The morning call., 1894-05-06

very similar in appearance TO that of the Frank
mine and equally Iich in silver. This claim,
from the description in their letters TO their
father, the writer believes 10 be the Gould
Curry claim on The great ComsIock or Ophlr
lode. The Mammoth (Whlch Is COLO HID they
found to be moi only very rich, but TO contain
gold as well as silver. Alter satisfying them-
selves as 10 their value and putting up the
notIce of claim and location, they turned their
attention 10 the discovery OF the mine which
had furnished the black ore' which they had
noticed while working IN Gold ConyOn IN 1854.
They soon discovered the vein or mine, but
had great difficulty in thoroughly testing IL.
They finally succeeded, however, by several
modes of assay, and found it to contain both
gold ana silver Tnis mine is near the Devils
Gate, and was known as the Enterprise mine.
After being perfectly satisfied with the result
of their labor aud the accuracy of their tests,
and While further prosecuting their work,
Hosea b. GroSh. by miSlIck, struck his foot
on the Inside below the iuStep with his nick,
aud, having no medical care, lockj jaw finally
put an end 10 his SutferlngS and his hopes. His
grave is yet TO he seen. L. Allen GrOSD,
the surviving brother. now isolated and I'M
able to proceed with their work, SET
about making his arrangements TO return TO
his old home TO winter. He wrote 10 John Nj.
Butler, treasurer OF the company, tne last letltT
which any member of the company. ever re-
ceived from him, and after giving an account OF
the death Of his brother. be stated thai they
had taken no, located and eSted four veins or
claims. wO of which were very rlch In silver,
and the remaining Two contained both gold ana
silVer ana he believed they were equally as
Tlcn as the first TWO. After closing up his buSi-
ness and leaving his house and ali its contents
and also all the mines located for the company
in the possession of Mr.. COmStocN until he
should return ID tbe spring, he; IN company
with a young man named Morris Buck, packed
a mule with provisions ana specimens OF ore.
ana commenced journey across the mountain
by what is known as the Michigan Bluh trail.
When on the western summit hey Were over
taken by lbe first heavy snowStOrm OF the sea-
son. and killing their mule and reducing their
pack they attempted the journey on foot. At
night they found their ma cheS II, and their
double barreled gun had got water.cI0gged so
that they could not get It of, and without fire
they were compelled 10 pass III night under
cover Of the snow 10 keep from treezlng. Inc
storm continued, and they were at last COM
PEELED to abandon all they had with them and
descend 10 the valley OF the Middle Fork OF the
American River so as TO keep their course and
shield themselves from The violence OF the pitt
less storm. hree days and nights they eontn-
ued their terrible journey without lire. and most
of the time without anything 20 eat and on the
fourth they arrived at camp OF Cnllano and
Mexican miners, at q place known as Blind
Ravine, six miles above Last Chance, I'D Placer
County. From here, as soon as arrangements
could be made, the miners from Las Chance
carried them from Blind Ravine to Last Chance.
Here, at The house of lillian j. and Thomas
Harrison, E. Allen GrOSh died from the terri
Bile effects of freezing aud exposure Mr. Buck,
being very stout, strong young man, survived
the shock by the amputation of one foot at the
ankle joint and the her leg at the knee.
! he writer has now copy baving sent the
original 10 his father OF the last letter ever
written by Z. A. Grosh. 1t was written from
Blind Ravine" and gave an account Of their
trip and asking for means 10 enable him 10 get
home again, lie being under the impression
that he would survive his injury. This was IN
the fall of 1857 and before any of the company
were aware OF The exact location OF their mines
and before it was thought practicable 10 cross
the mountains. The news was received OF the
discovery ana sale of rich silver mines in
WaShoe by Mr.. COmstock and others aSsOci-
ated vi him, not foot of which any OF them
ever discovered.
Sucn then is clear, concise and true history
OF the discovery, location and working of the
only really valuable silv r mines of Washoe.
which has made such stir in the business of
the world, but which so far has resulted ad-
versely To The first discovereTS, two OF whom
sacrificed their lives and the others their money
without recompense or reward. All the ac-
counts published from time 10 time in the Sac
ramentO Union aud other papers about the dis
cOyery of these mines are utterly false and
published by interested parties TO deceive
May justice al last be done, though the
heavens FALL" FRANCIS j. HOOVER.
san Francisco. Sept. 8, 1868.
HOover'S old companion, Mr. Rrede, still
remem bers him erfectIy. Tie other day.
when shown the foregoing history, he said: {:
Il have no doubt that every word of it is
true. R0over was a great friend of mine.
and ! knew him TO be careful. industrious
and a man of his word
He has been dead now maDy years.
and the last l remember of him is that l
went to see him as be lay sick a the Ire
mont House. He was a dying man then.
believe also that l was a witness to his
will. But, while most of the events are
escaping my memory now in the lapse Of
time, Tememb Der enough specifically to
be certain that this is what has never yet
been published-the true history of the
silver discovery in Nevada"
Mrs. Sharp has been notified by the Pro-
bate Judge Of the collapse of her fathers
fortunes. Hoovtr's widow, two other
daughters and two sons are long since
dead.