The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1905-11-24

$500. O00. 1000, was but a chance discov-
ery; so also the newer camps Of Tono-
pah, Bullfrog and Goldfeld. Winfield
Scott Stratton was searching for ergo
lite. the mineral from which aluminium
is obtained, when he stumbled upon the
marvellous Independence vein which
was the beginning of Cripple Creek, a
camp which for years has been adding
to the worlds wealth at an average
rate of two million dollars a month.
The great silver camp of Creede was
wholly a surprise to the poor old pros
pector who happened upon its rich out
cropping when he was making for quite
another part of the country, his ex-
clamation, "Holy Moses!" giving the
name to its first bonanza. And in
Leadville experienced miners had been
working for years before "Uncle
Billy" Stevens accidentally discovered
the carbonates which made so many
"
men m~illionaires.
One of the richest mines of that won
derful camp, the Little Chief, was
located by a couple of brothers, Pat
and Dick Dillon, who took up the
ground only for the fatuous reason that
nobody else wanted it. And many a
Joke was cracked at their expense be-
fore they turned the laugh by opening
up a wonderful vein of almost pure
silver, making them rich in a day. At
that same time a couple of shoemakers,
knowing nothing of ores, in equally
blind reliance on luck, had staked out
La claim in ground where nobody had
ever been able to discover the slight
est hint of mineral. The undertaking
was regarded by old miners as so ut
terly ridiculous that finally the pair
became persuaded that they were
throwing away their time and were
about to abandon the claim, when one
of them, Auguste Richie, determined to
dignity their labors by having at least
an assay made, when it was found that
they had been delving for days in I'M
dreamed-of riches. This was the be-
ginning of the Little Pittsburg, a mine
that has produced something over ten
million dollars.
An instance where millions were un-
Willingly thrown away figures in the
history of the Little Johnny of Lead
vile, which was located by three green
Irish lads one bitter cold winter, when
when they had to shovel away six feet
of snow to put down their location
stakes. One of the trio, Thomas Kelly,
died within six months from cold and
exposures; the second, John Curran,
from whom the mine derived it's name,
did not long survive him; while the
third thought himself in luck when he
was able to sell his interest in the
prospect for $4,000. The heirs of Cur
ran later r%elinquished their rights for
So, 800, while the father of Kelly, who
had inherited his third, was glad to sell
out for $1,200-this in a property that
has paid millions, and in which the
flow of wealth has never ceased to this
day.
Brains count for as much in mining
for the precious metals as in any other
pursuit; more, perhaps; for while it is
proverbial that any man may see
through a stone when there is a hole in
it, keenest vision is required to pene-
.trate the secrets of the rocks before
the hole has developed. And while for
tune may seem to be sometimes bestow-
ing her gifts but in haphazard fashion,
it can hardly be questioned that her
favor is most prone to linger with him
who has strength to force her to do his
bidding, the master with eyes to see
and a hand to grasp the opportunities
by which he is tested.