The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-12-07
A FAMOUS "LOST NINE"
OLD PROSPECTUS FOND OF DIS
CuSSlNC THE WHITE CEMENT. .

| tiOn-Failure OF scheme to Learn Its
Whereabouts - Proof of Its thickness.
The most popularity discussed lost
mine among the miners in the Rocky
mountain camps, especially those in
northern New Mexico, Is the White
| Cement A few old miners who knew
White personally still remain in the
Rock mountains, and their narrative
of the excitement he caused when he
showed his rich specimen chunks of
| gold ore is always heard with inter-
est. 1t is safe to say that several thou
sand men have, at one time or anoth-
er, hunted for the White Cement mine.
The late millionaire silver king, Nat
C. Creole of Colorado, spent a year
in trying to find it.
White was a New Highlander, 60
years old, who was in California in
/ 1912. AS gold seeker he was known
and talked about in every mining camp
on the coast, and stories were told of
his phenomenal luck. He, no doubt,
made several small fortunes, but was
always poor and prospected about with
lean mule and a halfbreed Indian
boy, getting supplies where he could
Many people thought he was slightly
demented, but he undoubtedly knew
| more about the gold region than any
man living
One day in July, 1858, White came
into Horse Head gulch from northern
New Mexico, driving his 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 old
White, handing out several pieces of
what looked like hard, white clay,
glittering with specks of metal, but
White suddenly became mum, and put
ting his specimens in his bag, went out
to find an assayer.
Before night it was known in camp
that Whites specimens showed 1000
ounces of gold to the ton. Everybody
went wild. Nobody slept that night,
but sat around the fires and talked
Cement" In the morning a party
headed by Senator Sharon's brother
Henry called on White, who was
sleeping in one of the shacks. He
was told that he must pilot the men
to his find. He could have the pick
OF the claims, but go he must, and on
his refusal was warned that his life
would be worthless if he STOOD off,
the camp. For long time White gave
excuses and declared he did not know
where to lead the men to the find But
when the miners showed that they
really would kill him if he didn't show
them where he got his specimens he
finally consented.
A crazier mining camp was never
known. Men in Horse gulch, who were
a little credulous and not DESTROYS of
following White over 300 miles from
camp were offered $1,000 and $1,000
each for their camp outfits, consist
ing of picks, shovels, kettles, pans,
greasy old blankets, bushel of beans
and two jackasses. But in two days
there was no outfit to be bought in
the whole gulch mining camp. Ev-
cry one wanted his own outfit.
The trail led across the Rockies. 1t
was very difficult journey, even for
the old miners, who seemed never to
know what physical fatigue meant. 1t
led along rocky trails, up and down
canons, and across mountain crests.
The first day was a race, and two
thirds of the men broke down. The
Indian leaped ahead like wolf, and
then White followed, his long gray
hair flying in the wind. By the end
of the second day the party was in
the heart of the mountains, in a des-
ert where no human being had ever
been before. Many of the animals
were lost and the men were haggard
with fatigue and excitement. White
was told if he played false he was
dead man, but he still pointed east
ward.
The old man led his aching, thirst
ing and WORKOUT followers into
blind canon. nearly on the boundary
between New Mexico and Colorado.
hClO CNCIyOuO Wdo sldu " ldhG d
rest by the side of brook.
Boys, We'll be there tomorrow. It's
about 35 miles over that way" said
White, pointing to the northwest. "Ive
got little off my trail, but now I've
got my hearings. You'll be the rich
est Of any miners alive when you get
over where I'm pointin'"
A ringing yell went up from the
men, tired and almost famished though
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.
81 guess I'll go and see about my
horses I'm too nervous to sleep, now
that know l am near to the biggest
thing on EARTH" said the old miner, as
he went down the canyon to where the
horses were picketed for the night
Every one in camp slept like a log.
When daylight came no one could find
White. His horse was gone, too. A
maddened lot of men tried to trail him
but they could not follow the old fell
low in that region for more than few
miles,
A council was held. 1t was real
lied that the old man had duped his
followers. For weeks the country
where White had said he had found
his rich specimens was vainly pros
pected over and over. Not trace of
rock like that White had shown could
be found. About one-half of the par
ty, after incredible suffering. got back
to life and civilization. and vet despite
their story 100 men started back over
the trail two days after.
Three years later White reappeared
in Salt Lake City with his Cement
specimens as before. incredibly fich.
and again disappeared and from that
Il n - ~ II