Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-11-17
A FAMOUS OLD MINER.

Tombstone Gulch.
The Pacific coast newspapers have
been full of stories about Edward
Schieifolin, one of The discoverors of
the Tombstone mines, who was found
dead in a cabin in eastern Oregon. His
remains, according to his wish, now
rest upon tho top of granite peak two
miles west of Tombstone, A. T. He dc.
sired, he said, "to be buried in the garb
of prospector, my old pick and can.
teen with me, aud a monument such as
prospeotors build when locating min
ing claim built over my grave and 10
other monument or slab erected"
II seems to be generally folt through
out the Pacific coast that this plain,
ignorant, kind hearted old pioneer and
prospectOr, who had travelled many
thousands Of miles in search of new
mines has thus unconsciously made his
mark upon our romance and history.
That lonely granite cairn in the desert,
rising upon tho extreme point of n tree
less promontory, will long be pointed
out as the grave of one of the most ia
nous Of American prospectors.
Ed Schieffelin's one great strike
yielded him fully third of 81, 900, 600.
AT various times in his adventurous
career he plodded painstakinSly over
the widest portions Of the Rocky moan
tains and Sierras, he visited Alaska,
Mexico, South America and South
Africa, but never again found such
mine. When he died, bis fortune, at
one time said to be over $500, 600, had
! greatly decreased by reason of bad in
vestments and costly expeditions.
The story of the finding OF Tomb.
stone that briefly famous Arizoniau
mining city, has been told i'll many
different ways, until it is fast becom-
| ing one Of the most attractive Of Pacific
coast myths. Tho simple facts are that
late in the seventies the two Schieffelin
brothers ana Dick Grid were prospect
ing, sometimes together, sometimes
separately, in various districts OF Ari-
IONA and New Mexico. Il was time
of terrible Indian outbreaks, and the
Apaches were on the warpath, killing
lonely miners and prospectors, attack
!
cattle. I'd SchiCffolin finally wandered
into the neighborhood of disputed
claim, tho Bronco, where eight men
had been shot in various attempts TO de-
eide its ownership, aud was hired at 80
q day 20 sit on hilltop and look out
for Indians. One day, whilo hunting
up stray horse, the hitherto unsuccess
full prCspector stumbled into what was
afterward called Tombstone Guloh and
found some copper stained rock ON what
became the Tough Nut mine. This ne
sent TO Grid for an assay, and soon after
sent ore from the LUCKY Cuss. When
development was begun, q thin vein III
! granite widened, and promised immense
riches. The claims were sold for very
large SUMS, and when the Apaches Were
driven out capitalists poured money in
to the district. But the mines did not
justify expectations. Tombstone was
very lar from being second Comstock.
The un'ucky BrOncho never paid dol
lar. The Schioffelin and Grid claims
yielded for time but soon ran cut,
and the camp sank into decay.
The first time / met Schiofelin, that
most typical of western prospcctors,
was about six years ago. After hearing
some Of his picturesque prospector
yarns / ted him about the various
treasure expeditions to Coos island aud
the legends which had caused these e%-
elements. He seized upon the glitter
ing tale Of diamond hiltod swords, bags
of doubloons and bars of gold with the
faith of child and at once offered to
fit out schooner for the islands and to
pay my expenses as well as give me u
third Of the treasure if would 60 along
to repeat the legend as often as desired.
thing, he said, except pirate treasures.
and he wanted those diamond hiltod
swords to "put in his psrlor."
l did not know at that time the story
about his parlor. Having bought Il
5000 house in the town OF Alameda,
he kept several tons of quartz in one
corner, on top Of which his old pros.
pecting tools, burro's saddle and camp
outfit reposed when not in use. never
heard what his wife thought Of this
unique furniture, but there is no doubt
that the diamond hilted swords would
have rested peacefully GU the quartz
| pile, and it was with sincere regrets
that acknowledged to him my entire
lack of faith in tho picturesque Spanish
legend of Coos island.
Sohiedelin's Alaska experiences have
long deserved chronicler He fitted
out an expedition years ago and pros
pected over vast areas of that region.
His little steamboat assembled the broad
Yukon, and the party wintered in the
interior. One man, since dead, Charles
Farciot, remained behind when the
steamer returned to prospect further.
When he dGaired to return, he built one