The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-12
ProSpectors Following LEAD"
in BeckIey Hill
l5-FOOT SHAFT IS SUNK
II Is Claimed That Good Signs Have
Been Discovered, and the Work Will
Be Carried on Still More in
Search for Rich Vein.

Beckley Hill has the gold fever. II IS
in the air. Itruns in waves Of alternat.
ing hope and doubt. Even the young
sters have caught it. One Of them. not
more than five years old, was toiling
mp the Hill yesterday afternoon, bearing
huge chunk Of rock under each arm and
holding to it for dear life.
What you got boyf he was asked.
"Go-o.old." Ne mysteriously whispered
in q don't-tell sort Of way, while he
suspiciously eyed bis questioner az the
latter inspected the treasures Another
youngster pointed out the location OF
this new-found Eldorado; and the loca-
tion was in Ezra Gooley's pasture on
the southerly side Of the hill. Taking
a cross-country trip from the top Of
Beckley Hill, due southeast to a sugar
house, and then bearing slightly to the
south. or Just above the "city dump on
the Gunner brook road, the visitor found
the gold mind" sure enough
There in a quart ridge was sunk
shaft perhaps fifteen feet deep, while
the pasture was strewn with small rocks
which had been thrown up BY blasting
to reach the gold "leadn The rock was
of all colors Of the rainbow, 1t seemed,
while in some there were indications Of
lead ore; but there wasn't a chunk which
gave evidence to the inexperienced eye
Of bearing gold. The mine was not
being worked at that time; and inquiry
of the prospectors later elected the in
formation that digging had been tempo
rarily suspended, but was TO be resumed
very soon.
The prospectors who are most actively
engaged in exploring the lead" are c. w.
Vancor and Mr.. Lorenz, who reside at
the end Of Merchant street while Bob
Cruiekshank is a volunteer and Mr. Coo
ley, the owner Of the land, Is a passive
miner, that is, he has an agreement
whereby he viii get a third Of the rake
of provided the thing pans out But
Mr.. Vancor has quite a bit of confidence
in the "woriSings,S and he admitted that
he had dug out some ore which interested
geologist over in New Hampshire, to
whom he had sent samples.
How did you happen TO strike the
lead 2" he was asked.
"Well, I've had some experience in
mining in the West" he replied, and
as I was walking over that hill the signs
looked to me like what I've seen in the
West So got permission from the
owner; and Mr. Lorenz, down the road,
and / have been prospecting of and on
ever since the first Of September.
There's no reason he continued,
why these ranges should not contain
gold bearing quartz, and the outcrop
pings looked like there was something
there. OF course, we have been digging
only by hand SO far and haven't made
50 much progress as we would If we'd
had machines to work with. But what
I've found has given me a good deal Of
satisfaction"
"They are telling that you have dug
out ore which panned $50 to the ton y be
was asked
Well, I'm not saying what we got,
but it's enough TO please me-" he youch-
safed in reply.
So that, up to date, is the story Of
gold mining in Barre. The scar made
in the hillside by the prospectors is
visible from the East Montpelier road,
and from that distance 1t looks as IL
another Barre granite quarry was being
opened up in a ridge lying across tho
city from NIillstone hill, whence Barre
gets its fame Meanwhile the n4p.srv
feeling Is stirring on Beckley Hill. and
visions Of possible "striken are coming
in both waking and sleeping moments.
And they All agree that you can't tell
till you try.