The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-02-26
RedisCovered in Idaho After Lapse
Of Twenty-Five Years.
LOCATED IN HEART OF THE sAWTooTH
RICH, ORE ASSAY
ING Ss75 A TON-MAN WHO
DISCOVERED 1T is DEAD.

A gold mine said to be fabulously
rich. located in some of the toughest
country in the wilds of Idaho away
hack in 1880 by an old and eccentric
miner, worked for short time by the
discoverer. who never disclosed the To-
cation of his newly found wealth, and
who, when he was finally gong u
guide his closest friend to the golden
spot, disappeared never to be heard OF
again, and afte: persistent searching
for 25 years for the place 1t is accl-
dentallv discovered a little more than
a year ago, furnishes the basis of an
interesting story, says the Idaho
Statesman.
Mr.. Weatherby and his family reside
at 2O29 North Thirtieth street. Mr..
Weatherby is an old timer in the state
and has travelled over it's hills and val
leys for many years, and is acquainted
with nearly all sections where pre-
cious metals have been discovered. He
is one of those who knew of the mine
when it was first discovered and was
one of the prime pal ones to search for
the lost location. In telling the story
last evening, he said:
THE lost mine was located by Isaac
P. Swim during the year 1880 near Bo-
nanza in Custer county, in what is
known as Warm Springs basin. The
ore that was assayed from the mine
went to 1915 in gold and silver. In
the following years Sim prepared to
take his closest friend, man by the
name of Harper, to his mine and to-
gether they were going to work it as
Harper was financially able to carry
on the operations. They We're going
to take in a large pack train load of
supplies and tools and return with the
animals laden with the precious ore.
But the train never left Bonanza.
Died in the Hills.
THAT was in the spring, and it was
necessary to send Swim over the trail
to ascertain if grass could be found
for the animals if not it would be nee
essary to pack hay to the camp to last
until the grass started. Swim left on
this expedition and with his passing
out of sight of the mining camp he
passed from the knowledge of man
forever. The time for his return pass
ed and it was with Impotence that his
new partner watched through the fof.
lowing days, and finally search was
instituted, but with no avail. The man
had completely disappeared.
"A number Of years later it was re-
ported that the skeleton of a horse had
been found, together with a pack sad
die and other things, in the direction
the man supposedly had gone, and it
was thought that they were the bones
of the animal he had ridden away and
that he had dropped by the wayside.
with the disappearance of Swim all
kniwledge of the mine was gone. Swim
was an old man, probably So or 70
years Of age, and he had never divulg-
ed information about his rich find, with
the exception of what he had told of it
to his friend Harper
Harper Befriended Him.
Swim had prospected in many
camps over the state and had worked
in many mines, but never remained in
one place so very long at a time be-
cause he could not get along with the
other men. One time when he was i'll
Mr.. Harper befriended him and in do
ing so made lifelong friend. That is
how he happened to be taken into the
confidence of the old man. Harper
died at Ketchum about five years ago.
After the disappearance of Swim,
Harper offered $4,000 to anyone who
would find the stakes that marked the
location of the rich ledge. Two of us
hunted that summer for three months
for the coveted place, but our efforts
were in vain. The mine is on the head
waters of the Salmon river and there
can hardly be found a rougher coun-
try.
Since that summer I have spent
many months and many hundreds of
dollars searching for the lost mine and
finally gave it up. Besides myself
there have been dozens of people who
have made extensive searches for the
proprty, but they were equally unsuc
cessful. The information by which we
were guided in our searches was let
tiers written by Swim to Harper.
Tenderfoot Found It.
"The mine was accidentally discov-
cred about eighteen months ago by
man fresh from the east who had
probably never heard of a lost mine,
by accidentally slipping into the tun-
mel while out prospecting: John H.