The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-31

COPPER MINES FOUND
In Pottawatomie County, of
Great Richness.
OLD SPANISH WORKINGS
Romance Comes to Light in
Connection Herewith.

Guthrie. o. T., Oct. o.--Along with the
announcement that copper has been dis
covered in paying quantities in Pottawat-
omie county comes a romantic story Of
the death of six Spaniards by vengeful
Indians in that vicinity long ago. Both
are given currency by the Shawnee Quill.
OF the find, with the romantic incidental
episode, the Quill says: "A field of cop
per, one of the richest in yield yet unde-
veloped, lies at the gateway of Shawnee.
In the region close to Sacred Heart. in
the southeast part of Pottawatomie
running from about six miles northeast
of Sacred Heart to six miles southwest
of that point, and six miles wide, or COW
ering an area of sixty square miles,
whose surface is underIaid with metal
bearing rock that yields SO 1-3 per cent
copper. Samples have been melted in
crude way IN this city and others sent
to expert .assayers for tests. A hole
about Il feet deep suffices for present
operations but is being lowered TO
point where tunneling can be made prac-
ticable. At this depth there is sufficient
ore in sight to warrant the undertaking
being all its projectors hoped for. Sew
eral gentlemen from this city have visit
ed the new discovery and interested
themselves financially in its behalf
1.-The region is one mined by the Span
zF l,.asv-
handiwark have been uncovered by pros
pectors in the new development. Old
fashioned furnaces, about 6 by S feet,
used for melting the rocks. were dug up,
and nuggets of melted copper are here
and there. mute testimonials to the pio-
neers' daring and their almost forgotten
tragic ending. Before civilization invad-
ed the territory and the Indian rule was
supreme, small party of Spaniards dis
covered the wealth in the jagged hills
near what is now Sacred Heart. But
while they worked the Indians watched
with jealous eyes, and foreseeing the set
Ting Of the country with whites, If the
miners became too prosperous, they de-
cided upon their extinction. About sixty
can be fixed, the Delaware Indians in
habited a village known as Delaware
Springs. which was fourteen miles south
west of Tecumseh. There a council Of
war was held to decide the fate of the
invaders. The result was night attack
and six Spaniards were butchered. How
many escaped is not known, but it is be-
lfeved not over two or three. The coun-
try around is marked by steep. rugged
bluffs and cut up by deep ravines. It
was between the hills and at the june
ton of two of these draws that the trag-
edy occurred. The story is not recorded.
so far as can be learned at this time, and
only few people know OF its existence,
and their only knowledge of the affair
was learned in other parts of the coun-
try long ago. from the lips of travellers
who discussed the subject with friends
or chance acquaintance.
after years of idleness. when the saw
ages have been tanned, the ingenuity Of
man is again turned to the development
of the industry so suddenly terminated
by the vengeful hand of the Delaware
Indians, which at that time was the most
powerful tribe in this section of the coun-
try. but 1t now almost extinct"