Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-02-08
RIoHHIIL AND vUITURB NINE.


coircspondenoe Phoenix Herald
In 1868 a mineral discovery the most
Unique, geologicaliy, and the most re-
markable evermade was perhaps that
which Jack Swelling and Mexican
ran on top Of what is now called Rich
Hill, Of Antelope Buttes, about six.
teen miles north of Wickenburg on
the Hassayampa river On the sum-
nit Of the mountain hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars in pure virgin
gold was picked up, it lying on the sur
face Of the country rock or lodged ia
.creyices. To use the expression Of an
old timer who was Ia that country at
that time, "the only implement or
tool necessary wts a pocket knife to
work with" This was in war tiues;
nevertheless, the news spread over
the land and the most intense excite
ment prevailed, especially in that sec
tion Of the territory, where a few set
tiers who had located on lands for
agricultural purpores were living,
among whom was Henry Wickeuburg
then ranching In Peoples Valley few
miles berth of Rich Hill. He became
possessed with the fever of gold
hunter and though obstacles were
many and dangers great, owing to the
frequent yisitsof the savage and blood
thirsty Apache that roamed at large
in those days, he started on the trip
th'lt led on to the spot tha ,as since
become famous, on acc cunt Of the
enormous quantity of fgole-sl5, 900, 600
extracted from Within its boundary
lines, and which is known today, as
well as then, as "Thc Vulture Mine"
Henry Wickenhurg discovered the
YultuTe 10 Octoher, about two months
after Jack Swelling made bis discoy-
cry on Rich HILL The claim, under
the then existing laws Of the United
States was only 300 feetalong the lode.
After doing some development work,
the deepest work being only 10 feet,
ex-Gov. Bashford of Wisconsin pur-
chased the property, the price being
s85,O0O This was in 1865. OF this
amount Mr.. Wlckenburg states that
he only received less tkan s24, ,OOO A
small mill was erected on the river
and several millions of dollars cleaned
up.
Notwithstanding the output was
enormous aud Gov. 8ashford was
working right along regularly for six
or seven years he accumulated debt
OF slOO, 900 and to put it in the Ian
guage Of old Henry himself, che gut
ted the mine and letitgo to the devil"
Then Wickenburg realized that he
had been done up, TO use a vulgar
term, because the property was aban-
doned and nothing was done on it for
several years.
1t was then that DR.. w. w. Jones
and Bill Smith located the property
under the laws of 1872 acquiring there
by ground covering 600 by 1900 feet.
He, Dr. Jones and Mr.. Smith erected
a mill 10 miles below ana worked the
property for six years. Afterwards
they sold it to a Mr.. Seymour, of Chi
cago it is said for SIS, He, Mr..
Seymour, starthd to pa "a mill at
what's now known us "Seyluour" but
did not complete it, He has changed
his mind as TO what would be proper
situation for mill. Consequently
moved everything over to the mine and
consummated his idea, which was an
eighty stamp mill. In order TO run a
plant of that kind water had to be
piped a distance of fifteen miles. He
ran it with varying success until ex-
Senator II. A. W. Tabor, who it is
said, tried to dispose of it to English
capitalists.
AS that proposition was about to be
carried out there was providential
hindrance, viz: The collapse Of the
great Walnut Grove dam.
Il HIS bbIuCLuIb was l4O ltcu hiSH9
from 1870 to l40 feet wide at the base
tapering to ten feet at the top, Above
it an immense lake had been formed.
This body of water, as the dam was
swept out, rushed madly down, ava
lanch like, with a 60 foot breast sweep
Ing everything away in its course.
The damage done and the lives lost
through that catastrophe is matter
of history.
The pleasing news comes from
Bland that California capital viii soon
establish mill for the treatment Of
Cochiti ores about half mile below
the town just mentioned.
Sixty-one bright young girls, from
various parts Of the territory, are at
present in attendance upon the Pres
byterian mission school in Santa Fe.
Buollen's Arnioa saIve.
The best salye in the world for cuts,
bruises, sores, ulcers, salt heum, few
er sores, letter, chapped bands, chill.
hafnr corne and all skin eruntione