The morning call., 1894-05-06

Amador Creek. near Jackson, Amador County,
where they stopped and commenced to work
again. During his stay there Frank showed
the silver ore which he still had kept to gem
tleman from New York, who at once offered to
give him $500 for the mine If he would go and
show him where it was. Frank now took conn-
sci with his Mexican friend, who told him by
no means TO show the New York man anything
about 1t, and some day they would go over and
get 1t themselves. Frank, with two other Por-
tuguese, came 10 Sugar Loaf mining camp, in
EI Dorado County. about the first Of January.
1852. Frank continued to make this camp bis
home, and repeatedly told the writer, as we'll as
numbers of others, of his discovery OF rich
silver ore in Gold Canyon. Carson Valley, and
tried repeatedly to get some one TO 60 with him
ana secure the niue.
The wel-knOwn excitability Of all Mexicans
on the subject of silver mines. as we'll a gen.
eral disbelief in the existence Of any rich mines
on the east side of the mountains, prevented
Frank from obtaining any assistance until the
fall of 1885, when E. A. and I'll. b. GrOsh,
brothers, who were members of company
formed at Reading, Pa, that started early in
1849 In a sailing vessel for Tampico. Mexico.
There they obtained an outfit and crossed over
land to MaZatlan, on the Cult OF California.
whence they again sailed TO San Francisco, and
having the business OF the company settled I'D
the Grosh brothers started for the mines ana
commenced to work at Mormon Island. and
along the American River and Weaver Greek,
with varying but generally poor success Gas
their journal, now IN the possession OF the
writer. will prove). until the fall OF 1850, when
dry digglngs being discovered the Grosh BROTH
ers located on a Tavine between Big and Little
Sugar Loaf. and now known as Hise's ravine,
in what is known as Grosh's mining district, In
Mud Springs Township, Ell Dorado County
Here on the 18th day of August, 1851, the
writer first became acquainted with the Grosh
brothers. who. surrounded with cows, mules.
jacks and goats. were living at ease with
everything in plenty around them.
In the spring of 1852 they became involved
for partner aud were compelled to pay $500,
which lessened their means, and their health
not being good they found it rather hard to
make enough by their work to keen them com.
Portable and out OF debt. Here they remained
mining and ranching stock until the spring of
1854, when with the spirit OF adventure found
in ali early California miners, and with view
OF improving their health. they closed up their
establishment, packed their jack and each took
mule and went over the mountains 10 Carson
Valley on prospecting tour. During their
stay they were rather unsuccessful In mining.
and in the fail. their jack getting killed, by dis
posing of their mule they were enabled to settle
up their bills and obtain sufficient supply TO
bring them home again, where they arrived In
the fall somewhat improved in health. and
wiser if not richer men. They remained on
their ranch mining with varying success until
the fall of 1856, when Frank Antonio induced
them TO go over to Gold Canyon and take uD
the silver mine, the ore of which he had got IN
1850. They, 100. believing that heavy black
stone which they found near be forks of Gold
Canyon mighth also be silver, consented to go
and m ke the examination.
company of miners raised the money for
the outfit and expense, and the Gf0sh brothers
again crossed over to Carson Valley. In addi-
tion to their knowledge OF the country, they
look with them carefully prepared map or
diagram of the exact location where Frank had
found his ORE AS soon as they arrived and
fixed their camp they at once proceeded to the
spot designated on the map and by working
they soon opened and discovered the vein or
lode, and after thoroughly testing the valur OF
the ore they located the claim by putting up a
notice containing the names OF the members OF
their company. This mine was sold by Mr..
ComstOck, and is now known as the Ophir
mine. During the time they were operating at
this mine. in passing back and forth TO their
camp, which was down near the forks OF the
canyon, they discovered what they called the
Mammoth mine. and also another vein between
the Frank and the Mammoth, which they sup
posed TO be shoot or branch OF the frank or
Mammoth, they could not determine TO which.t
belonged. Not having time TO test and examine
these new mines they put up prospecting no.
tce for the company and recrossed the noun
taIns, arrived safely at home, bringing lot of
specimens from he different mines with them.
The company was now regularly organized
by the election of a PRESIDENT E. A. Grosh, a
secretary, Warner Crow, and treasurer. John
NJ. Butler. The company was called the
Frank Silver Mining Company and was C om-
pose OF nine members. and being pioneers and
making their own mining laws they located
400 feet for each member OF the company on
all the claims they took up. In Issuing their
stock certificates they divided each members
share into len parts or shares Of forty feet each.
Here the matter rested. and the Grosh brothers
after testing the ores which they had brought
wi tn them. Hosea b. Grosh being thorough
ch emist, they passed the winter working ar
surface mining and as early as practicable the
company raised the means for their outfit,
bought and packed jack and started the
Grosh brothers with LOnget, member OF the
company, back again TO continue their work or
discovering, testing and locating claims for
what WIS now known as the Frank Silver Min
ing Company.
As soon as they arrived at their old camp and
got matters into working shape, they al onco
proceeded 10 open ana test The mines OH which
they had left their prospecting notice the
previous fall. The shoot or branch, which
they had located they found to contain ore