The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-05-10
VISITS A
GOLD MINE
Presidential Party's Novel
Experience
Inspects the Congress Mines
Gold Plant and Descends
$500 Feet
MEETS A TRUE AMERICAN"
The President Compliments
him on his Pluck
Cheered by Rough Riders and
Indian School Children
at Phoenix
MEETS A TRUE AMERICAN
The President Compliments
him on his Pluck

Phoenix, Ariz., May 7.-Presid ent
Mckinley and party, escorted from
Ell Paso by Governor Murphy and
staff Of Arizona, reached Phoenix this
morning at o'clock, over the "stub
line" of the Southern Pacific railroad,
and for the first time the Presidential
train left the rails of that road. 1t
was switched at once to the Santa Fe,
Prescott e. Phoenix railroad and hur-
ried on to the Congress gold mine.
From the low desert lands the party
rapidly was elevated to an altitude of
5000 feet above the sea level at Con-
gress, entailing a remarkable change
in temperature. The train reached
Congress at 6 O'Clock and after break
fast at 1880 the party went out to view
the great gold plant. Overcoats and
wraps we're much in evidence. All
of the newspaper men in the party,
and several Of the Presidents official
family, ventured down into the mine,
going to the extreme lower level, 81
wv lCCO 10 lON NAlC
A speci al car had been built for the
Presidential party and the descent was
made with a minimum amount of
danger. At one point, when down
1900 feet, piece of mechanism broke
and the car was stopped fora moment,
but the difficulty was soon repaired.
Here the party was shown great streaks
of rich ore, striped and dotted with
flake and wire gold. The officials
we're shown many miles OF shafts and
tunnels, and on return to the top we're
escorted through big stamp mills and
shown gold in all its processes Of heat
and chemical treatment, from crude
ore to bullion. Souvenirs in the form
of nuggets and chunks of free gold
were presented to all the members of
the party.
TRUE AMERICAN" SAID MIR. NC
KINLEY.
The President, accompanied by
President F. D. Gage, of the mine,
walked through half mile tunnel
lighted by candles to the stamp mills,
where eighty stamps were crushing
ore. He then inspected the cyanide
works and saw cast a bar of gold
worth $4,000. The President was
much interested and asked if he could
not see the bar.
1T is red hot" said Mr.. Gage.
81 will show it, +" shouted one of the
meters, a man named Richmond.
Ste piping forward and with the pro-
lection only of few rags on his
h ands, he seized the red hot mold and
dumped the white hot bar of glowing
metal upon the stone. The rags were
ignited by the heat and the young
mans ha nds were scorched, but heidi
not vince.
THAT is the true American pluck, u
cried the President, advancing toward
Richmond, 81 want to shake your
hand"
He grasped the mans hand and
shook it cordially.
The return trip to Phoenix was be,
gun at IL o'clock and the President
and his party were given another
illustration of rapid transit from g
temperate to semi-tropical zone. Tit
first forty miles down to Salt River
valley showed range after range will
snow-capped peaks, covered with pint
and oak trees, typical lof the North
Down through rock bound, gold-ribbed
mountains to Wickenburg, the trair
came with rush, while thousands OF
miners and prospectors cheered it on
Twenty minutes later the party rolleC
down into the valley of the Salt river
with its miles of alfalfa and grail
fields, orange, apricot and peach or
chards.
Phoenix was reached shortly ate
noon, and three troops of Rougl
Riders, survivors of the bloody fight
of Guasimas, Ell Caney and San Jual
hill, carrying shot-torn battle flags
escorted the President and his part,
to the Hotel Adams, where luncheon
was served.
At 2 o'clock Rough Riders, Firs
Arizona volunteers, militia and India
school cadets served as an escort il
the march to the new capitol building
The long avenue leading two miles t.
the capitol was made into long arc
of flags, olive branches, bunting an
roses.
At the park on the way the Presi
dent delivered nm address to severa