The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-07
fold value. cons.inins both platinum

III kOI0-
1T 10 . well-known fact" said MT.
Small. that gold has been found IN
the sands Of tie beach all along up 2
down the coast, especially In the Vicinity
81 Siletz. The only place 1t has been
known to exist In paying ~anutie
though. In between Lighthouse CAPE
and Otter rock Otter rock Is a spur OF
the mountains extending from u
mountain to the sea. This ountai
is drained by several small streams.
which empty into the sea south OF otter
rock. OF late years much black san
has accumulated on the beach. OF which
there was a scarcity In Coxs time. II
Is my aim to ascertain II this gold-bear-
ing sand Ia the output OF the sea or
the mountains. We will begin work
about the middle of the month. using
sluice boxes. ] expect to do better on
the creeks In the long run. however.
as the gold found on the beach is un
doubleday wash gold. coming from the
base Of Round mountain"
Mr.. Smalfs surmise is not altogether
groundless. There IL a legend. dating
back to the invasion of sunset land by
hardy pioneers. of the existence of a
fabulous mine of gold in the heart of
the Coast range which no white man
can ever find. Thus far h saying has
proved true. ndians have been known
To come into the valley to trade, paying
for their supplies with fine-grade gold,
but no man could ascertain where 1t
was found. That one man was close
upon the hiding place of the treasure.
however, is evident from the tale told
below.
IN october, 1896, McMinnville was Wis.,
tied by a gray-haired ~argonaut. In the
course OF a few days the object OF his
visit was plainly TO be seen. The news
went round that he was the holder of
- -. A. annnk Edad
mine of the Coast range. When the
news was properly heralded n the
RICH parties were interested a secret
meeting was held. Behind closed doors
the aged argonaut began his story.
About six years ago a land-seeker,
hailing from Nebraska. INVADED the
Coast range In search of a claim. u
ing his wanderings in Lincoln county,
while camped on a small stream, ne de-
tected shining particles of gold on the
creek bottom. His provisions were linn
tied and winter near at hand, yet before
quitting the mountain fastness he
panned out $500 with a common bread
pan and an improvised shovel. BY this
time winter had set i'm, so the d~iseoverer
quit the mountains and returned to Me-
braska, intending to return the follow
ing spring, but the %privations to which
he a been subjected had undermined
his health and before the winter was
over he fell a victim to consumption.
On his deathbed the dying man i'm
parted the secret to a friend, and with
il a rude sketch of the far-away coun-
try. Then he died. With the coming
Of spring the friend visited Portland.
where he, too, sickened and died, but
not before he had given the precious
sketch into the hands of his argonaut
friend. The winter had been trying on
the last-named man and he was snort
of funds. No one would listen to his
story or advance him a grubstake until
he met with sympathetic listeners In
McMinnville.
Having finished his tale the aged man
drew forth a well-worn wallet and pro-
duced the precious parchment of the
dead man. 1t read: "Go to Nashville;
turn north; keep on top of ridge; keep
on top of Granite mountain until you
come to a tree with a crooked hmD,
shape Of an elbow; look toward the
ocean; you will be at the head OF a nat
which leads to a creek; follow the
creek until you see where work has been
done"
A few days later, by agreement, a
man stepped off the oregon Pacific
train at Nashville. He was met by the
a%rgonaut, who had preceded him.. Inc
next day. after securing pack n SAD
die animals, the two men turned tnelr
faces toward Gfdnlte Hlouutaih' ~
that day they pushed on. Nightfall
found them within a few miles of the
golden Mecca. The night passed. sun
rise found them in the saddle n
trouble came. They were already UNI
der the shadow of the spook. The rihe
shot that rang out on the quiet morn
ing air a few minute later was followed
by a scream of pain. The pheasant went
unframed. Not SO with the mar be-
hind the gun. The disfigured race toio
the tale-the rife barrel was rent In
twain.
The wounded man was X TO the
valley for medical treatment; the aseo
companion again turned his face west
ward in quest of the mythical NINE;
Two weeks passed away. Then WORD
came that the Inflated argonaut mao
| fallen a victim to the spook. lie was
found cold in death at the foot OF Gran
lite mountain.
Tbe little. f~ern-covered mound, deep
in a rock ribbed canyon beside the bah
bling brook marks the spot where he
died: the mar that carries the nie-ions
-- No 4 ~ NIlIalfR-