The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-10
JAMES HAYES
THE STORY OF HOW HE DISCOv
ERED GOLD HILL, TOLD BY
HIMSELF.
Happened While He was Hunting
One-Eyed Mule-Sold His
Famous Claim for Only
Four Thousand Dol

lars.
The sudden death in the door
ward OF his home near Corvallis,
Thursday morning, brings to mind
his discovery of the famous Gold
Hill mine in Jackson county. The
event happened in April, 1859,
and Mr. Hayes connection with it,
has been we'll known all over Ore
gon for many years. The discoverer
was then a young man In his twen-
ties, having arrived in Jackson
county in the autumn of 1852, by
ox-team from Cook county. Him
ois. The story as told by Mr. Hayes
in an article, published in the Ore
gonian, January 7, 1901, is as fol-
lows:
sIn 1857, In company with Tom
Chavner, [ went to place called
Fort Yale, on Fraser river, in
search of gold, but made a dismal
failure of it. The following year
we returned from Fraser river and
/ went to work for Chavner on his
ranch, formerly known as the Haw
kins place, distance of few
miles from the present Gold Hill,
A man named Wilson made
Chavner's ranch his stopping-place
at times. Wilson had mule
which ran with some horses be-
longing to Chavner on the noun
tain range above Gold Hill. One
morning Wilson being anxious to
catch his mule, asked me to go
with him to hunt for the mule, to
which [ consented and we started
on the Wilson mule mission. 1t
was a one-eyed mule, the impress
of which remains with me to this
date. We started Ito the ,<moun-
tains with me astride Chavner's
cream-colored horse and Wilson
following on horseback.
In going down on the side of the
mountain towards Rogue river,
where it is very steep, my saddle
cinch became loosened, precipitat
ing me over the horse s., head, and
landing me in heap. This afford
ed Wilson much enjoyment and he
laughed my discomfort into me
with a relish.
When I went to recinch my
saddle again, I discovered some
thing shining on the ground, and
STOPPING down, picked up a small
piece of brownish rock, which
proved to be quartz. This I show.
ed to Wilson, and he said, There
Is no gold in that But I was
far from being satisfied with the
reply, and l put the quartz into
my pocket for further examination
Wilson's mule was duly captured
and we returned to the Chavner
cabin. The following morning
Wilson started for California, and
I never saw him afterwards. This
occurrence to my best recollection,
was in the latter part of April,
1859. A few days after the incid-
ent, referred to, an old man by the
name of Ish came to my cabin to
stay all night, I showed him the
rock I found while in company
with Wilson. Ish examined my
specimen and informed ma there
Was gold in it. He remained ov.
er night and went to Jackson
vile the next day, and returned to
my cabin about two weeks after
wards. I told him on his first
visit that the next tsme he game to
my place I would take him to the
spot where picked up the piece
of quartz, and see what we could
find there. Ish returned with a
an emigrant whose name I do not
recall, and remained with me dur,
ing the night. Early next morn
ing the three of US started for the,
where [ had found the
quartz. Ii was very foggy, max.
ing is disagreeable travelling, but
about nine o'clock the fog cleared
away, and the mountainside was
beautiful and bright. By this
time we had reached a point where
/ could locate my summersault
experience with Wilson on Chav-
ner's cream-colored horse. I
pointed out the place to my friends
and we proceeded to that point,
the emigrant leading the way in
our advance about 400 yards but
bearing to the right of Gold Hill.
We were travelling on foot, and
when I reached the point where I
had been unhorsed, looking down
/ saw a rock similar to the one I
had found before, and picked it up
This specimen seemed to be half
gold. Ish was SO excited over my
find that he grabbed it out of my
hand for inspection. While Ish
was absorbed doubtless figuring
out how many drinks it would be
good for, I noticed that the ground
all around me was covered with
1;f1a o1,ortz richly cet with oo1d