The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-26
LOST MINE REDIscoVERED.
Tenderfoot Finds Bonanza in Idaho
That Owners Death Concealed.

a gold mine said to be fabulously
rich, was located in some of the rough
est country in the WiIds Of Idaho away
back in 1880 by an old and eccentric
miner. It was worked for a short time
by the discOverer who never disclosed
the location 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 persistent searching for twenty
five years for the place II was acct
dentally discovered little more than
a year ago. This furnishes the bass
of an interesting story told to the Boise
Statesman by a II. Weatherby.
Mr.. Weatherby and his family reside
at 2O29 North Thirteenth street Mr..
Weatherby is an old-timer in the state
and has Travelled over its 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 that knew of the mine
when it was first discovered and was
one of the principal 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 SS75 in gold and silver. In the
following year Swim prepared to take
his closest friend, a man by the name
of Harper, to his mine and together
they were going to work il as Harper
was financially able TO carry on the
operations. They were going to take
in large pack train load of supplies
and tools and return with the animals
laden with precious ore. But the train
never left Bonanza
Died In the Hills.
That was in the spring and il was
necessary to send Swim over the trail
to ascertain if grass could be found for
the animals; if not it would be neces-
sary 10 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 passed
and il was with imDatience that his
new partner watched through the fol-
lowing days, and finally a search was
Instituted but with no avail. The man
had completely disappeared.
A number Of years later il was
reported that the skeleton of a horse
had been found, together with pack
saddle and other things, in the direction
the man supposedly had gone, and it
was thought that they were the bones
that he had dropped by the wayside.'
with the disappearance of Swim all
knowledge of the mine was gone. Swim
was an old man, probably So or 20
years of age, and he never divulged in
formation about his rich find, with the
exception of the description he had
given of il 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 ne 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 a 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 SO, 900 to any one 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