The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-02-16
RIVERS OF GOLD.
STRIKING SCENES AT MINES IN
THE BLACK HILLS.
Oihercnt Methods Used to Woo the
Precious hetal From Its Ores
How Mountains Are Robbed
Millions Run Wasted.

strung along a deep iurro "
climbing tho range. The
former has more pretentioul and
| metropolitan aspect, with some neat
shops ana handsome blocks of brick
ana stone. It's dwellings, seem to
s.Gnd or shelves IN c.rcliug tiers MP
the steep mountain side, and their
windows overlook the streets below.
At night these towering mountain
galleries are aglow with the lights of
many windows, AID one might imagine
himself looking at some mlrvel O..
modern architecture.
There's feature OF night life in
Deadwood that is beautiful AMI more
fascinating than tho games OF chlnce
the rivers OF molten metal, the cas-
cades of flowing Stag and smoking,
fiery gold; the scintilIating Hood spout
ing out OF the forehenrths and i!lu-
minGtlng tho darkness, the miniature
Nesuvii Of powdered ore below tho
chuies growing with red avaIanrhcs
fresh from the rooster.
From one Of tho forehearths they
have made winding course of sGud,
perhaps sixty feet long, into VIII. CHI
the fiery product of the furnace flows
rich with gold-so rich that pot OF 1t
no larger than an old-iashiopel potato
kettle would sell for $3.50. 1t is liter
ally river of gold-the precious
metal can be plainly distinguished as
1t comes smoking from the furnace and
sinks in the flood, being heavier than
the metals from which 1t Is parting
company.
This process of fusing the ore, which
Is more spectacular than any other, il
employed by one OF the companies.
The ore is shoveled into the furnace
with coke, lime rock and pyrites OF
iron, which are used for fusiug. The
ire Is used with n blast OF wind that
would run Presidential campaign.
The Stag lows out Of the furnace over
the perforated top of the forehearth.
and tho weight OF the gold curries 1t
through the perforation into the fore
hearth, while the Stag flows over il
then tho forehearIh is tapped and the
mat OF gold and silver is drawn into z
pc. on trucks.
When the mat is cooled it is beaten
with sleJge hammer and shipped to
Omaha to be separated.
many branches that grip the hills
round about Deedwood. No less hot
anl suggestive is the mill OF the
chlorinGtion works, where tue gold is
kept in tanks-a yellow liquid that
loois like sweet cider. Here the ore
is puiverized and then fed into big
barrels of iron, revolving horizon
tally, where it Is roasted TO get rid of
the sulphur by flame that shoots
through big hole in one end OF the
barrel.
The powdered ore is then treated
with chlorine gas, whereupon the gold
flows out of it in solution. Then it is
clurnel awhile In big, lead lined
tank until the gold comes like butter
IN black powder that settles to the
bottom. 70 be more severely scien-
tiiic, the gold and other metals are
preclpitate1 by adding sodium sui
phde to the solution and stirring it
to Ia ten and intensity this chemical
action. The gold is then caught in
series of cloth strainers, which are
burned to release the metal.
There is still another process OF
pulling the leg of mother nature in
tho Black Hills. II is Gale the
cyanide process. At the mill of this
company the powdered ore is run into
great circular vats and treated with
cyanide Of potassium, after which the
gold is leached out OF it in solution.
This liquid then flows through a series
o. boxes, each OF which is filled with
zinc shaYinCs. The zinc loves tho
4 a.
welded for a season-uLtIl Monday
OF the succeeding week, to be exact
when they arc divorced by fire, tho
gold being cast into bricks aud sent TO
the money changers.
The mill would look like a common
cheese factory if it were not so dirty.
The air is rank with fumes, oud ono of
the yorkmen told me it made whiskers
grow in his windpipe, by which he
Iaeant to say no doubt, that it was
Berious offence TO his lungs.
The HOmcstake niue at Letd City
is the most monumental hole in the
ground in the Black Hills, and fancy
j would be hard 90 find the like Of Il
anywhere else. They cay that Hearst.
LOuusberry, Haggin and others
'''' n'aN ~ -'.iAP AffaAAl ~ = cars NAO lOE
one hundred thou sand dollars. Since
then they have taken ont of 10 hard
on to hundred million dollars. They
have ground up several OF tho over
lasting hills, so called, and torn the
bowels ont Of two mountains. Now
they shy there is enough paying ore in
sight to last twenty years.
There Is u rapid stream flowing
along the road TO Load City Chat isred.
as it stained with the blood OF the
mountains standing rent and soro
about Lead City. The shaft is nine
hundred feet deep, and the orc com
ing mp tho hoist at tho TOP of the
mountain is fed into the roaring muz.
z'os OF tho great vorticls crushors.
Then it foxes % slide 30 the stamp mill
down the gu'cb. Here four hundred
aud sixty big iron shafts arc pounding
mp ana down upon the ore like pile
drivers Probably tho roar OF
thousand cinnon would not appeal
more strongly TO the senses. Ones
i0ulcst shout cannot DO heard even by
his own ears.
The ore is fed to the stampst through
sort of hopper, and tho powdered
product drOue into an artificial ,t~r~