The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-15
JOHN PIERCE'S LUCK.
He Pound II In Going Home With
the Cows.
Now He Has . Quarter ofs MillionD Dol.
lars In Cash to His Credit.

John Pierce is o Tombstone "a. T.)
miner, who up to n year and half ago
had difficult work 20 provide the necessa-
ries Of life for himself and family. He Is
now In this city with $4,000 In gold
coin to his credit 1t Is another story of q
lucky find of rich gold and silver bearing
quartz.
Pierce is the name of the new camp just
coming into prominence, about 30 miles
northeast of Tombstone. IL Is mado moro
conspicuous because I'm addition to its
great ore richness IL Is about tho only gold
camp IN the territory. Already there are
500 people there, and empty houses from
Tombstone arc being taken there bodily.
An English syndicate has secured the
Pierce ledge and has organized, with ST.
900, 900, and 1t is said that there Is u pros
pect of the new camp rivaling Cripple
Greek, in Colorado.
Pierce was seen at his hotel soon after
his arrival few days ago. He tells an in
tcresting story of his discovery and of his
sudden change In position from man
without dollar TO one who can I've consid-
cred fairly wealthy. He Is a Cornishman,
about so years of age, with little or no
education, and he appears totally unaware
AZ yet of what his fortune can do for him.
about four years age" said he, II took
up claim about 80 miles northeast OF
Tombstone. There was water hole in the
mountain, and took the place In order to
get the water so 1 could raise "a few head
of stock. There was not much to be made
from it, and as / was broken down from
hard work with pick my folks had to
help out In the living. One day, about IS
months ago, was driving the cows home
ts-l.t ri of milo
away from my ranch, when In crossing q
little ledge whcrc there was an outcrop-
ping Of rock stopped down and picked
up piece of stone to throw at ono of tho
cows, when noticed how heavy 1t was.
Upon a closer examination saw what
looked like gold quartz, and took homo
several pieces of tho rock and horned it
out. The result showed considerable gold.
went back and got more rock and took
II into Tombstone tho next day, and On
assay showed me that had found a rich
mine The ledge where picked up the
rock was not over 400 feet from road that
had been travelled for years. 1t was just
tuck found it"
Pierce went on to state that as he had
no money himself he had TO do all the Se.
veloping work on "A small scale. He man.
aged to take out several tons Of ore and
ship it away. The result from this ship
ment was over 90, 900. With this amoXnt
of money he sank shaft and opened his
claim so that it was possible to ascertain
the extent of the ledge. After this work
had been accomplished some parties from
Silver City, ". NJ, came along and bond
ed the property for s250,00O on n years
time Before the year had expired they
sold the bond to an English syndicate for
an advance Of 800, 900, and wien the
year was up, which occurred last week,
Mr.. Pierce got a draft on San Francisco
and he at once came to the city TO get his
coin.
Prior to two years ago Pierce was bro
ken down miner-a man who had never
had to exceed so at one time, and who
was having hard struggle 20 make both
ends meet. Now he has $3.50, 000 all in
gold coin, and, like most men in similar
circumstances, does not know how to
spend his money. His wife, before making
tie strike, had TO go TO Tombstone and
help out the family exchequer by doing
such odd jobs of housccleaning as she
could find, while the son, a young man
now 20, herded cattle on the ranges. Be-
sides one son he has daughter, who was
given the. advantage of the public schools
of Tombstone His entire family accompa-
ny him TO this city, aud as it is their first
visit away from horne they are enjoying
themselves San Francisco Examiner