The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-04-22

lease on tue MOHAWK mine was unique
but in keeping with the discovery OF
the majority Of the worlds greatest
gold mines; luck was the biggest
factor in it. Hayes was a practical
miner, and Monnette was q cattle man
from Omaha aud Chicago. The two
men met socially in hotel in Goldfield
and whiled away the evening together
playing cards. Monnette had the gold
fever aud Hayes entertained him with
stories of his adventures and ex-
periences in mining. In the verna-
cular of the mines he "got Monnette
going" and ripe to advance money in
lease on the Mohawk.
Other leases had been taken on the
Mohawk, and the ground was about as
promising in appearance as the malapi
which surrounds Goldfeld. Malcolm
Macdonald, J. McKane and Donald
Gillies had operated a lease on the
property, aud had abandoned IL upon
the advice Of their manager. Mitchell.
after rwards a candidate for Governor
of the State. Hayes and Monnette
started to sink not far from this
shaft. aud when their money gave out
they had not a thing in sight at the
bottom of their 200 foot shaft. They
were in despair, and the world looked
pretty blue for both of them. Monnette
then got into communication with
Benedict and Smith of Chicago, cattle
men with whom he had done business
in the past; men in easy circumstances
Of life. Upon his solicitation these
two gentlemen made the trip to Gold
field to look over the lease. This was
early in the year 1906.
Hayes and Monnette used all the
arguments at their command to induce
the cattlemen to put up $4,000 for half
interest in the lease, which they had
about eight months to run. The best
argument was lacking-the presence of
gold. They had absolutely nothing to
show aud the cattlemen left for home
declining the offer, leaving behind them
two disappointed and beaten men. Then
fate intervened in the behalf of all
parties. Benedict and Smith. while at
lunch that day were both seized with
the same idea. Both had been thinking
of their friend Monnette and of the
plight in which they had left him; and
one commented upon it.
"I'll tell you what / was thinking
Of" said Mr.. Benedict. "Those boys
seem very firm in their belief that they
will get mine there. confess that
know nothing Of mining. But suppose
we put up S2500 for half interest in
the lease with the understanding that
if anything is developed by the time
that money is spent we will put up the
other s2500."
my idea exactly" chimed in his
partner. 1--WE are not taking much of
chance. and something good may de.
velop. Let's do it,"
They were taking long shot, and it
is more than probable that If they had
known anything of mining they never
would have done anything OF the sort.
They knew nothing of the failure of
the Macdonald. McKane, Gillies lease
either. and knowledge Of that might
have dissuaded them. But that night
Hayes and Monnette received wire
which gladdened their hearts and fred
them with new ambition. In sinking
their shaft they had got one assay
from point somewhere in the vicinity
of the 150-foot level. Before the assay
was made the spot had been timbered,
aud they had not attempted to find it.
Now they went back to this vicinity,
tore ont the timbers and went pros
pecting for the one fortunate spot
They found it, and about ten feet in
from the shaft they encountered the
famous Mohawk vein.
The news spread through Goldfield
and over to Tonopah, but it did not
create much Of an impression. The
old-tImers knew that ground, or
thought they did. and it was hard to
believe that anything could come from
it. The new find might be stringer.
but Manhattan was all the go then, and
Goldfield was not at all attractive.
There was one man. however. who
had his eye on the Mohawk. George
Wingfield was then getting into the
Ill. l. l. 81 l.
ler's chance on a number Of properties,
and some of them had made good. The
fever of speculation was burning in his
veins. and the opportunities looked
great to him. No prospector went to
Wingfield in those days for a grubstake
with fairly good chance in sight who
was turned down by the rising mining
magnate. Wingfeld figured that If he
Loaf 80 rrubstakss and cus mazda rond