Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-02-18
KILLED BY CATTLEMfNNUGGETS OF JACKSON
Biz Pieces Of Gold Found There.
Too.

An article in the Portland Tele-
gram, several days ago gave the infor-
nation that a $40 nugget found at
the Jewell Hayes mine on Oscar creek
Josephine county was the largest that
/ had ever been produced in the county.
The Rogue River Courier therenpon
published a list Of Zig nuggets found
in that county ranging from a $4,000
one found on Althouse creek in the
early days down to $50. There were
$500 nuggets 500 NUGGETS and all sizes
and shapes Of nuggets.
The fact II, says the Medford Mail,
$40 pieces of placer gold were not IN
common 10 the early days and quite
frequently chunks Of the pure metal
of that weight are found even now.
Not more than a year ago, S3S
piece was taken from the d. j. s.
Pearce mine on Poorman's creek, and
there have been many other large
pieces taken out, Of which no record is
to be found.
John X Miller, who is one Of the
pioneer miners Of this comfy remem-
bers of piece of gold being found on
5hively 'gdlch, near Jacksonville,
which weighed some $3.50. This was
in the latter part of the '7os.
j. T. Nef, now living near Cen.
trail Point, found a S4OO piece on
Wagner or ek, in the early days.
A $3.50 chunk was taken out Of the
Mcdonald mipe near Tolo many years
ago and later, in 1896, Judge Reed,
of Tacoma, and his associates found a
nugget which weighed Sl2O in the
same mine,
Coarse gold is found in many Of the
placer mines Of Southern Oregon; but
the big chunks are only occasionally
met with. At tine first discovery of
the Sterling mine, in running the
irst drift OIL the property, a piece
weighing $ll was taken out.
Elliott creek in the south western
part Of the county, hears the reputa-
tion Of producing nuggets Of extraor-
linary size, and many pieces over
300 in value have been found on that
stream Steve Oyster, who died a
few years ago, and from whom
Steve's Fork, where the Ore Grande
and Missouri mines are located was
named, unearthed large nugget on
this creek in early days, the exact
value Of which cannot be learned
but it was worth several hundred
dollars.
Thirty years ago Wm. HerriotI
found a $1,000 piece on Steamboat,
which. by the way, has produced d
goodly quantity of the precious metal
and about 10 years ago the late X
Kubli bought from Chris Lansing {
nugget from the sa@e section for $500
This last piece didn't have as mucl
value as was indicated by its weigh
and appearance, and when mintei fel
about $40 short of the amount pai,
for it.
\ $1,000 chunk was picked up ol
Rich gClch, Jacksonville, in the earl,
cos by a man named McMullen, am
/ another piece weighing $500 wa
4 fodnd at the junction of the right an
p left hand forks of Jackson creek nc
q many years ago
1t has been only three or four yeaI
e since a nugget worth $50 was pickle
s up in the mud in Willow Springs pr,
n cinct.
@ T. p Kahler not great while ap
b found pocket piece near where I'll
5 Ray dam is, that bore down the seal,
to the tune Of Si2j
r While circulating around, gettir
!. the above facts, The Mail reporter
teryiewed j, 5. Howard, tine yetel
n miner and civil engineer. Mr. HOy
ard remembered several remarkab
4 finds, but said that those remini
cences were painful,
II owned a claim near Jacksonvill
said Mr. Howard, and had it abo
Is worked out, as l thought I remit
Is to a lot Of Cinnamon for $50 yea
y and within three months those Chin
Al took out a piece worth $780, For th
10 reason, stories Of lucky finds don
II appeal to my sense Of humor 80
'l Nf.af.rl NIL