The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-05
LOST BONANZA FOUND
BY LUCKY TENDERF0OT
Old PrOspectOr Located Prop
erty, but Died Without Tell
ing Its Location.

A gold mine said to be fabulously rich
was located In some of the toughest
country In the wilde of Idaho. away back
in 1880, by an old and eccentric miner
1t was worked for a short time by the
discovercr, who never disclosed the loca-
ton OF his newly-found wealth, and when
finally he was going to guide his closest
friend to the golden spot. he disappeared.
never TO be heard OF again. After per
slstent searching for twenty-five years
for the place, 1t was accidentally dscov-
cred little more than year ago, This
furnishes the basis of an interesting story
told to the Boise Statesman by A. H
Wcathcrby.
Knew of Old Mine.
Mr.. Weatherby and his family reside at
20Z9 North Thirteenth street. Mr., Wealth
crby is an old timer In the State and has
Travelled over its hills and valleys for
many years and IS acquainted with near
ly all Ictions where precious metals
have been discovered. He Is one OF those
that knew of the mine when Ii was first
discovered ana was one OF the principal
ones to search for the lost location In
telling the story last evening, he said:
Pack Train Never Started.
The lost mine was located by Isaac p.
Swim during the year 1850. near Bonanza
In Custer county. in what is known as
Warm Springs basin. The ore that was
assayed from the mine went to $Si5 In
gold and silver. In the following year
Swim prepared TO take his closest friend,
man by the name OF Harper. to his
mine and together they were going to
work 1t, as Harper was financially able
to carry on the operations. They were
going to take in large pack train of
supplies and tools and return with the
animals laden with precious ore. But the
train never left Bonanza
THAT was in the spring and il was
necessary to send Swim over the trail to
ascertain II grass could be found for the
animals, IL not IL would be necessary TO
pack hay to the camp to last until the
grass started. Swim left on this eXpcdi-
ton and with his passing out OF sight of
the mining camp he passed from the
knowledge of man forever The time for
his return passed and 1t was with Inn
patience that his new partner watched
through the following days, and finally
search vas Instituted but with no avail.
The man had completely disappeared.
knowledge of Mine Lost.
"A number Of years later IT was report
ed that the skeleton of horne had been
found, together with a pack saddle and
other things In the direction the man
supposedly had gone, and 1T was thought
that they were the bones, OF the animal
he had ridden away and that no had
dropped by the wayside. With the dis
appearance of Swim all knowledge OF the
mine was gone. Swim was an old man,
never divulged Information about his rich
find, with the exception OF the description
he had given to his friend Harper.
Hunted Long in Vain.
Swim had prospccted in many camps
over the State and had worked in many
mines, but never remained In one place
very long at a timo because he could
not get along with the other men, one
time when he was Ill, Mr. Harper be-
friendcd him and In doing so made life.
| long friend. That is how he happened
| TO be taken into the confidence of the old
man Harper died ut Ketchum about
five years ago After the disappearance
| OF Swim, Harper offered $1,000 to any
| ono 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 ef-
| forts were In vain. The mine is on the
| headwnters of the Salmon river and there
can hardly be found rougher country,
Tenderfoot Finds the Prize.
"since that summer ] have spent many
months and many hundreds OF dollars
| searching for the lost mine: and hnally
| gave IL up. Besides myself there have
| been dozens Of people who have made ex-
| tenslVe searches for the properly. put
| they were equally unsuccessful Inc IN
formation by which we were guided In IN
| swim TO Harper The mine was accl-
dentally discovered about eighteen months
| ago by a man fresh from the East. VINO
| hed probnbIy never heard Of a lost mine.
by accidentally slipping Into the tunnel
| while out prospecting John II Andrews
| is the person who made the discovery
| He was out on the trip with his brother
r p, Andrews, and two other men. An
| drews is now In the East but VIII return
! this spring and begin operations on his
| claim
Close to Silver Bell Group.
"I did not know that the mine had beer
| redIecoyered until short time ago. wher
In conversation with w c. Virgins, WHO
returned last fall from a trip throHgf
The country at the headwaters OF the Sal
mon river He mentioned the fact OF th'
discovery OF a mine by Andrews and gave
me n description OF the location 1t tai
lied exactly with the spot Tor which :,
had been hunting for years, ne mine H,, i
close to the Silver Bell and Kansas CitN
properties. which are being developed o!
+ f Fisher and Mr.. Dodd ot TINS CITY