The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23

under high pressure; and afterward it is
discharged into leeching vots, fitted with
derneath. After being repeatedly washed,
it is finally made to percolate through per-
forated board work covered with cheese
cloth, and next through bed of charcoal
This precipitates the gold, and leaves 1t
In shining heaps Of fine dust on the sur
face. The whole process is full of intense
interest to the visitor. The grandeur and
riches of nature are there, and also the sci
ence and ingenuity of man. More than
e1,O00,0OO has been spent on the machinery,
the gigantic dams for the storage of water,
and the workings; about eighteen hundred
men are constantly employed, and, as the
mine is lit UP with electricity, relays Of
miners continue the work day and night.
Mount Morgan Is somewhat oval-shaped
at the base, being about a mile and half
at its longest measurement and half a mile
at its shortest. 1t rises almost precipitous-
ly from the banks OF small river called
the Dee TO the height of five hundred feet,
and attains at its domelike summit an alti-
tude of twelve hundred feet above the level
of the sea. There was nothing in the out
tinguish ii from the other mountains of
the range; Ii had the same rugged slopes
and gulies, and the same scrubby vegeta-
ton covered its surface as could be seen for
miles around. The farming settler and the
shepherd wandering over this hilly region
little dreamed of the treasure stored be-
Meath They would sometimes find alluvial
gold in the ravines and creeks. and pick up
a bowlder heavily weighted with the pre-
cious metal; but that there was a whole
mountain of auriferous waiting to be
exploited by men or energy and enterprise
never entered their minds. The gold was
carefully hidden in stone which, in out
ward appearance, differed slightly from the
ordinary metallic structure OF the soil
around.
THE DISCOVERY AN ACCIDENT
The discovery was made almost accident
ally. In the early days of settlement IN
Central Queensland. Scotch family named
Gordon took up selection on the slopes
of the Razor Back, and by additional pur-
chases extended their run down across a
creek which divided the slopes from this
mountain, and partly up one Of its sides.
They stocked their land with sheep and
cattle and endeavored to win a living from
II. but had little success. Among other
misfortunes. large number of their cattle
died through eating a poisonous weed
which grew abundantly In the neighbor-
hood. and so their sons were obliged to
leave the homestead for work elsewhere.
One OF the sons. Alexander Gordon, found
employment with the Morgans, mining
spectators living at Mount Wheeler. few
miles from Northampton. Mrs Alexander
Gordon was the daughter or a stockman
who had often driven his cattle over the
district and watered them at the streams
flowing at the base OF the mountain; and
she had received from her father piece
of gold-bearing stone picked up in a creek
Morgans who at once saw Its worth, ana
offered him $40 II he would show them the
spot where IL was found. This he prom
ised to do: and the two Morgans. after
eduipping themselves in Northampton with
horses and tools for a prospecting tour,
started under the guidance OF Gordon TO
find this modern Pactolus.
After journeying over the ranges they
reached a creek where the gold was sup
posed to be; but their first days invesu-
cations were very discouraging, for the
stone they crushed yielded little gold At
night a tropical downpour OF rain set In.
and all the gullies and creeks became
flooded and ran in torrents, so they had
10 seek a place Of safety on the mountain.
Next morning as the rain continued, they
were in such a soddened and disheartened
condition that they decided TO make their
way back; but this was difficult because
of the floods Therefore they moved 10
higher ground. swimming across creeks and
climbing up the steep sides OF ravfnes. and
at last reached spur OF the mountain,
where they found a Chinaman's hut In
this shelter they made fire. dried their
clothes and ate a hearty meal.
After the rain had cleared on one OF
the brothers, accompanied by Gordon, de-
termined 10 prospect around the neighbor-
hood TO see IL any gold could be found
there. When they had gone about two
miles-Gordon being some distance on
Morgan saw a big black bowlder which he
thought had some gold In II. 90 he broke