The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-02


palmiest days while the rush for loca-
tons and town lots bids fair 10 con-
tinue until every available foot OF land
IL secured and worked. That the craze
Tor gold IL founded on reason. however,
IL net 20 be denied. Unlike other dis
eoyeries. the mines In the Ragged Top
country require only a small outlay OF
capital and then that can be had BY
shipping few tons OF rock TO the
smelter and turning II into gold. The
rich hnds at Ragged Top were purely
accidental. In the early days the pros
peetora In their search for gold con-
hned their explorations chiefly 10 the
Idea that gold existed IN the potsdam
and earboniferoua formations OF which
the Ragged Top finds are composed.
The story OF the first End OF gold In
The Ragged Top district IL told 10 every
newcomer. A party Of prospeetOra
passing through on their way 10 the
Terry gold camp picked up a few pieces
OF the limestone formation near the
mouth OF an old shaft that had been
abandoned years before and thinking
there might be a few grains Of gold in
the workings they ventured a dollar TO
have the stun assayed. The result
startled them. The assayer told the
men that the rock which they had
brought him was worth $500 a ton.
They az once returned 10 the place and
i'aked on their claims and after gath.
iring up all the loose rocks lying near
them they shipped them 20 a shelter
and secured several thousand dollars.
IN the meantime some Of the miners.
Who had located the ground previous 20
he ind. had become dlshear,ened and
an old Jew happening along one day a
proposition was made 10 him 20 sell
him one OF the claims for an even 500.
Like others Of bis race the Jew was
crafty. and realizing that the property
was worth more than the amount
asked. he nevertheless would no, aocede
TO their terms After considerable bag.
Cling. however he bought the claim for
i've suits Of clothes worth $50. When
The value Of the property became
known he commenced shipping the ore
and sold $4,000 worth OF the rocks
afterwards dlSposing Of his claim for
$4,000.
II Il not every day tina, luck strikes
young man az Il ala William Daey.
Like all OF the early settlers in Ne.
braska he held down a claim IN Box
Butte county, living the life common
10 baehelorhood In a sod shanty. This
was eleven or twelve years ago He
always managed 10 earn a good living
holding himself free and Independent
to come and 20 and do a. he pleased
During the last year or two be has De.
voted his time TO prospecting IN the
Black Hills. Places which old miners
and prospeciors passed over with con.
tempt he eamped At and staked his
fortune. He struck Il. and struck II
rich. The Burlington railway com
pany. prompt In recognizing the value
OF his discovery. established a station
near RAGGED Top. and to-day his and
is exciting az great a boom az any gold
Geld yet discovered In the west. VII.
liam has solo out an Interest for $4,000
Just enough 70 keep himself In funds
while prospecting his claims. Two
months ago all was quiet In the valley
where to-day thousand souls push
and struggle In an endeayor to gain
choice locations or buy an option on
one. There are three town sites now
laid out and plated. adjoining one an.