The San Francisco call., 1896-08-03


of half-decomposedq quartz, dark red in hue
and contrasting handsomely with the
treasure in lis grasp. Almost half gold
was the fragment of rock. Another and
yet another piece were broken off, and all
with the same result. The ledge was fol-
lowed some distance, and still the rock
wherever broken off showed up rich with
gold. 1t was bonanza!
To use Drouillard's own words: II was
no longer thirstyl" Only man who has
actually experienced a desert thirst can
reailze whas this means. Think of the
most acute bodily discomfort one ever ex-
perlenced, increase it hundred-fold, then
have something transpire which drives
that discomfort, even the memory of it,
from ones mind like flash, and he can
perhaps have faint realization of the sem
find
AS soon as he realized what ne had dis
covered Drouillard saw that the ledge
cropped out for long distance in both
directions. He at once put up monu-
ment and notice of claim, and then started
for camp. Five mortal hours he went
without water. Five hours without
drink of water? Pshaw, most of US do
that every day and think nothing of it.
But out on the desert-hot, dusty. shade
less, cIoudless, with the fierce July sun
beating down with fervor which the
cold figures OF the thermometer cannot
adequately depict-ah, that is different.
Why, fifteen minutes without drink Is
misery, half an hour torture, two hours
death almost to the man unaccustomed to
the terrible torridity. Yet five long hours
did Drouillard travel with empty canteen
at his side. The latter portion of the
period he was buoyed up by the glorious
news which he was Fastening to impart to
his companion. Had it not been for that
it is doubtful whether ne would ever have
reached camp alive. When he did ar
rive he was as near death as one can be
and recover.
The rest of the story is easily told. mas
much as it is but repetition OF what has
occurred hundreds of times. The part
ners went back to the scene of the discov-
cry, staked out claims for themselves and
their hackers, and then gave the news to
the world. Four claims, making 5000 feet
on the ledge, was their modest limit, and
then the discovery was free for any one.
As soon as the news got out miners from
Red Rock and Mojave, from Goler and
Randsburg, from Cow Wells and Coyote
Hole, rushed in, and in an incredibly short
time had the country staked out formlles
The original discoverers traced the crop
pings for little over a mile and located
II; but one man has already found crop
pings of similar character pine miles
away and the intervening country has
been pretty nearly all taken up.
Ore taken from several points on the
ledge shows assays of anywhere from $3.50
to $500 ton, mostly In gold but with
fair amount OF silver. All along the ledge,
which is three feet in width on the surface,
samples taken at random show the same
wonderful layers and stringers of pure
gold running through the quartz. A small
shipment of 700 or 800 pounds OF ore was
l. l,no nrn1 - ho
worked, and from the ASSAYS is expected
to return from 81 to 81 so per pound in free
gold.
Arrangements are being hurried by the
diseoverers for systematically and thor
oughly working the mines and they re-
turned yesterday TO the desert from here,
baving come in 10 procure supplies and
make preparations for opening the mines.
The exact location of these newly dis
covered mines is at the southern base of
the range of mountains on the northern
slope of which Randsburg is situated.
They are about ten or twelve miles nearer
Mojave than Randsbnrg. A dry lake
known as Cuddeback Lake is close by,
and at Cuddeback Wells, four or five miles
distant, is an abundant supply of pure
water 1t is believed from indications
that water can be obtained close to the
mines. Rogers Station, on the Santa Fe
Road, is about eighteen miles south-south-
west of the discovery and is the nearest
railroad point. An old wagon-road from
Mojave passes directly through the local
ity, and the ledge itself shows signs of the
passing and repassing of many vehicles.
yet never a man thought it worth while to
examine the rock till Drouillard came
along.
Other loeators on the ledge are finding
rich rock, while dry washers are already
at work in several localities along the ledge
and are making good wages.
The report has been circulated that this
is probably the lost Pegleg mine. The
proposition is sabsurd on its face. The Peg
leg mine is on q direct line between the
Colorado River at about the Needles and
Warmers Pass, away to the southeast
from Los Angeles. 1t is not more than
three days horseback ride from Warmers
ranch, and is couple of hundred miles or
so from st. Elmo-the name given the new
camp.