The San Francisco call., 1898-02-11
SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS 4 TON What James T. O'Brien'S Klondike Quartz
 Assays. The Lucky Prospector Tells of How He Stumbled Over
 Bonanza. Will Shortly Return From Seattle With Powder and Tools to
 Open the Ledge
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SEATTLE, Feb. 10.-Some days ago The Call referred to the discovery of rich gold quartz in the Klondike dis trict by James T. O'Brien. He brought out samples of ore from the bottom of the shaft and left them at Juneau to be assayed. To-day MT. O'Brien re- ceived a letter from John Olds. pro prietor of the Occidental Hotel at Ju- neau, which stated that the report of the assayers at Treadwell Mine gave the value of the ore as $5S00 in gold and ninety ounces of silver. The ledge from which this remarkably rich ore was taken is three feet wide and gives every evidence of being a true lead.
 This tells the story of one of the richest discoveries that have yet been made on the Yukon. It was early in December that MT. O'Brien discovered croppings of quartz lead while cross ing the ridge between the head of Fl Dorado Creek and Quartz Creek, a branch of the Indian River He traced the ledge on the bare top of the ridge for some 5000 feet and sank a small prospect shaft where the crop pings appeared best. On the last trip of the Corona MT. O'Brien came into Seattle. But no one knew that he was the real discoverer of Klondike quartz, as he said nothing about it. for he did not know how the ore he had left at Juneau would assay.
 But then he did not tell any one that he had $25,00O in drafts, for he is one of the most reserved indi- viduals that have yet come out of the To- %l% l. l. news which leads him to believe that he has located the best claim in the klondyke coutry he does not care to talk about 1t, but finally told the story of the discovery to the Call corre- spondent tonight. He said:
 Early in December there was stampede to Quartz Creek, tributary of the Indian River. With a number of others I started across the ridge from Fl Dorado Creek, hoping to get a claim. The top of the ridge between the two creeks had been laid bare of snow by the high winds.
 Almost on the very top of the ridge I noticed mineral croppings. I was in- terested in quartz finds, for several stringers of quartz had been struck shortly before in the bedrock prospect holes on the gulches. It was not very difficult to trace the ledge, which
 
 on both sides of the croppings that had at first attracted my attention for a distance of 5000 feet. I then gave up the race to Quartz Creek, and decided to prospect the ledge. With pick and shovel I dug at the point where the croppings appeared best to a depth of four feet. Then struck a solid forma- tion, and having no drills or powder could go no further. l hastened to Dawson and located two claims, call ing the lead Ophir Mining Ledge.
 II had to come out for grub supply, so I contracted with Cal. Rrosius to take me out for $500. According to our agreement I was unable to bring out any quantity of the ore, but loaded my pockets with samples taken from the ledge. I have had some experience in quartz mining in Wyoming and South eastern Alaska, and the ledge appears to be a true one. The ore I left at Ju- neau to be assayed at the Treadwell mine.
 T have just received letter from my old friend, John Olds of Juneau, which states that the assay ran $5SOO in gold and ninety ounces in silver. That is mighty rich ore, even from the golden Klondike, and I have hard ly had time to figure it out I will go back in few months with powder and tools to open up the ledge. as I think it is better than the placer interests I have"