Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-09
The Holy Terror.

OF the masses throughout the entire
country, and a source Of such unspeak-
able satisfaction TO the miners and
prospectors Of the southern Hills, was
visited by a CHRONICLE reporter on
Saturday. The visit was not made with
a view to determining the value Of the
ores OF the mine, as their exceptional
richness had already been confirmed,
but il was mainly for the purpose of
reaching a reasonable conclusion in
relation to its prospective permanence,
and the magnitude and extent Of the
vein at its present stage of development.
While it may not bt claimed that the
ore, rich as it unquestionably is. will
Justify the exaggerated reports
being circulated by some of the news
papers Of the Hills, it may be said with
out fear of refutation, that its average
yield, Thus far, has exceeded that of any
the entire west. This being an accept
ed fact, how ridiculously absurd it is TO
pervert truth, which in itself is sufi-
ciently trying upon the credulity Of the
reader.
Through the courtesy Of the fortunate
owners We were permitted 10 examine
the vein where ever exposed in the vari-
Gus drifts and slopes, to depth ofninety-
six feet, being accompanied by Mr.
Alvin Brooks, the very competent and
genial superintendent of the mine, to
whom we are indebted for courtesies
extended. Summoning to our aid all OF
the knowledge acquired by years Of ex-
perience in lode mining, and applying
it fairly and impartially to this mine,
We were unable to escape the conclusion,
had we been so disposed, that every
indication pointed unmistakably to its
permanent and valuable character At
a depth of 50 feet the vein maintains its
width, and the ore its phenomenal value.
The walls are smooth and we'll defined,
and the presence Of clay sediment
between the foot wall and the vein,
called in mining parlance, the gouge, is
accepted as one of the most infalible
evidences Of true fssure. The vein
varies in width from one and half to
three feet, and is exceptional in his,
that the ore is invariably found to be
richest where the vein is the widest,
which is in direct opposition TO the rule
as applied to, practically all other known
mineral veins. A drift being run along
the vein from the bottom of the shaft,
where the ore body is about three feet
in width. is of high grade, and the
presence of go may be readily detected
upon almost every piece one may chance
to pick up. This however attracts but
little attention now, as the sight of gold
in large masses in the ore Of this mine
has become so common as to excite but
a passing interest in the minds Of the
: residents of the camp, and even the
visiting tenderfoot soon becomes sur
J feited with the sight Of the glitterinG
grains, and wonders if the whole show
is not fleeting fake, gotten up by the
pesky miners, TO fleece eastern capital
J lists out of their surplus cash by deluding
} them into the belief that this stuff,
} which meets their wondering eyes upon
} every turn. is really gold. Ordinary
!, specimens are passed by without notice.
, and only those Of rare value are held
for casual inspection before they are
relegated to the batteries to pass through
the regular process of reduction pre-
paratory to shipment to the mint for
coinage into the circulating medium,
which is so much needed at this painful
period III our country's history. A very
handsome specimen found day or two
prior TO our visit, which fairly glitters
with gold, upon the surface Of which, at
moderate estimate, thirty or forty
dollars is visible, is not to be compared
with others previously found, which
showed much larger quantity Of gold,
and which may be safely said to have
exceeded in value any of the many rich
specimens hitherto found in the mines
of the Black Hills. At the time Of our
visit the mill had just started up on a
new run, which, Judging from the char.
} acter Of the ore in sight, bid fair to
equal, if not exceed that Of any previous
|, run made. The plates, after a run Of q
J half hour, presented an appearance
J similar to that shown upon plates after
FIVE hour run upon twenty dollar ore
which we accept as conclusive evidence
of the high grade Of the ore being treat
} ed. The LAST clean up. made on Satur
day morning, was highly satisfactory te
the owners, resulting in the saving o.
$4,000 in two and half days run o.
nve stamps, which, while it is bv nj
! means the best run made, is more valu,
J than has ever before been secured il
} the same time b. the operation of .
} corresponding number OF stamps in tn,
: Hills. This mine is simply phenomena
: in the quality and uniform character o
its ores, as evidenced by exploration Il
, its present depth. Without entering
: into an elaborate description of tn,
? mine. which lack Of space precludes
, We unhesitatingly. and with the utmos
confidence assert that. in no part or por
ton Of the Black Hills region can there
be found mine offering more favorable
promise of permanence, and profitable
return than the Holy Terror.
, Numerous other gold properties n
brilliant promise are found in the i'm
|, mediate vicinity which we were unable
. to visit by reason OF lack Of time, vii
, soon be brought into prominence b,
: develor ment, which must. and will
without doubt become the ruling factors
|, In the up building of one of the mos
prosperous mining camps in the Union
3 The Keystone company are making
! preparations to resume operations upoI
|. more extensive scale, and under {
! wiser management than has marked
, past operations. which promises to b.
crowned with abundant success, sns
I add much to tho prestige of the camp
!; The neyt castom mill is apon the eve o
'