The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-04-13

HI lost mine most discussed
ia the Rocky Mountain
camps, especially those IN
northern New Mexico, is the
White Cement. A few old miners
NhO knew White personally still re-
main ia the Rocky Mountains. and
caused when he showed his rich speci-
mems of gold ore is always heard with
interest. II is safe 70 say that several
thousand men have at one time aud
another hunted for the mine. The
late millionaire silver king, Nat c.
Creede, Of Colorado, spent a year IN
trying 10 find lead 10 IT, White
was a New Englander. sixty years old,
who was ia California IN l849. One
lay in July, 1853, he came into Horse
Head Gulch from northern New
Mexico, driving a mule and looking
utterly used up He got something to
eat Some one bantered him about
his vain searches for a mine.
well, just look at that. said
White, handing out seZsral pieces Of
what looked like hard white clay,
Offering with specks of metal; then
he suddenly became mum, aud put.
ting his specimens into a bag went ont
10 find an assayer named Helyat il the
camp.
Before night it was known that
Whites specimens showed 1000 ounces
Of gold to the ton. In the morning a
party headed by Senator Sharon's
brother Henry called on White and
told him that he must pilot the men
10 his find; he could have the pick Of
the claims and help 90 work it, but
90 he must. He was warned that his
life would not be worth shucks if he
stood of the camp. For a long time
he gave excuses, aud said he didn't
know where the niue vas. But when
the miners showed that they would
kill him if he didn't take them to
where he got his specimens be finally
consented to guide them.
The trail led northwest across the
Rockies. IL was very difficult Jour
ney, even for the old miners. II led
along rocky trails, mp and down can
yons and across mountain crests. The
first day was a race, and two-thirds Of
the men broke down. BY the end
of the second day the party was in the
heart OF the mountains, in a desert
where perhaps no human being had
ever been before. Many of the ami
mails were lost. and the men were
haggard with fatigue aud excitement
White led his aching, thirsting and
wornout followers into blind canyon,
nearly on the boundary between New
Mexico and Colorado. There every
one was glad to take a rest by the side
of a brook.
Boys, wen be there tomorrow.
It's about thirty.fye miles over that
way" said White, pointing TO the
northwest. I've got way off my
trail, but now I've got my bearings.
You'll be the richest of any miners
alive when you get over where I'm
pointin'."
A ringing yell went up from the
men, tired and almost famished
thoHgh they were. The camp fire
was made, supper was cooked and
eaten, the stock was fed, and every
one but old White lay down in blankets
TO sleep and dream of wealth. As for
White he said:
81 guess I'll go and see about my
horse. I'm too nervous to sleep now
that | know I'm so near the biggest
thing on EARTH and he went down
the canyon to where the horses were
picketed for the night.
When daylight came no one could
find White. His horse was gene, too.
A maddened lot of men tried to trail
him, but they could not follow the
old fellow in that region for moro
than few miles. For weeks the
country was vainly prospected Not
trace of rock like that White had
shown could be found. About one
half of the party, after incredible suf-
tering got back 20 civilization, ard
yet despite their story 100 men started
back over the trail shortly after.
Three years later White reappeared in
Salt Lake City with his cement speci-
mems as before, incredibly rich, and
again disappeared, and from that time
to this he has never been heard of.
He lent 500, 900 to Mormon ranch
man at Provo, Utah, and never came
to get interest or principal. The
White Cement Mine Is still one of the
Rocky Mountain miners dreams.