The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-01-25
THE GEN. BOOTH MINE.
Gold That Is Dug by Members of the SAL
Walton Army.

Gold That Is Dug by Members Of the Sail
Walton Army.
Way up in one of the most inacessi-
bic portions of the Huachuca range of
mountains, near Prescott, A. T., there
is situated perhaps the most unique
mining camp IN the world, says the
Mining Industry and Tradesman. The
sixteen men who daily toll in the Gen.
Booth mine are all members of the Sal
walton Army, and the profits of the
mine all go into the treasury of that or
ganization. The history of the location
and subsequent development of the
mine is interesting.
''Old Dick" Taylor, the discoverer, is
cessful prospectors in the territory.
Coming to Arizona in the early days
when the whole southwestern country
was a wilderness given over to the
Apache. Indians, he has prospected
the country from one end to the
other, and made more valuable To-
cations than any other man in
Arizona. The One Horse, Bad Luck
and Desert mines in the Harqua
/ Hala country the Apache and New
York in the Superstitious mountains,
the King in the Bradshaws and many
Others were located by him, and have
since made fortunes for the investors.
Dick Taylor was, perhaps, the most
profane man in the southwest, His
voca bulary of invective was something
phenomenal, and was brought into use
on the slightest provccation. The pic
turcsqueness and volubility of his oaths
were proverbial over the territory for
many years. 1t is said that after each
sale Taylor would invest in years
grub-stal1e and then proceed to spend
the remainder of the money i'll the
widest debauchery. At one time he
ran through with ten thousand dollars
in two weeks in Phoenix, throwing his
money away in the most reckless man
ncr. His money once gone, he returned
to his prospecting. and touched no
liquor until his next sale
It was Immediately after the sale of
the Apache mine for fifteen thousand
dollars that he started on his widest
debauch in Phoenix. For OYER Il month
he dill rot draw sober breath. and.
at last. reduced egain to poverty and
weakened mentally and physically, he
professed religion at an open-air meet
ing of the Salvation Army in Phoenix.
For over two months he marched with
the army at its nightly meetings, but
finding such routine life roo irl<solne.
he again started for the hills Nothing
was heard Of him for over two months.
and it was reported that nc had per-
lshed on the desert but one day he
again turned up in Phoenix with a
burro load of rich ore, which set the
town ablaze with excitement Some OF
the nuggets which he brought were
valued at fifty dollars. Ever one was
surprised when he announced his in
tention of turning his latest find over
to the Salvation Army. 1t was duly
proffered to and accepted bv that or
ganiza ton, and fifteen men volun teered
to develop it. Work was commenced
over Il year ago under the direction of
Taylor, and has progressed steadily
since. The pay streak is sixteen inches
wide, ana mas pald well from the grass
roots. The ore is treated in two
crushers erected near the mine, but it
is proposed soon to bring in IA tcn-stamp
mill. strict religious discipline is
maintained In the camp, and the profits,
after paying the necessary expenses,
20 into the treasury of the army to aid
n the work of that organiza ton. Two
shifts OF Six men each work under
ground while the remainder attend to
the treatment of the ore and transpor-
tation OF necessary supplies. Supplies
are freighted one hundred miles.