The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-06-22


there is nothing stranger in the min.
ing history CT Arizona than the way
in which Tom Harper, then n raw
Fastener, found the lost mine of the
I Picacho Peak. Most people in that
country say 1t was "tenderfoot luck -
but the Hon. James Penfeld contends
that his partner worked il all out in
his mind beforehand.
( Harper was then young man from
the East, who had little money.
Penfeld was a younG man from he
West, who had no money. but who
knew cattle. This was the basis of
their partnership. They leased the
Tortilla Ranch in Arizona for ten
years, with the privilege of purchase
at the end OF the time.
Penticld one day bought pair of
mules, led them home, and turned
them into the stockade corral; then lie
went into the house 10 supper
Too dark TO see them tonight he
said 10 Harper, as he tossed his som
brerO in the corner ana sat down at
the table, but we will have q look at
them in the morning | know them
of old, and they are all right. Used
20 belong TO Barlow But | was forget
ting. you never knew Barlow. If YOU
like, I'll tell you his story after sup
per"
We'll, IL was this way" Penield
went on, later Barlow kept the first
stage station this sid" Of PicaCho Peak
for twenty years. He was an eccen-
trio old fellow, with a taste for soli-
tude, and lie kept no one about his
place except a Mexican half-b breed
who acted as cook. In fact this McNi-
can was the real manager Of the es-
tabishment, Barlow devotinC most of
his attention TO ttleraising in a
small way.
"Onc morning, about three years
ago, lie found that his only pair Of
mules had escaped from the corral and
taken to the brush. SO he started out
on their trail. In the evening he re-
turned with them, but stopped at the
station only long enough to eat sup
per which he ordered the cook to get
in a hurry. The Mexican was used TO
Barlow's ways, and paid little or no
attention 10 his movements. When
questioned afterward he remembered
only that Barlow changed his clothes.
which were very wet, ate a hearty
meal. TANNED some provisions into
his saddle-Hags. saddlCd a horse and
rode off in the darkness. The next
day. near sundown, he came back,
again ordered n hasty supper, and
took the wcst-bound stage, which
passed his place about s o'clock that
evening for Casa Grande.
when Barlow had been at Casa
Grande twevc hours. and had made ..
mysterious visit 20 the assayer's Office
every man in the town knew that the
grumpy and drunken old fellow had
struck one of the richest gold mines
ever found in Southern Arizona. His
pockets were crammed with spcci-
mems which assayed $1,000 10 the ton,
and this in a country where ore which
runs 500 to the ton is considered
rich.
Barlow told everybody that he had
come 10 Casa Grande to get men and
tools to work the claim. .Ic blabbcd
this in all the saloons. and thar was
the beginning OF the great spree that
killed him. Two days after he was
dead The secret Of the lochtion of
his claim died with him. lie had
been piled with questions, but had not
given the slightest clue which might
lead others TO his new mine.
when it was told in Casa Crande
that Barlow was dead. there was
great hubbub ! was there, and was
one Of the first to leave for the ricacho
station. All the men Of the town
were racing at the heels Of my horse.
II was then that we put Barlow's
Mexican cook under cross-examina-
tiOn. bat we soon saw that he knew
nothing
The one important piece OF iHfor
nation he gave was as TO the length
Of time Barlow was absent from the
station when he went after the mules.
As ne had been gone only twelve
hours or so. we knew that his digcOv.
cry must lie in the PicachO Peak -On-
der for IL is the only elevation within
thirty miles Of Barlow's place. and so
the fact OF bis being absent only q
short time was positive evidence that
the rich ledge was somewhere in tn.
Picacbo Peak, 50 we went straig.
10 IL.
Il think that in twcnty-four hours
almost every strin=er and ou;crop or
quartz on the sides Of that mountain
were located. From the very edge of
the desert on the east. up the lOu2
slope to the high peak al the west end.
the surface Of the mountain was
dotted with corner posts OF ciaEns.
In fact. the mountain was cxar incl.
as IL were. microscopically.
But nothing more valuable than
the commonest kind Of bronco quariz
was ever discovered. The location ~
Barlow's gold-bcaring ledge is a mys-
terry 10 this day"
II would like TO find that m ne"
lsaid Tom Harper
so would every man between Tue
son and Yuma" Penheld rep.icd.
But where the most expert mines of
Arizona have failed. u is not likely
that a New Jersey tenderfoot would
succeed. II would be fun 20 see you
try it,
Il intend 20 try II" said Tom. resO
lutely. "wnl you come alongy'
why, certainly. nothing woulJ