Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-09-17
WILLIAMSVILLE,
Gold in Williamsville.
The "GOId Fever" of 80 Recalled---R
Valuable Suggestion for Would-Be
KIondlkers,

The "GoId Fever" of 80 RecaIIed---a
Valuable Suggestion for Would-Be
KlOndIlkers.
About 30 years ago a lump Of gold was found
in that part of Newfane known as Williamsville
in what is now called 'Schoolhouse brook, which
weighed eight and one half ounces. The man
VINO found this nugget is now living, as are many
who saw it Immediately after its discovery. Since
that period gold digging has been dormant in that
vicinity until it was stimulated by the frequent
reports Of gold discoveries In corresponding for
nations throughout the state. Within a few
days the fever has broken out in a violent, and,
we fear vrulent form promising well for an cpl
demic.
One day last week two Of our villagers, both of
them returned Cafornians, went to Williams
vile prospecting for gold, and it was reported
that they found two or three small specimens of
the auriferous metal, Last Monday o. L Sher'
man and o. l.. Lincoln found very nice sample
in the same locality in the first pan of dirt wash
ed The next day Mr. Sherman aud c. X. Field
visited the "diggins " and found three excellent
specimens. By this time the news spread and
the excitement in that little village rose at once
to fever heat. On Wednesday the venerable vii.
liam II. Williams TOR whom the village was
named) c. X. Field o. L. Sherman and o. L.
Lincoln formed company, and are engaged 10
making and putting into operation machine
with which to wash the golden sands" They
are determined to see whether gold can be OBJ
tanned in sufficient quantities to pay for digging
and washing it. We hope their enterprise will be
successful.
The above item appeared in The Php-
nix of July 80, 1859. The nugget of gold
referred to is thus mentioned in the New
fame history: "a nugget of native gold,
weighing eight and one-half ounces, was
found in this town in 1927, about 100 rods
east of the village of Williamsville. 1t
was of conical shape and there were ad-
herring to it a number of small crystals of
quartz. 1t was found in aluvion consist
ing of thin strata of sand, clay and water
worn stones" The company formed to
work the "diggins' constructed a system
of spouts for washing the sand and gravel,
but not finding the yellow metal at once in
| paying quantities soon abandoned the en-
terprise. There were croakers in those
days who advanced the idea that the speci-
mems of gold referred to were of Calfor-
MIA extraction and were dropped by the re-
turned miners purposely to be re-dscove--
ed, but they were people who didn't be-
leve in the enterprise for the reason that
they were on the outside.
In the minds of many no doubts exist
that there is much gold in this section and
that in view of the great hardships exist
ing in the Klondike country this is much
more promising field of operation. Gold
lands can now be bought here at a very
reasonable figure. Supplies of all kinds
are plentiful and cheap-eXcept potatoes
Instead of levying tribute on the miners
our people are willing that they shah hav,
all there is in it, and in addition will throw
around them the blessings and protection
of as high civilization as exists on tn,
American continent.