The San Francisco call., 1897-08-15

gold have for ages lain beneath Trinity's
surface only awaiting some such an up
heaval as is now taking place there.
For years past Trinity has been consid-
cred one of the richest gold producing
counties in the State, and capitalists and
mining men of means have had their eyes
turned in that direction for some time.
The only drawback has been the base
quality OF the ore and the trouble and ex-
pense of getting the necessary machinery
into the various camps with which to
work the ore. Now that the exact value
of the mining property in the county is
known miners will be more encouraged in
their work of development and will be
more willing to spend money in the pur-
suit of gold
The Coffee Creek excitement is being
the means OF reviving the mining interests
throughout entire Northern California, or
at least in that portion through which the
great mineral belt is known 10 traverse.
The delightful climate, the prolific noun
tain streams and beautiful scenery have
been somewhat of an obstacle in the way
of development work. Prospectors would
lit themselves out with expensive outfits
and enter the county with honest purposes
and enthusiastic intentions TO seek the
hidden riches. They would strike camp
In some favorable spot aud become SO in
fatuated with the fishing the hunting, the
climate ard the country generally that all
their mining enthusiasm would be lost in
their eagerness for the wilder sports.
Thus it has been that numerous pros
pectors have gone to the country and re-
turned without having secured any favor
able results and without giving to the
outside world any idea as to the richness
of this now wonderful country,
For years past, however, miners and
prospectors living in the county have at
various times taken out rich pockets of
gold ranging from $50 to $4,000. These
finds hardly ever were brought to the at
tention of the public for the reason that
Trinity miners as rule do not seek roto-
riety, and rest content in sitting down
quietly in some remote part of the county,
calmly smoking their pipe and congratu-
lating the selves over the fact that right
at their very ca bin door they have gold
enough to last them throughout the course
of their natural life.
These resident miners are a sturdy lot.
ings they have made for Trinity reputa-
ton that is very seldom enjoyed by a
mining county. This reputation is one
they are proud of and consists of the fact
that, although it is a typical frontier
county in many respects, it has thus far
been free from the usual distur bing ele-
ments Of a mining camp. No bloodshed,
no bitter rivalries and no quarreling have
been known in this county, and especially
in the Coffee Creek section have the min
ers been lava biding.
To-day there are at least 1000 people
fockng to the Coffee Creek country, and a
great majority are leaving from this city.
From early morning till late at night pros
pecting parties with pack-mules, blankets,
picks and shovels can be seen vending
their way toward Trinity, and with each
incoming train and stage come more
people eager 10 dig for gold and willing to
encounter all kinds of hardships in the
pursuit OF the hidden wealth.
The road between this city and Trinity
Center is constantly lined with vehicles,
pack-animals and pedestrians bound for
the gold fields. This morning James M.
Bryan, proprietor of the Golden Eagle
Hotel in this city-and, who,. by the wav,
is relative of the cause of the last excite
ment up this way. William Jennings
Bryan-left for the gold fields Bryan.
together with two San Jose capitalists
William Frue and Jules Norton-have
taken the most extensive pros
pecting outfit that has yet gone
into the Coffee Creek gold fields.
They were attired in typical '49 outfits
with trio OF anxious-looking iackasses
and all the necessary paraphernalia and
supplies to last them for seasons pros.
pecting. Their appearance on the street
caused no little excitement, and deafen-
ing yell went forth from the multitude of
friends and onlookers as the group de-
parted for Trinity's Klondike.
The regular stages are taxed to their ut
most capacity. This morning the outgo-
ing Weaverviile stage resembled q tally.ho
coach of some pleasure party more than it
did the regular and usually empty stage
coach. There were thirteen passengers
aboard. The superstitious ones, however.
were appeased by the knowledge that the
driver came in as the fourteenth and no
serious result from the number thirteen
are expected to follow.
News OF new and rich strikes are con-
stantly coming in, but none have thus far
equaled the finds of the Graves brothers
and Murphy and Burgess. Union Creek,
a tributary Of Coffee Creek and about
eight miles north of the Graves brothers.
strike, is gaining considerable notoriety
on account of the great copper discovery
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