The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10
THERE IS GOLD IN
HURRICANE GULCH
Sergeant Jack Hayes Makes
a Rich Find in
SauSalitO.
HIS WIFE'S DISHPAN.
An Immense Rise Has Come in
Property Values Since
the Discovery.
A WATERFRONT SYNDICATE.
Chief Wharfnger Root Has Joined
With the Policeman to Work
the New Claim.

It would take something more powerful
than an ordinary derrick to tear Sergeant
John Hayes from the idea that THE CALL,
in Its eagerness to publish the news, did
not do him an irreparable injury.
Hayes is State employe at the head OF
a little squad of policemen who look after
the interests of the Board of Habor Com
missioners. He lives over in Sausalito at
the head of Hurricane GuIch, named that
way on account of the wind that sweeps
down through it at all times, even when
the remainder OF Sausalito is calm and
sweltering.
Hayes is very domesticated and seldom
spends any OF his spare time away from
the hearth. Sundays he is always at
home tinkering away at something or
other and Identifying his already lovely
home.
Back of his residence, past doghouse in
habited by particularly ferocious canine,
which he very properly keeps tied up, is
the bed of a creek. 1t is dry at this season
10 ali intent and purpose, excepting in
spots where some of the rushing waters of
winter still remain in shallow pools.
Last Sunday the policeman and some of
his friends discussed mining and miners
topics quite familiar to HAYES, who was a
Pixies Peak. He told them of his expe-
riences and recalled how the very land
they stood upon reminded him of grounds
ne had worked and found to be good-pay-
ing property.
1t required little coaxlng for him to take
Mrs. Hayes dishpan and give his friends
an illustration of how mining was done in
river beds in early days. 1t was all very
interesting until the climax came. The
dirt was all washed ont of the pan, and
there, in the residue we're four little bright
yellow specks.
Gold! There was no questioning the
fact 1t was certainly the precious metal
that peeped out from among the PEBBLES.
Marshall, when he discovered gold in
the Suffer mill-race in 1S48, was less
astonished than Sergeant Hayes.
He ceased work, and the next day he
was over on this side of the bay, where he
confided the secret of his find to Chief
Wharinger George w. Root.
Both these gentlemen took run over to
Sausalito and PANIED out more dirt.
There was plenty of black sand, almost an
infallible indication OF good pay dirt, and
some line gold flakes were gathered in.
But most of the gold was found on an
adjoining piece of property to the one
owned by Hayes, and belonging to man
named Miller. SO it was decided that be-
fore the news of the gold find was made
known that particular piece OF property
must De OOugHb up.
The property is triangular in shape and
the maj or part of it is on a 45-degree fall
to the creek and is valueless. Still, Miller
was willing to sell the whole thing for
$3.50, so Hayes says.
The day set for the purchase was yester-
day, when an ill-adyised newspaper was
inconsiderate enough to publish the fact
that there had been gold discovered in
Hurricane Gulch, back of the Hayes cot
tage.
That settled the deal. Miller read THE
CALL yesterday morning, and when Hayes
and his partners, Messrs. Root, Gillett
and Boomer, who were all interested in
the venture, ran Miller down and offered
him the $3.50, that gentleman smiled and
asked for weeks time in which to think
over the matter.
Hell want all prices for it now' ex-
claimed Hayes, when seen yesterday aft
ernoon by CALL reporter.
THAT article should never have been
published until got hold of the property,
and II show you how gold is PANIED out ,"
Years ago there was considerable min
ing done north of Hurricane Gulch, but 1t
never paid sufficiently to warrant ex-
tensive working. There were too many
paying river-bed claims to lose time in the
gulch, so it is comparatively virgin field.
That there is some gold there cannot be
doubted, but it is not likely that Sergeant
Hayes will give up his lucrative $3.50 posi-
ton on the City front to become an out
aud-Out miner.