The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-01
WORKED AS SLAVES.
Recent Sale of Property I'm Cnlffornia
Revealed True Condition.

New York Telegram.
The only mine ever worked by slave
labor in northern California is being re-
opened. 1t lies only a few miles wesl Of
Grass valley and for fifty-two years has
been known as the Kentucky Ridge.
Miners in these mountains, when they
speak of the Kentucky Ridge, never forget
to recall the elements of fate which lave
surrounded it. Fifty-two years ago it was
owned by a Southern gentleman--a colonel,
a slave owner. Now it again passes into
the hands of Southern gentlemen.
All the way from Georgia came Col.
William F. English to seek fortune in the
gold fields. A few rich Southerners had
pooled their interests and decided to send
English put his fortune into ' the veosure osDnel
Selling his plantation, he took with him
several slaves and left for Philadelphia.
A steamer was purchased, loaded with
, supplies, machinery and material, and early
in 1851 the vOyagers steamed into the ;har-
bor of San Francisco. after an uneventful
trip around the Horn.
Nevada county was the watchworA at
that moment, and the colonel Joined, the
rush in that direction. That year found
English and one of his partners named
Gordon located at the Kentucky Ridge
which had just been struck. 1t was her
aided as fabulously rich, and bore out the
assertion for time at least. At the very
grass roots the vein was rotten with vel
low gold, and into 1t went the capital OF
the investors.
The slaves, who had hitherto toiled In
the sunny cotton fields, became miners
Though in a free State they were still
bondsmen, but bore their lot uncomIslain-
ingly. English was whOlesouled mar and
kind to his black toilers to marked de.
gree.
The vein was easy of access, being fol.
lowed by a long tunnel. and the slaves
worked merrily away, for gold was pienti.
| full
A mill was necessary. Half a mile dis.
tant from the mine. on Deer Creek Colonel
English erected what was known as q
Chill mill, crude affair, with w.odeI
stems, leaky and insecure. After psssne
ground by two large wheels revolving, in g
| circular trough. Water from the greek
furnished the only motive power. TWO OF
utmost the mill could reduce.
Fortune deserted Colonel English and
litigation began. From bad to worse went
erner found himself without a cent: III,
still clung to his slaves who had each ac
cumulated a little money by doing ode
jobs. To them had been given the pr9mis,
OF freedom. and but for the fatality which
| overlook the broken man this pr.omis,
| would have been carried out.
The end came tragically. Mounted en- hil
horse, spirited animal Colonel Englisf
rode away to Coyoteville. just above Ne
vada City. Gathering up to the store a.
| Coyoteville, the report of a gun rang ou
| and English fell from his horse deadS TIL,
| report drew miners to the spot. Some de
| clared the shotgun had accidentallx dis
charged its contents into the mans side
| catching In his trappngs as he dismo;inted
| Others shook their heads meaningl., fol
| 1t was known that the man had lost all h,
| possessed on earth.
The most touching scene in the stor,
| came with the colonel's death. His slaves
1 who might have been free, were btoken
hearted over the news. Faithful ID tn,
| ings that Mars Kunnel' might be buried
| with the ceremony due him were theN bacl
| on the old plantation. They followed tn
body to the grave, mourning like cbildrel
| FOR a parent.
The nephew of the dead man assume,
| ownership of the negroes, and, t. hi
| shame, compelled them to buy tneiL free
| dom by working in the mines.
| Gordon, the partner, had gone home. H
| fully intended to return and resume tn
/ Kentucky Ridge, but the civil war brok
| out. With his two sons he entered tn
confederate army and fought through tn
| war.
OF the released slaves several settled a
| Grass Valley, but none Is living to-day.
Recently the Kentucky Ridge was cough
Ashley Halscy, of South Carolina. Prnpara
tions are being made to open the mine Il
| modern style. The old dump, con taininl
| the waste rock of the early days, will frs
| be milled 1t has been carefully looke
| over and declared by experts vgluabl
| enough TO yield good profit under fnillin
methods of to-day.