Arizona republican., 1899-12-05
THAT PLATINUM FIND.
Assayers Reports Indicate That II Is
 the Real Thing.


 Speaking of the recent platinum find near Williams in it's latest issue the News says:
 At first many doubted the existence of platinum in this district; for the find" seemed too good to be true; yet while all doubted it more or less. the most skeptical, as usual, were the we'll versed mining mine experts, etc, and men who claimed to have examined every formation in the district now claiming such attention.
 The most mysterious condition in connection with the discovery was the important connection that a most estimable lady of Williams, a Mrs. Hummer. seemed to have with the en- terprise. Mrs. Hummer is a phosog- rapher by profession, and understands some geology and chemistry. She is comparatively speaking, a late arrival in Williams and consequently is inti- mately acquainted with but few people, These facts-more thar any other-- were the sources of much doubt to pao- pie unacquainted with the inside fIcts. Her connection with the discovery came about in this wise; Frank Rogers one of the pioneers of northern AriZo- ma, located several years ago, and has been holding his locations by pIoper assessment work, each year, clain in this district. He made his location as copper locations. He gave Mrs. Plum mer who is a tenant of Mrs. Nellie Rogers Stone, some samples of coppsr for assay. as Mrs. Hummer had inti- mated that she would like to become interested in some copper properties. On these copper specimens or samples was some of the clay in which this platinum was found. Mrs. Hummer sent the specimens to Los Angeles to Smith & Stevens, assayers, and per sonal friends of hers. with instructions to assay the specimens TOT copper. gold and silver. She in common with the balance of the people, thought nothing of the clay; but the assayeIs in eXperl- menting, found the clay the richest part of the samples sent. They did not wait to write, but telegraphed her to know if she could get hold of the claims and advising her if she could to do so without delay. Mir. Rogers at the time was out at his claims, as was also G. P. Smith.
 Mir. Smith at the time was making some assays and also discovered that the clay contained some kind of min eral-that with the appliances he had he could do nothing with-and could think of no mineral unless it was plati- mum. The result of several eXperi- ments convinced him that he had founi something worth getting possession of and then and there bonded the claims owned by Mir Rogers. MT. Smith nf Q and had some assayed by J. P. Helmle of this city. MT. Helmle met the same difficulty in his assay that Mir. Smith had met with.
 Upon MT. Rogers return. Mrs. Plum mer. of course, commenced negotiations immediately with him. but learned she was too late. It was in this way that Mir Smith learned of the assays that Mrs Hummer had had made, and it was by this means that Mrs. Plum mers connection with the enterprise commenced.
 Mir. Sharpneck immediately starts for Los Angeles and has the same assay CTS make an analytical assay for him; while MT. Smith immediately starts for New York and has a thorough analy- sis of the clay by Poole & Bailey, ana lytical chemists of that city, whose re- turns were larger than the returns made by the Los Angeles assayers.
 This is a full explanation of the mys- .terious connection of a woman in the case.
 MT. Smith knows exactly what he has and he has associated with him men of equal and more means. and they are asking no outside investors for fi1an- cial aid. They are purchasing and haven't anything for sale. The men associated with MT. Smith are c. E. w. Smith of the Western National bank, New York: J. Wilcox Brown. president of the Maryland Trust company, Bal timore; J. Winfield Scott, Brown & Wells, and c. J. Ryan, all prominent New York capitalists. The gentlemen have already petitioned for postotfice at the mines, and MT. Smith is now in the east arranging for machinery for the erection of a mill to handle t.le ore
 The gentlemen have ample means and their plans carried out mean much for Williams and northern Ari- ZOna. IA. ...