Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-07-27


prospectors made discovery which
may prove Of the greatest importance to
the American archuologists in tracing
the footprints Of the prehistoric races OF
the northern continent. The story is as
olluWs;
w. d. Clark and Thomas J. Howard
who have been prospecting in the
vicinity Of Butte for some time past, dis
covered what is undoubtedly the
anoien, workings OF a rich copper mine,
says an exchange The mine lies about
forty miles southwest Of Butte on the
south side Of an immense peak known
as FIceser mountain, In one Of the
toughest portions OF the main range OF
the rocky mountains. While going up
the north side OF Fleescf creek, a stream
OF about 7,ooo inches, copper float was
found and followed up the steep hillside
Tor 500 ieet until a mound, evidently an
old ore dump. was found, Immediately
above which was a deep depression in
the hillside.
The depression, OF mouth OF the old
workings, as il proved to be, was ten
feet deep and about ten iccl wide by
fifteen fee, long, in the center OF which
was a scrub pine tree twenty-five inches
In diameter and evidently hundred or
more year, old. The depression was
covered with sagebrush and other yege'
tation, and would never have been rc-
cognized as the work OF human hands
were il not for the excavations which
followed. Finding that the quartz iloai
which they were following went 40 lar
ther up the hill and discovering con.
siderable IN the vicinity Of the old dump
an open cut was started In the bottom
Of the depression running into the bill,
with the result that after going about six
feet under the surface large slab Of
rock was discovered closing the entrance
to an ancient tunnel. Removing the
slab and clearing away the debris OF
ages the prospectus found an opening
five and a halt feet high by four feet
wide, supported ON either side by stone
pillars and covered by slabs Of stone.
The tunnel vas followed tweniy.,hrce |
feet into the hill aud about hIty feet un.
der the surface. until cave OF earth and |
stone was encountered, which Mcssrs.
Clark and Howard worked on Tor q day. |
but we're unable to remove, and they |
came TO Butte TO secure tools and Acili
ties for further investigation.
Judging from the SIZE OF the dump at
The entrance MI Clark Is Of the opinion !
That the tunnel extends at least 900 4
further into the hill, and "a force y, ...u
have been sent from this city tot tue
purpose OF removing the accumulated /
dirt and fully investigating the find.
The pillars ~ the tunnel are t2Nia
inches, 81 feet high, and made by plac.
ing stones upon each other aud Ncdged
up tight with smaller stones, no cement
ol any kind being used, The pillars are
placed three igct apart, and reaching
across from pillar to pillar is n stone
slab six feet long, twelve inches wide
aud eight inches deep, upon the top OF
.hcsc are laid other and smaller slabs OF
stone reaching ON to the next cross slab,
aud completely covering the top ol the
uunel The bottom OF the tunnel is
followed out as II the ore aud dirt which |
vas taken out had been dragged over
g.. probably In coWhldcs or by other
means. on the projecting |
ucLs Of the masonry signs OF birds are
uund very plentiful, indicating that the
nine was probably abandoned some !
inc before the only opening was closed.
The masonry OF the tunnel throughout !
s very crude, and there are no marks OF
.uy tools, other than hammers or other
blunt instruments, No cement being
lscd small stones are inserted into every
opening, until the whole Is as solid as |
AN be made. The small stones, or keys,
re much battered and bear evidence Of
.aving been hammered a great deal.
The only implements found so far are
wo stone shovels, which bear evidence
u having been much used. They are
bout twelve inches across the broad
'art, or blade, and have small stone
andles eight inches long, TO which q
onger handle was evidently fastened.
Nlong each side OF the tunnel and on
he dump In front ore was found scatter
d In abundance, although no trace OF
cad appears upon the surface, Il having
Violently been covered by the accounts
tied dirt OF ages. The ore found is not
alive copper, nor in any way similar to
hat found in the ancient excavations
hch have been brought to light IN the
ther paris Of the country. IL IS very
right pyrites Of iron and copper, smclt'
" very easily. and Is very rich, the
imples found and brought to Butte
Saying iOuy'iiye per cent copper. No
ais or other evidence OF how or where
lie ores were worked have so Tar been ,
rought to light, but complete investi'
alton will be made.
The canyon in which the ancient mine
es is very narrow and precipitous, and
an only be reached on foot, there not
elng room Tor wagon In the canyon,
! even room enough to build a wagon.
BAD. The nearest place where human
eings could live and where, undoubi. I
lily, the prehistoric miners Of l'leeser
eek had their abodes, is the Big Hole
lsin. four miles distant, where the
nous Big Hole battlefield is located.
I'd where General Gibbons gave the
es Pctces Indians battle In the early
lys OF Montana. Numerous nipple.
ents Of stone and flint have been =,
ckcd up In that vicinity heretofore. a
1t were supposed TO have belonged TO ii
lme OF the Indian tribes which roamcd !,
ere In early days, and no particular /,
tention was paid to them. Ia
The country rock where the discovery h
a a I