Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1913-12-20


Toncpah has appeared III a variety
Of forms, but the Bonanza Of june tt.
1901, tells the circumstances without
the least attempt Al embellishment
and al a time when All the facts
we're fresh in the minds Of the chief
actors IN this drama Of the desert.
The story follows:
]. L. Butler the discoyerer Of the
Tonopah Mining district. that is now
attracting universal attention in min.
ing circles, is an old resident OF Nye
and Eureka counties, and has been
more or less identified with pros
pectlng since 1870. Like all others
who followed the hills in search of
natures hidden wealth, his pathway
has not been strewn with roses.
neither did Dame Fortune smile on
him benignly and drop riches into
his lap, except in his latest and
greatest discovery. Notwithstanding
the hardships and disappointments
through which he has passed, he had
q presentiment that sometime he
would become the owner Of valuable
mining property. For the last ten
or fifteen years he labored under the
impression that the country In the
vicinity Of Tonopah mountain was
worthy Of investigation, and though
many excursions were planned with
this object In view, something in
variably transpired to turn him from
this purpose, until May just one
year ago, he determined to make the
trip, and on the 18th Of that month
passed over the ground now made
famous by his fortunate discovery.
Camping at what is known as the
Warren Ayerel spring on the 18th,
about three miles Of the present
town Of Tonopah, he directed his
course towards the Porphyry noun.
tains, also christened as Tonopah,
and finding float scattered promis-
euously over the flat, Immediately
commenced prospecting for its source.
The nature Of the formation Is soft.
consequently erosion has been very
great, but the quartz being extremely
hard, has resisted the action of the
elements and, SO far as the lodges
are concerned, oxidation has not been
radical Hence the veins crop out
prominently above the country rock.
The groupings we're Of such magni-
tude and the surface quartz Of such
peculiar cast that he was not :avor-
ably prepossessed with the general
outlook, but concluded, however. to
take a few samples and have them
tested These samples were sent to
7, L. eddie at Belmont, BY whom
they we're forwarded to Walter Cay.
hart at Austin, New, for treatment.
The returns were promptly received
By Mr. eddie, but # was several
weeks before he met Mr.. Butler and
apprised him Of their value. The re-
suits exceeded by far his fondest
expectations aud created great ex-
element among those who were
made aware OF the richness of the
ore. These tests gave return Of
$40 ounces in silver and $206 in gold
Fabulous though these values we're.
Mr. Butler was still unenthusiastic.
and desired other eorroboratiye EVIL.
dence, and, through the instrumen,
tality Of Wilkes Brougher the sam.
pies that were sent to Frank Riggs
at klondike for him to test. but
we're misplaced aud forgotten, we're
traced up, and yielded 395 ounces in
silver and $152 in gold.
Knowing that It would require
money to perform the requisite
amount of labor under the state law,
aud also for recording, he debated
the feasibility Of the proposition be.
fore he assured himself that the an
ueftaking was possible, At this time
he was holding an office in Nye
county and his duties In this respect,
coupled with the attention he was
compelled to pay his ranch, he did
not return to the field of his dlscoy-
cry until August. Mrs. Butler ac-
oompanied her husband this trip and,
under her persuasion, and influenced
by extraordinary assays, Mr.. Butler
took much deeper interest in the
matter and Immediately began the
work Of locating.
The Desert Queen was the first
location made and recorded in Mr..
] l. Buffers name The Burro fol.
lowed in T. L. oddies name; Mrs.
Butler located the Mizpah, one of the
richest properties in the group, so