The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-19
GOLD NUGGETS.
An Interesting Series of Notes Con-
corning Discoveries of the Pre-
ciOus Metal.

ciOus Metal.
From the Philadelphia American.
The Miners Association of California
has among it's great mass of literature
connected with the gold industry and the
development Of mining operations in that
state many interesting facts concerning
big nuggets of gold. The largest mug
get ever found in that state was that
known as the Oliver Martin chunk. 1t
weighed Isl pounds 6 ounces. The pre-
cious ore was mixed with white quartz,
and it was sold, after having been con-
verted into bullion Tor $S6,27O.
Martin, a poor Miner who had not
even the proverbial dollar to his name,
and a companion named John Flower,
were tramDing on their way up country
to new dlggings. They camped one night
in a mountain canyon, when sudden and
terrific rain storm came up in the dark
ness. The water in the canyon stream
suddenly rose. The miners attempted to
climb the hill, but the flood overlook
them and both were carried down the
stream. Flower was drowned, but Mar
tin. though severely injured, escaped.
While trying to bury his companions
body by the roots of an uprOOted tree,
Martin discovered the rich nugget that
bears his name He was too weak to
move IL. He attempted to reach some
nCighhOring miners, but tainted from cX-
haustion. and was found on the trail by
thcm. When able to walk, some three
weeks later, Martin took them 10 the
spot and the nugget vas removed. Mar
tin made the nugget the basis OF large
fortune that he accumulated i'll the next
two decades.
In August, 1869, w. A. Parish, a. Wood,
J. Winsted, +. n. l.. Clevering and Har-
~ Warner were partners in the Monu-
mental claim, near Sierra Buttes, in Sier
IA county, In the last week of that month
they discovered gold nugget that, weigh
ed 1888 ounces troy. 1t was sold to r.
b. Woodward of San Francisco, who
paid for it 81 63652. for exhibition pur-
poses. 1t was afterWard melted and ST.
654.94 was realized from IT.
The biggest nugget of gold ever found
in Shasta county was discovered in the
spring of 1870 one day three Frenchmen
two of whom were named Oliver Long
champ and Fred Rochon, drove into the
old town of Shasta in search of a place
TO mine. They happened TO have some
! business with A. Coleman, a dealer In
hardware and notions. The three asked
him where was a good place to mine. He
carelessly pointed in nOrtherly direc-
ton and said: GO over to Spring
! Creek"
They took his advice, located a claim
on the creek some eight miles north of
| Redding, and few days later one of the
Frenchmen picked up a nugget valued at
S. 200. Ten years later a miner named
Flat creek, near where the Frenchmen
found their famous chunk.
Plumas, though one of the richest min
ing counties in California. has yielded
few valuable nuggets The largest was
found by a Chinaman near the mouth of
Nelson Creek, and was worth $500. A
miner, named Archie Little, at Eliza beth
town. discovered a $3.50 nugget and
Messrs. Hays and Steadman found one
above Mohawk valley. near the county
line. that weighed 420 ounces ana was
worth S. zoo.
Sierra is justly famed Tor'+lts valuable
masses of gold, found both pure and
mixed with quartz. George II. Norman
and Frank Aman found near Gibsonville
in 1867. a nugget that weighed 100 ounces
and was worth $i700. In 1851, at French
RaVine, a lump of quartz and gold togeth-
err was discovered from which 5000 in
gold was taken. In 1855, in the same ra-
vine, a still more valuable nugget of gold
was obtained.
AT Minnesota, in the same county, a
/ nugget that weighed pc ounces was
&ound. This was valued at 5000 At