Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-22
NOT MUCH FREE GOLD.
COPPER KING NOT A bonanza.
Rocky Mountain News Says the Claims of
New Greenhorn District Arc EIngcr-
atcd

Denver. Dec. 2l.-A dispatch from
Canon City to the News says:
II there Is any more free gold left on
the Copper King lode. 1t was not shown
In n most critical and thorough Cxam-
nation of the vein to-day.
Iarrived ut Dawson City about 9::s0
o'clock this morning. and half an hour
later had made the climb up the noun
tain side back OF the discovery which
has now created such widespread cN-
element and interest. remained there
for nearly four hours. During all this
time there We're never less than twenty
persons ut and about the prospect. AS
one or more left. after satisfying their
curiosity or completing their invcstiga-
tion. others took their places. None OF
the owners We're present until about !
O'Clock, so that the crowd had free
hand to search as II pleased. Very
many of the crowd We're old miners.
and the majority OF them from Victor
and Cripple Greek. With pick and
hammer they worked on the vein.
breaking OF pieces OF ore. In full view
of NIL who We're there. nndSarefully In
specting each specimen with the eye.
as well as with magnifying glasses.
Not trace of free gold was found.
nor was any ore discovered which was
regarded as of high value. These are
the cold facts. and yet 1t is also fact
that frec-gold specimens have been
taken from this property.
1t is impossible to question the integ-
rity or the veracity of the Dawsons,
father and sons. and other owners of
the Copper King. They are vouchcd
for by the best people in Canon City.
and their statements already published
n I'm fnllnl
gold ore are accepted as perfectly true.
In my talk with one of the Dawson
boys to-day was impressed with his
entire honesty and truthfulness. l
have also interviewed more persons
who took specimens from the mine
showing free gold. One Of them, Il. Il.
Thomas. Il bicycle dealer In this city.
and most reputable business man.
was ut the Copper King yesterday af-
ternoon after the last shot was put in.
and with his miners pick took out Il
piece of mineral which when broken
plainly shows free gold. l have seen
two specimens of 1t.
Fred Wilson, clerk of the District
Court, and thoroughly reliable young
man. Is another who took specimens
from the mine last Sunday. J. IL.
Bonn, u fruit grower near this city. Is
another who showed me free-gold spec
linens. which he says lie took from the
mine on Wednesday last.
+. w. White. proprietor of the st.
Cloud hotel, also has two specimens.
one of which he took from the mine on
Sunday and the other on Monday.
George Sharpley. one of Teddy Roose-
velts Rough Riders. is also said by
L. L. Thomas to have taken gold speci
mems from the mine, but l have not
been able to find him.
Upon this statement of facts the
readers of the News can form their
own conclusions as to whether or not
this is Il bonanza. For myself, basing
my opinion on my observations or TO-
day, do not believe that 1t Is n bonan-
za. and, from the general appearance OF
things, do not believe it ever Will be.
If continued development gives any ia
vorable results. it will be found to be a
copper mine carrying gold in very
small quantities. The copper mines
now being worked on the Cache In
Poudre above Fort Collins carry IS In
gold The Copper King lies within
few cone-like hills upon the side of the
Greenhorn range, at least 1000 feet
above Canon City.
The formation is granite. and sew
eral large masses of rock crop out
along the mountain side. looking for
all the world like old-fashioned French
windows on old-style houses.
Pueblo, Colo, Dec. 2O.-F. X. Chew,
who went thoroughly over the Copper
King vein. on Grape creek, near Canon
City, and secured samples from the
full width of the vein, to-day had an
assay made of the rock he took out of
the mine.
Complete calculations of the returns
have not yet been made. but, In the
words of the assayer who made the
tests and reported to Mr.. Chew, as a
gold proposition the vein, as Indicated
by the samples, Twill not pay in thou
sand years. s...-,
Mr.. Chew says that there is undoubt-
edly pocket deposit of free-gold ore
OH the properties. but that he is now
convinced. from the assay as well as
from his former opinion. that it is n
copper proposition, and not gold.