El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-15
HOW HE DISCOVERED IT
And the Litigation He Had To
Go Through Before Get
ting a Clear Title To
His Claim.

| Prof. William Niver, noted explorer,
arc b aeologist, mineralogist and pros
pector, of New York, arrived in Ell
Paso last night from the City of Mex
leo and leaves tonight for New York.
He has recently located the Guerrero
mine, one of the richest mines in Mex
leo.
Prof. Niven went to Leadville as q
prospeotor in 1879. In 1880 he went to
New Mexico IS miner and prospector
In 1883 he fwas commissioner of Lin
coin county, New Mexico, at the Santa
Fe Mining exposition. In 1884, as
assay commissioner for Arizona he was
in charge of the mining exhibits of
New Mexico and Arizona at the New
Orleans exposition.
From that time on for several years
mems for museums. In 1889 he went to
the state OF Guerrero, Mexico, lin
search of mineral specimens for schools
and colleges. While there he found
the prehistoric ruins which made him
famous as collector of such material.
A large collection of specimens from
the ruins was sent to New York and
thenceforth Prof. Niven made several
trips into Guerrero for the purpose of
tbering specimens from these ruins.
In 1894 he made a trip for the
Museum of Natural History in New
York, the expenses Of which were
paid by Morris K. Jesup, of that city.
After his return he delivered lecture
before the American Geographical
Society, in New York, on the result
of his trip, exhibiting photographs,
and afterward lectured to various
scientific societies.
At the came time Prof. Niven never
lost sight of his main object, the
mineral resources OF the country, and
continued his prospecting.
Eacly last spring, while prospecting
for placer gold in Guerrero an Indian
cacique brought him piece of quartz
containing much free gold which he
said he had taken from Otatlan. Prof.
Niven accompanied him to the place,
arriving there on March II last. The
Indian had permission to explore,
which carries with IL the exclusive
right to denounce, or stake, a claim for
three months from the time of issue.
Although this had but week to run
Mr.. Niven bargaiued with the Indian
for the permission for S45OO in silver,
to be paid within thirty days. He
went to the City of Mexico and re-
turned with the money on time and on
the following day, April Is, denounced
ten pertenencias, or about twenty-five
acres.
On his return from the City of
Mexico he found that Mexican had
taken samples of ore from the mine in
his absence, which he had shipped to
his partner. He claimed he had the
right to explore from the owner of the
land, who lives at Chilpancingo. The
land which he claimed to own was
called Campo Morado, in the dis
trict of Bravos, four leagues from
Otatlsn. The Mexican claimed that
the ownership OF this land covered the
right to explore the Otatlan district
and denounced 200 pertenencias. This
was the beginning of litigation which |
has just been settled in Prof. Niven's
favor, Prof. Niven DOW having q clear
title to the Osatlan mine, which be
calls the Guerrero mine.
Prot. Niven, after his return to the
mine, shipped six tons of ore to the
City of Mexico, having got permission
from the Mexican government to chip
ten tons. Upon the arrival of the ore
in the City of Mexico, the Mexican
who disputed the claim preferred q |
charge against Prof. Niven of steal
ing the ore, which charge detained
him in the City of Mexico for two
months. The charge was finally dls-
missed. The Mexican then made a J
protest in Coyuca de Catalan in the
district where the mine is located.
The protest was not accepted by the
agent. Prof. Niven then got an en-