Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-10
SEEKERS AFTER GOLD
HAUNT MUDDY SLOUGH

idea of the magnitude of the vast de-
posits of gold in that camp can be
appreciated when the statement is
made that previous to 1S49 production
Of gold in the United States, then only
known to be mined in North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia, amounted
to less than 1900, 900 in any one year,
whereas the production of Goldfield,
Nevada, has been very near $4,000, 900
the first eight months Of its existence.
Gold Of California
At this juncture it would be well
not to lose sight Of what the golden
state of California is doing in produc-
ing gold. For several years there have
been widely differing estimates Of the
annual production of gold In California.
Early in February the estimated yield
for 1904 was $1S,97O,OO0. This was gem
orally accepted and deemed conserva-
tive. Now comes another estimate, the
authority for which is not named, and
the total is placed at $19,520000. 1t
seems to be a conceded fact that the
output Of last year was greater than
for 19OS when the total was $17500,O00,
but the extent Of the increase will
probably not be known until the report
of the state mining bureau Is issued
about the middle of the summer.
Rich for While
Down in Tombstone, on April fools
day, the boys had one day Of good
luck. That old camp, the camp that
made epitaphs as fast as the clock
licked in the early days, Is lively now
a-days, as the ore shipments from the
Tombstone district to the Ell Paso
smelters are averaging from thirty
five to forty cars a week. About half
Of the cars are being loaded with sec
ond-class ore from the various dumps
belonging to the Consolidated COM
pany.
And yet April 1 found the burg live
lier than usual because on that date
$4,000 was divided between Maurice
Dem, ]. M. johnson, L. G. Shattuck
and others as a part of the purchase
price Of $750,0O0 for the Denn-Arizona
copper ground purchased by Michigan
people. The Prospector is good in
telling what happens in that camp, but
the genius of the tripod failed to re-
cord what really did happen after the
money began to circulate.
More Buried Gold
Up in Tuolumne county, in California
much gold is reported buried
also long forgotten and probably lost
for the present century. Evidently in
the early days the miners had their
banking places in the ground. In
January last a part of the Campbell
treasure was found; and this has start
ed everyone to hunting hidden buck
skin sacks. When q person falls UP
there 1t is the sign Of good luck and
the search begins. The stumbling OF
horse makes the rider dismount, be-
cause the rim of a forgotten can with
gold within may be sticking above
ground. In speaking of this pursuit
after treasure the Mother Lode Magnet
says that early settlers seem to have
had mania for burying their wealth.
If only half of the reports are true
the people in that vicinity may be
walking over veritable treasure vaults
that, If found would make those of
the Incas of Peru pale into insignifi-
canoe. The question arises, would 1t
not be more profitable to go treasure
hunting than to engage in quartz or
pocket mining?"
In order to help the dear people that
paper says that over forty years ago
John Orr buried In what is now Will
Swerer's field $500 which he after
wards failed to locate.
In the early sos Judge Atkin who was
mining in Soldier gulch below the Bell
mine, buried a large amount of gold
dust which still remains hidden. About
the same time a Frenchman who kept
q store near the Brown mine was mur-
dered and search was made for his
wealth, which was known to be buried,
but without success.
Somewhere near the stable at the
Norwegian mine over $4,000 in gold
dust was hidden by an old timer who
was suddenly taken sick and died with
out making it known where he had
placed his wealth.
Mormon creek, near where the town
of Mormalita once stood, also furnishes
its quota of buried treasure.
OF all the treasures hidden in early
times only one, besides the Campbell,
was ever known to be found. Some
thirty years ago. a Portuguese, who
was chopping wood in the neighborhood
of the old Lawson home, near the
Brown mine, found, snugly slowed
away in hollow tree, some jewelry
and large amount of gold dust and
nuggets. The value of the find was
never known. but shortly afterwards
the finder left for Portugal. Before
leaving he confided to some of his
countrymen that he had enough wealth
to live like a prince in his native land
for the balance of his life.
Undoubtedly there is not another