Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-20
A LOST SILVER NINE.
INTERESTING STORY OF ONE IN
GEORGIA.
How an Indian Paid N Debt of GRAFT
ftude An Adventurous Ride
Efforts to Rediscover the Tren-
sure-TrndItions.

many parts or tniS country nave tOSt
Mines" Judge John C. Eve is one of
the oldest and best-known citizens of
North Georgia. He was for a long
period a director in the Rome Railroad
Company, was In charge of the Con-
federate armory in Rome during the
war, and has been justice of the peace
i'm his militia district for many years,
so that he occupies a high position
among the people of this section. IL
was he who told me the story OF the
Lost Silver Mine" OF Georgia, which
has been the subject OF so much specu-
lation. few days ago when l was on
a visit 10 his big plantation, on the
Etowah river.
For several years before the departure
of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia,
there lived upon the place which his
father purchased, and which was after
wards Incorporated in the plantation that
he now owns, an old Spaniard, by the
name of Macheca, who was an ADEPT in
the art Of turning out trinkets OF all
sorts. He was a pretty fair jeweller,
and he also understood manipulating the
native ores of this section. The Indians
had become acquainted with some source
OF supply whence they obtained an abun.
dance of silver-bearlng ore of such rich
ness that old Macheca was enabled to
extract from 1t by the crudest methods
the silver which he made up into armlets,
anklets, and other ornaments, exacting
half the metal as his compensation for
the work.
The Indians were very careful to con-
ceal the identity OF their mine, and its
whereabouts was only known to a few
individuals. Those i'm the secret would
leave their wigwams at night, and by the
most circuitous routes would reach their
destination, taking the Indians care to
conceal their trail They would remain
away one night, and on the night of
the second day they would return with
their ponies laden with the precious
ore. All attempts TO follow them were
thwarted by their extreme caution and
their skill in eluding pursuit Brides
were offered to them i'm vain as they
had a superstition that the mines were
guarded by evil spirits. who had it in
their power to visit the most terrible ven
geance upon the heads of those who
should reveal the location.
Judge Eve came of an old family living
81 ANAbNAg OLA - - w A'ii liz, ldNHtA
removed to Augusta he had a cousin
there who was already eminent in the
medical profession, and under whom
young John Eve was placed to study
medicine He showed little inclination
for the profession, however. and In 1876
came TO his fathers plantation In Floyd
county. There were a few Indians still
remaining In the old Nation, and among
them was Jack McAllister. a half breed,
who, with his wife, applied to John Eve
for treatment, they having heard that he
was a medical man. AS their ailments
were not serious, he. by the aid of a few
simple remedies, soon restored them to
health.
The half-breed was exceedingly CRATE
full, but very poor. He approached
young Eve one day and told him that
he was going away to join his people, I'm
the far West. He said that he had no
money, but that If his friend would go
with him he would show him something
that would be Of vast benefit to him in
after days. The proposal excited the
interest OF the young man, and he agreed
TO accompany the half-breed on his mys
FERROUS trip. 1t was on dark night in
the summer of 1A7 that they set out,
mounted on a couple OF indian ponies.
They rode through the forest in the di-
rectiOn of Pine Log mountain. about
twenty miles away At that time there
were no roads through the country, and
the Indian trails leading from point TO
point were ill-defned. so that nobody
but a man accustomed TO picking his
way through the forests could find his
way. even in daylight. McAllister rode
in front, and Eve allowed his pony TO
follow.
After riding at a lively gate for about
five hours, the leader halted, and, in an
undertone told his companion to dis
mount. The half-breed carefully secured
the horses, and signed to the young man
TO follow him as he picked his way
through the thick underbrush up the
steep hilI-slope. They walked half or
three fourths of mile through the
woods until they reached dense
thicket. into which the half-breed
plunged, lifting the overhanging boughs
that fell like a screen behind them. A
few PAGES brought them 10 the mouth OF
a small cavern. descending abruptly into
the side OF the mountain, and they en-
tered feeling their way carefully for
short distance. Then the half-breed
whispered to his companion to be care
ful as they would have to descend
rude ladder, made Of a pine-tree set In
the shaft. its branches furnishing foot
holds. and, where there were no limbs
notches had been cut in the body of the
trunk.
Hand over hand McAllister descended,
Eve following him with a good zeal OF
trepldation. At the bottom OF the mole
they paused. and Eve. having some luci-
fer matches In his pocket, struck one, so
as 10 get his bearings. But McAllister
quickly blew It out, and gave him a good
rating i'm an undertone for his temerity
I'm daring 10 strike light within the
sacred precincts Of the mysterious guard
ians Of the place.
Grooming around. McAllister raised
huge fiat stone and motioned 10 Eve 10
descend The latter felt his way down
the slippery entrance. The half-breed in
structed him to I'LL his pockets with
whatever he should find inside. After de-
scending some distance. the floor OF the
cavern became level and the young man
could feel Jumps beneath his feet With
these he crammed his pockets. not know
ing how valuable they might prove TO be.
Suddenly he was startled by hearing the
half-breed calling to him to come out.
you been long 'nough. come out or
shut you up" Stumbling along the
rough and narrow passage he reached the
point where he had left his conductor
who hurriedly but carefully replaced the
stone. and they assembled by the same
rude ladder which they had come down.
When thee reached the surface a thun-
der-storm was in progress and the half
breed began TO mutter incantations TO
the spirits, at the same time bemoaning
the fact that they had been aroused 10
anger through the conduct OF himself and
his companion. He evidently regarded
the thunderstorm as a direct manifesto
ton Of the displeasure of the guardian
cenii.
They FASTENED down the slope. mounted
their horses, and, guided by the lightning.
rode away i'm a direction different from