The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-04
SALISBURY WASH
MAY Be A FAKE
GoIdfieId Papers Representa-
tive Visits Mysterious Camp
and Returns SkeptiCaI.
(GoldfIeld News.)

kGOlQEielu NeWs-J
camp of unusual richness has been
discovered at Salisbury Wash" about
thirty miles east Of Tonopah, or else a
gigantic mining fake is being framed up,
70 be sprung during the next three weeks
The mining editor OF the News, after a
personal visit to the scene Of the new eN-
element, which he made by auto Sun
day, is compelled TO admit that he is IN
able to solve the problem. Personally,
however, he is inclined, by force of cir
cUmstances, to hesitate TO take the al
legged strike as bona fide.
The reasons for this statement are sew
eral and palpsble, but It may be possible
that this early judgment is premature,
although a strenuous effort was made to
get at the exact facts OF the case, but
without success.
For the past two weeks mysterious re-
ports have been in circulation in TOnO-
pah, and have reached Goldfieldr that an
exceedingly rich strike has been made
at Salisbury Wash by the Cliffords, who
discovered the camp OF Clifford, or Hell
ena, and who have been the pioneers in
several other new mining districts. Con
flicting statements have been made re
garding the Importance Of the discovery.
some being that camp OF fair promise
had been opened. and others that the ore.
in huge chunks. was from one-fourth to
One-third pure gold. An air OF mystery
has been thrown around the whole af-
fair. and all attempts to make a per-
sOnai investigation are parted by the
Cliffords and others in the camp, so that
nothing definite can be learned.
Truth Is Concealed.
We've got the real stuff. but we are
not ready to show Ii to any one for the
next three weeks" Is the best informa-
ton that can be obtained from the Cliff
fords or anyone else on the ground.
And you have to be satisfied with that.
Leaving TonOpah by auto with a party
Of mining men Sunday morning at
.H7Ha.~ II ha N-4- 70 Eafe
Wash in recOrd-breaking time. The camp
is about a mile off from the main road
to Stone Cabin and Golden Arrow, and
near what is called Sugar Loaf peak
Arrived at camp we found a settlement
of four tents and a house, the latter be-
ing a new structure erected by the Cliff
fOrds. There were seven or eight men in
sight. but none Of them seemed to have
anything more important on his mind
than Just waiting around until some
thing turned up Everyone was mum
so far as information was concerned.
Jim Clifford was the only man who
would do any talking. and the situation
was more uncertain when he got through
than it was before We left Tonopah,
Yes, we've got the real stuff, he said,
but we won't show il to anyone for
three weeks yet We amt ready to show
It, because it's so rich that people would
be carrying II away. They might carry
off three of four thousand pounds"
Have you any of the ore that you VIII
show usP' he was urged.
Yes, I'll show you some Of the ore"
he said, reluctantly. Then he went to
one of the tents and came back with a
piece Of OXidized quartz that would weigh
perhaps six ounces. This showed cOnsid-
cradle free gold, in specks, scattered
through the face on one side, but it did
not have the appearance Of freshly
Where is the vein located?' Clifford
was asked,
Vein Is Covered Up"
Pointing to a mountain about half q
mile away, he answered: ITS over there
on the other side of that mountain, up
toward the top, but we've got it covered
up. and you can't find it"
Now, Clifford" continued one of the
party, IF you've got the ore, and your
locations perfected, after being in here
for the last two months, what is the rea-
son you won't show il? Is there any
more ground to be taken up?"
No, everything is located, but we are
not ready to show the strike yet, and
won't be for three weeks"
That IS the sum and substance Of all
the information that can be secured. /
There are two or three people who claim /
stuff" so rich that il has made them /
spesohless beyond that brief assertion. /
One or two others claim to have seen the ]
hole and the ore in place" but they |
too. plead that they have been pledged /
Looks Like d Fake.
On account Of the mystery that sur |
rounds the affair, there is a growing ex- /
element in TOnOpah, and three other /
auto loads went out from there yesterday /
10 the Wash" but all returned with the 1
same kind Of information that our party 4
secured Just what the game is can |
not be figured out The Cliffords claim
that they are not figuring on a townsite /
boom, although they are energedcally /
surveying. The country is all located. /
They say that they have the ore that 1
will astonish the country when they are
ready, but they will not permit an inspec-
ton of the strike.
Therefore, the question naturally and /
persistently arises, What is the game,
and have they got the ore as they say
they havs2'
The writer Is unable 70 decide, but
candidly. the thing looks "fishy." yet II /
may make good"