Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1901-07-25
MINING IN THE COS
Story of Yavapsi County's Earliest
Mineral Discoveries.

Prescott, Aliz., July 24.-(Special cor
res ponden-e Of The republican, Since
there has been so much excitement OF
late in the development of rich ore in
the mining districts OF Lynx and Groom
reeks in Yavapai county it is interest
ing 10 know of the early mining eXelte-
ments in Arizona, one of which was on
Lynx creek.
In the spring Of 1868 Capt Walker
with party of men entered the terri
toly. Capt. Walker was an old Rocky
mountain uappsr, and at That time was
nearly eighty years of age and almost
bHnd. He had heard from another par
ty of ,rappers twho had occaGion to
chase a band of Indians down through
Arizona) that there were rich gold in
dications on the Hassayampa river.
about ten miles from the present loca-
ton Of Prescott. Capt. Walker got
Ja-k Swilling to plot the party in o
the Hassayampa district. Gold was
found in large quantities and number
of placer claims were located by the
PARTY under Capt Walker and Jack
Swil!ing From the Hassayampa in the
summer Cf the same year they pros
pat.ed in the Lynx Creek, Blgbug ana
ana Turkey Creek districts Placer
mining was profitable at all these p.ac-
6. but especially so on LYNX creek.
These parties were the first white set
tiers in the northern Fart of the terri
tory. Tucson. of course, haG a few, it
being one of he oldest towns in the
United States
lne next important discovery was
made in the same year on Rlh Hin,
Whi2h IS near ne present location of
Weaver and rot far from Wilkenburg.
Where another party of Rocky noun
tain trappers and seVs:al others Were
working placers. This diacovery was
made by a Mexican who. as twas pro-
hibl.ed by law for a NJ lXican to locate
a mining claim, could not easily hold
his rich discovery. The Mexican en-
tered into n gotiations with Jack Swil-
and to protec; the former in the rich
PAGER locations. These proved 10 be
exceedingly valuable and produced a
great deal of gold. With a butcher
knife the extraction Of nuggets was
made, each man picking up nuggets TO
the value of from $1G0 10 $500 per day.
The central point in Yavapai county
in 'GS for mining waz on Lynx creek.
a place called lopez, on the Colorado
river was the nearest point for sup
plies. From ,his place to Lynx creek
there were three pack trains. the
charges for transportation were %
cents in gold per pound. An that can
be seen Of the former Lopez at present
Is a few iron doors so badly rusted that
they can hardly be identified as to their
former use. The supplies that during
the first few years Of y'1"apai mining
life did not come from the Colorado
river basis, came from Los Angeles by
team. After the 7Cs nearly all supplies
were freighteG IN from Los Angeles by
team.
In he fall OF '63, for some reason,
Capt Walker and Jack Swilling ceased
to be friends and the former settled on
Lynx creek, while the latter went to
Weaver district,
There was considerable excitement
and quite number OF people entered
this part of the territory after miner
ais. Durig '62 there was find of xev-
eral silver lodges near where Prescott
now stands.
In this same year party of about a
dozen people went to the locality where