The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-26

Three years ago two brothers.. Alvin
and Daniel Caswen, experienced pros
pectorss got in at the back door. They
found the real source of the long
sought-for riches of that district and to
them belongs the credit Of making the
road plain.
They worked their way In slowly by
degrees till they struck Marble creek
just south OF Thunder Mountain There
they began to wash out the placer gra-
vel. While they were getting the color
from this creek, and making good hauls
of it, too, ehey uncovered the lodges
which are now the wonder Of the To-
cality.
The gold-bearing assures were trac-
ed straight into the mountain that tow
cred above them. For two long years
the brothers kept the secret to them
selves, working alone in the desolate
country, locating and uncovering inn
mense deposits of wealth.
AT a depth of 80 feet within the
mountain a vein of free milling ore was
struck that gave an average of IS to the
ton. Lower on the zone. a still higher
average was found Streaks of high
grade ore came to light that were worth
their weight in the yellow stuff.
THE secret Of the find was jealousy
guarded until the solitary workers real
lied their inability to provide the boz
nanza with adequate mills to work it
further. Then they went down to Salt
Lake City. saw some people with mon
~ LO4U t4-Gl1 SlOIy Rid1i4AJ anu COALloSAy
and sold one claim for 100000 They
bought ten mills, which were packed up
the return trail Dieeemeal on burros.
According to those who have visited the
Yer in quantities has been found nearby
and samples of einnabar that have been
Gold claims PANIED out by hand have
yielded from IS to SO per day. Copper Of
high grade is also found within q radius
Further discoveries on the mountain
have been made in low gu1ches near the
summit. Crystalline gold is found there in
large Quantities.
Thunder mountain itself is Of clear vol
canlc origin. M1neralog1cally It resembles
to a great degree, the famous Cripple
Creek region of Colorado The manner Of
occurrence ranges from dixie to series
of sheets surrounding probably volcanic
The prevailing rock is a whitish rhyo-
lite with a prophyritic development Of
sand in feldspar and quartz crystals. It
has all the characteristics Of liparite.
Tn this material the gold occurs in ma
rite is sparingly found. Magnetic iron. gen
orally a constituent of volcanic rock. is
almost wanting. The presence of lead is
further suggested by yellow strain.
'sBasa1tic layers lie above the breccia and
northward exclude other rocks Phonolite
and these eruptions are supposed to exert
an important influence upon the mineral
ization of the rhyolite.
During the first season some Of the
workings were mined by old fashioned
rocking
was taken out in four days. As much as
SO was taken from a single pan. although
that was much above the average.
Hydraulic workings have. exposed the
zone of rhyolite showing It to have
thickness OF about 200 feet. 1t is perhaps
SEQ feet long Samples can not be picked
from the face of the cliff that viii not pan
out something.
is $14 a ton. Single strata go much lighter
one find of dark rhyolite carries, value
of 500 to the ton At low level IN one
place a similar body was found. giving
glistens with gold. The main rhyolitio de-
post lies horizontally and crops out on
both sides of the mountain.
Last summer the first rumors came
down from the new region that bore any
degree of certainty. Even then they were
in the region shut up tight again. Pros-
pecting during the winter is impossible as
the snow lies ten feet deep during the en-
tire season. But men are hooking II num-
bers every day now to Boise City, which is
the hest starting point.
From there there is a good road for
hundred miles half way to the new region
as far as Bear Valley From there the
state is now extending the road still fur
Their.
Parties started early this spring. on
snow shoes to get ahead Of the rush which
they feel sure is coming. Prices are Just
now. very. high, but as soon as travel IS
nary rates It is surprising to see the
numbers of old miners many Of them
gray haired fOrty-niners. who are getting
a second and very bad attack of fever
and are only waiting at Boise for the snow
to melt before going after the dust again
From present indications the experts
think it will take 5000 men properly to
exploit the region but there are fully half
that number already waiting to go IN ana
the number increases day by day.
Yes, indeed said the man from Idaho
in closing. you keep your eye on that
country and YOU IL see announcer h4ondAke
come to light"