prospect don't turn out good |
shall try that country next fall. Would
like to start about May in company with
twenty-five or thirty Montana prospec-
tors. I would not mind going as a
volunteer if the Dutch don't 60 IN with
the natives, but one never wants to 60
up in front of a Dutchman, as they are
a sure shot at 1000 yards.
I see by the paper that lion got away
with two men few days ago about $50
miles north of here. One of them, it
appears, had lost the lion and was out
looking for him, but the lion found him
first and sprang on him from the tall
grass A native was with him and he
ran to camp and gaye the alarm. An
other man went out and the hon came
for him. While the beast was getting
away with the second man third man
came from camp and broke his neck with
bullet.
Joe Carleton Is in Johannesburg; have
not heard from him yet. Have not seen
Elijah Bergeron for some time He Is
working in mine.
Oct. 2l.-It rained all night and so far
all day, and the prospects are. good for
a week. I am not under ground yet, SO
can't work, and it is little lonesome.
Am getting along we'll with the Katfir
language. It is the best way to learn
ito be alone with them. They are not
as smart race as our Indians. They
can't make signs at all, and one hundred
Indians could whip thousand of them
If things don't loom up in Montana by
next spring get an outfit together and
we will take trip up to Matabeleland
Twenty-Five men armed with 4Ox82 or
45x9O Winchesters could do more work
than all the volunteers the Chartered
company will get. They don't fight like
Indians: they always make the attack at
daybreak and make rush in a body
winter it IS as healthy as Montana
There would be some fun and excite.
ment about it, too.
Don't you think you could get twenty
five or thirty together and bring plenty
of ammunition and reloading tools
That number of men can travel in this
country better than they could in the
west when it was bad. Matabeleland is
twice the size of Montana. Horses and
cattle will live sthere at all times, anC
there is plenty of timber.
Well, to-day Is the 23d; have beer
working in that drift spoke of and an
under ground about six feet It would
do your eyes good to see the rock I got
out to-day. Did not strike the ore til
this afternoon. It is about four inches
wide and I took out about 300 pounds
and there IS not piece the size Of YOU
thumb that you can't see gold in. Some
Of it is just 'lousy'' with gold. I vii
send you some good pieces inta day o
two. The rich ore is chute about 81,
feet long and four inches wide. It goe
down, I think, all right, and one can So
gold in all of it.
[ have not received the papers yet
Give my regards to all, and il anYon
thinks Of coming to this country tel
them to bring an American rifle wit
reloading tools and to be able to Ian
here with G10O at least and to start S
as to get here about May.
JACK HARTWELL