The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-03-09

a LOST SILVER MIN! q.
The Man That Owned Il Died with
the Secret OF It's Location. s55s

the Secret OF Its Location.
About half a century ago rich sil-
Z yer vein was found on the copper range
south of Houghton. and the silver ex-
element throughout Houghton county
was at fever heat Every body had the
craze, but there was only one man who
knew the whereabouts Of the vein. Az
the time above mentioned a trapper
and bunter named Draper brought into
Houghton a number Of very rich silver
specimens. but where they came from
he never told, and the secret always re-
manned a secret with him. He was
known to be making his home in the
vicinity of Penn mine, on the south
range, with the Indians who were very
Numerous in this part of the country.
It was not a great while after Draper
made this trip to Houghton that he got
into trouble with the Indians, shot one
Of them and escaped from the country.
he returned some years later, and, tax
ing partner, went into the woods
again. The two remained there, coming
to town for provisions from time to
time and bringing as much silver in
nuggets as they, could carry. When the
war broke out, Draper's partner enlist
ed in the first company that left Hough-
ton and was killed in the battle of Bull
Run. Draper remained in the woods
and died there. carrying the secret Of
the big silver find with him to the 9th
er world. s.53.{ st A.s4 @
A few years after Draper's death 1g-
natius zeeber, who was conducting a
!. tailoring establishment in r. Anse, hav-
ny removed there from Houghton, got
the silver craze and gave up his bust
ness to search for Diapers mine. DUR
ing the 30 years that have passed since
+ that time Zeeber, or as he is more IA
miliarly kne.yn to those who frequent
: the woods, t'Silver Fritz, has remained
at the Penn mine, in the vicinity Of
which Draper was supposed to have To-
Gated the silver, but whether he has
succeeded in locating the coveted silver
mine is not known. Some think he has,
but the majority who know him say
they are positive he has not. The old
man, for he is now about so years Of
age, is often seen by landlookers, who
say shat he resembles a wild man very
much, his hair and full beard being long
and shaggy, his clothes old and torn
and his person very poorly kept. A
stranger would not have the nerve to
pass him in the road, but to those who
know him he is as meek as lamb, and
all say he would injure no one 81
Besides Zeeber several parties have
spent months at a time securing the
woods but no one has obtained even a
glimpse of anything that looks like ell
yer, and all gave up the hunt in disgust
Ii With the opening up of the old mines
as well as many new ones on the range
between Houghton and Ontonagon the
question is asked, Is it not probable
that Draper's find will be discovered7 ~
Il is well known fact that the old
Belt mine, which, together with the
Penn mine, is now under option to
Chicago capitalists, produced consider
able silver when last worked, and it
may be that the Chicago people OF
those owning the land in close prox-
unity to theirs will have the good for
tune to locate what is said to be one Of
The richest silver veins in the country.
Detroit News.