The herald., 1894-11-03
SHE FELL UPON GOLD.
THE STORY OF A YOUNG WOMAN'S
LUCK IN OLD MEXICO. =

verting the "Isits" Into Cash. 81
Miss Doria Kemp is ono of tho luckicst
young women in tho world. She went out
to sketch in the hills of old Mexico, and
whilo looking for brook fell into u bed Of
gold nuggets. She jumped from poverty
to comparative riches in tho twinkling OF
an cyo. Her find nctted her 80, 700. Sho
was in CharhGripari, IL little settlement at
tho mountains foot, six days hard rid
Ing from any railroad. Sho says:
There was soIno magnificent scenery
near this quict little place of 300 souls, and
passed many pleasant day ssetching,,
In this fashion month passed. and it be-,
came very monotonous, and l began to
think of going somewhere where / might
bo among white folks. Tho only English,
speaking persons there were Miller land-,,
lord Of tho little hotel, and q little quaint
italian who was n handy nGn for the
moro prctentious shops. One afternoon T.
started out from the town with my sketch.
book under my arm and after brief
walk camo to rolling rather stoCp hili.
Curious to SEQ what was beyond went Oh
up and over it's brow. Before me lay one
Of tho widest scenes havo ever seen he-,
fore or since
The tall orchard trees stood close to-
gether, slanting down the hill, tho top Of
tho last ones fading into tho misty blue
that filed tho basin of tho canyon. The
intersections wcro filled with twining,
twisting mass of underground, from which
grew all sorts Of raro and beautifully col
ored flowers, while on the sides of the two
hills to tho left, standing out in mcnac-
ing splcndor, were rocks of gigantic slid.
The sound of o stream came up to Inc from
the depths of blue below. 1t sounded
tempting, and l started for it. AS I wepb
on down tho sides l toro my skirts in tIsi
jagged underground, but kept on, mark,
ing my way by breaking low limbs. 'A
Il soon came in sight Of tho stream and
was turning to make my way to the Jeff
to find slant that would take ME to, the
bank of it, when found myself SINKING
down and down. l reached out for somco
thing to clutch, but something always
gavc way, and finally landed ON II sandy
bit of beach In little cove that the hori-
zontal wall of the mountains base made
at the edge of tho stream. ] was not hurt.
My fall had been gradual. l had fallen
through growth that covered the sido Of
tho hill above me fully 80 feet, / scanned
the sides of the rock that made the cove
There was no retreat that way. l locked
down tho stream. There was o waterfall
not 10 feet away whose distance l could
not measure, but il seemed us if it was o
great deal. Up the stream it seemed az
bad.
Il secured from the hillside u sinuous
vine and made rope, fastened it to sqlt
i'd point of the rock, and then, rs it was
carly, | sat down to sketch the canyon as
it stretched away in the blue depths.
could see down over the waterfall. re-
clined on the sand, with my back to tho
hillside. While contemplating the view
absently picked up pebbles and threw them
into tho water. Ono of them happened
to notice as held it in my hand. 1t was
of odd shape and peculiar color whore tho
dried earth didn't cover it. washed it of
in the stream. 1t looked suspiciously like
gold looked where had been sitting,
and there, in an oblong rift of the rocks,
was hatful of just such clods as ] held in
my hand. had seen nuggets of gold, but
had never heard Of them III such qunnti-
ties as met my gaze. Hoping itwas gold,
but not sure, placed those that were loose
in a niche rs high up the bank as l could
reach and made my way around the point
of rock to find o way back home, with the
nugget securely fastened in my dress Tho
water was up to my shoulders, but l Sue
ceeded in getting around. Then, marking
the way carefully with bits of paper, !
made up the hill again and gained the
house, much the worse for wear put on
n dry dress, and, seeking Miller, showed
him my find.
Its purity good gold. Where'd you
get it?' p,n
Il rather stammcred that had found
it in the creek IS bed n short distance from
the house. Thoughts of tho treasure, If it
wero one, being filchod from mo caused
this little deception.
D." How much is it worth? / asked.
"'Oh, about SIS, think.
Il thanked him and went to my room.
To get the rest Of the bits, as he called
them, from where they were. and take
them safely to place where could dis
pose of them, gave me much to think qf,
did not care to trust any ono with my, So
crct and / wanted to know the extent Of
my find. The next day i resolved to try
the Italian who had taken somo fancy to
me, l thought, for having given him say-
eral cas>off garments for his wife. | found
him, secured his services for the next day,
making a tryst where he was to meetinp
with % pick, shovel bags and rope, and ON
the way told him of what was about to
do and offered him $50 to assist me to the
railroad with what we might secure. Ho
swore by the Virgin he would never be-
tray mo. We made our way down to tho
rock, and, fixing the ropo firmly, went
around, took the tools from him, and thGp
he camc. / asked him what he knew
about placer mining. He knew considGf-
able
1T was hard work But after eight or
nine hours Of picking l came to~the con
clusion that had got all there was out OF
the rough gutter Of tho rock where, the
stream tricklcd through. We had Id all,
at q rough cstimation about 80 pounds OF
the mess Of dirt and gold, including tho
loose bits had concealed in tho niche. Il
could not see signs Of any moro. We made
two packages of the dirt, and with much
effort helped the italian carry them up
the hill We left tho tools. That night
/ went to his house, guarding my tregS-
ure. sent note by him to Miller tell
ing him would not be at home, saying
the Italians wife was i'll and that would
stay with her that night. had the Italian
secure me cart and donkeys, and the
next morning, with my fortune concealed
under the sent, / started with it for the
nearest station after settling with Miller
for my months board. s,r
s'We reached the station after six days
trip. gave the italian five or six ounces
Of the most solid of tho stuff. I had tho
rest packed in stout box. While at tho
station l met travelling salesman to
whom confidcd. He advised me to take
it to the City of Mexico I lacked $40 or
$12 of having enough money to pay my
fare, but he loaned it to me, saying could