Mohave County miner., 1901-01-19
A Monster Nugget.

The story of famous gold finds is al
ways fascinating one. Recently there
has been published by Thomas j. Hur-
ley, a mining engineer, little work re-
lating to the history of some of the
great nuggets that have been found
from time to time.
Among other interesting stories re-
lated is the following.
"There is an exciting incident con.
nected with the finding of the Oliver
Martin nugget, the largest ever found
in California, which sold for 22,700S af,
ter it had earned l0,00OS from exhibi-
tions in various parts of the country.
Although young man, Oliver Martin
was little better than tramp. He
spent his time in doing odd jobs and
drinking whiskey around the mining
camps of Yuba, Toulumne, FL Dorado
and Calaveras counties. He didn't
even own pan, much less IA rocker or
long tom. One of his boon compan-
ions was John Fowler, who was equally
shiftless and dissipated. One night in
November, 1854, the two were on their
way from Benton's Barr over the Griz.
ely mountains to Camp Corona, the
spot made famous in literature by Bret
Harte. The fall rains had begun and
the streams were running high. On
the night of the 18th, almost stupid
with drink, the two took refuge in
deserted miners hut The water fell
in torrents and came pouring down
the mountain sides. The narrow can
yon where Martin and Fowler lay
asleep and dunk soon filed with rush
waters which threatened to sweep away
the old shack of building. They
were awakened by the water pouring
into the cabin and sought to escape
by climbing the steep sides of the can.
yon. Both men were swept back into
the flood and were carried down the
stream in the darkness. Martin was
washed into clnmp of live oaks
aud managed to lodge clinging to the
branches uutil morning, but Fowler
was drowned.
"NeXt day, November 18th, toward
noon, when the waters had subsided
Martin secured pick and shovel and
started to bury his dead companion.
He selected a sandy spot at the base
of the cliff and had not dug down two
feet when he came upon the nugget
He made several tests before he could
convince himself that it was real gold.
The chunk was bigger than a bulls
head and too heavy for Martin to car.
ry. He hurried to Camp Corona to
secure help. He had some difficulty
in getting anyone 10 go with him. At
last miner consented, but carefully
made the statement that he was going
to help bury Fowler and not to carry
nuggets, as he, like others in the camp,
placed no confidence in Martins story.
The chunk weighed eighty pounds and
required the combined efforts of Oil
yer and his assistant to get it to the
camp.
Before starting both men staked
claims, Martin, of course, claiming his
where he had unearthed the big mug
get. As soon as the news of the great
find spread, miners flocked in by the
hundreds, but although the stream was
carefully prospected for miles nothing
of any great value was found. Martin
considered that his find, in view of the
peculiar circumstances attending it
was an act of providence, and he never
touched intoxicants thereafter. With
the money he got from the sale of his
nugget he went TO mining in business
like manner. Later be was attracted
to Yucatan, where he made over half
million in quartz mining He died
in New Orleans few years ago, leav.
ing fortune of over l,O00,OOOS." I'm.
dustrial Record.
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