The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-26

Prim tive Methods of G tting the Precious
Metal i'm the 1ar Heel State.

Primitive Methods of G tting the Precious
Metal In the 1ar Heel State.
From the Springfield Republican.
Did you ever go where the gold was
and have the privilege of bringing
away all that you could find? / have,
and will tell you about 1t. A horse
back ride of a dozen or so miles brought
me to Gold Hill. whicn was as full of
holes as a tramp's coat. Some were
down as far only as the earth could
be thrown out with a shovel, and others
were like unfinished wells, with rough
windlasses crossing the mouth; but
there was no sight or sound of work.
ers, they had all departed. leaving the
holes to tell the story of q misspent
labor. A few miles farther in the same
region / saw a real operating gold
mine. The prominent sights were a
contrivance like an old-style cider mill
whose long lever was moved continual
ly round and round by a mule travel
ing in a circle. This primitive motor
operated a drum, from which swung
by ropes two large barrels. These went
down empty and came up full of water
alternately from a dark hole in the
ground as the mule circus went on. A
man at the top was kept busy punch
ing the motor and emptying the full
barrels by a valve in the bottom. The
hole, or shaft, was square, curbed with
timbers and looked small to me. The
only way down was by a perpendicular
ladder attached to the side of the
shaft.
/ felt a little timorous about risking
a descent. but had come for the pur-
pose of doing" a gold mine, and II
had to be done. They gave me a tai
low candle, which was carried 1 don't
remember how, unless in my mouth,
and I climbed carefully down that lad
der undar q chnuyaf. hat
ascending barrels. 1t looked like a
long way down to the bottom, but was
only some eighty feet. There was a
lower depth from which the barrels
were filled, and stream of water ran
along the lateral tunnel into it. Light
ing my candle l travelled slowly along
the subterranean passage, with rocks
or timbers overhead and a brook ankle
deep below. / soon found a miner with
an Illuminated head pecking away at
a soft brown rock, which looked filthy
but not lucerish. Where is the gold?"
/ asked. The miner showed me some
bright points, of a rarity like the Chris
tian charity we read of, as the light
fell upon them. us that all?" asked
In a disappointed tone. Pears like
It," replied the miner. WAS you look
In for coined eagles down here?" Say
ing that gold dollars would satisfy my
expectations. l asked for specimens of
the ore. Take all you want" said
he, and being only moderately avari- |
cious / only filled my pocket
After climbing out l learned that the |
mine product was valued at less than 4
80 a bushel, and was worked for its I
owners by hired laborers. There were 1
three gangs who worked eight hours |
Zach. The mule or a substitute had to |
Keep those barrels on the move con-
or the water would flood the /
nine. Mounting my "critter" has
ened home with my wealth. and at |
irst leisure proceeded to realize, by |
the ore, washing out the
lirt, and adding quicksilver to the
precious residuum. This collected the
,old, and after squeezing out the mer-
Jury. through buckskin, / secured gold
'nough to I'LL a tooth. The cash profit
II my trip was mil, but the information
,ained was OF interest TO me.