Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1913-10-17
The discovery of the "Rridat Chamber" at
Lake Valley. The Deatb George EaEy
aEd Lieutenant Smith.

1t was in the early SOS, possibly 'Sl
that the Bridal Chamber" at LAX.
Valley, N. M, was first discovered by
two old prospectors, and the way il
came about was characteristic of the
men and the country of those days, and
| will relate as nearly as can the oc-
curance as it was told to me.
Mr.. DAILY had for mine foreman,
whom we will call Barney, miner of
experience and good Judge of miners
and their capabilities and in that easy
day hospitality and the helping hand
were extended generously and spon-
taneously. 1t seems that as soon as
Mr. DAILY commenced operations on an
extensive scale, that prospectors out of
jobs, and miners hunting WORK in new
fields, swamped the foreman with APP
| plications for work, until this particu-
lar morning, when meeting Mr.. DAILY,
Barney said, "Mr. DAILY, couple more
of those hungry prospectors just struck
me for job and / haven't foot of
ground unoccupied. What shall do?"
"Well, Barney, don't you know that it
is just such fellows as those two that
makes it possible for you and | to step
in and get hold of god job-as we
have now. Get a couple of shovels and
picks, choose soft place and put the
fellows to work." VIII ch Barney did
He selected depression in the hillside,
surrounded by outcropping iron-stained
line and quartzite where the grass was
luxuriant. Some time later, after the
windass had been put up on the shaft
where they were working, Barney in
passing could not see any one on top,
so went over to the shaft and heard
both men talking yolubly below. Call
ing down ne said, "What are you two
fellows doing down there, any way?"
One of the men came up to the sur
face, and holding out some yellow and
red clay said, "Jim was just telling me
that this stuff looks like some of
that clay they used to mine in Nevada
that ran way up in silver" "Says
Barney, get me couple of samples
and will have it assayed"
Barney gave them to the assayer
who returned them out respectively,
over 600 and 900 ounces silver to the
ton, and this was the top of the re-
markabIe Bridal Chamber ore body
which made the mines famous the
world over.
These two lean, hungry prospectors
had made good Georges saying of
few days before that ''it was just such
men that made it possible. etc"
But George DAILY, as far as any one
knows, never knew of the find, for the
day the assay returns were made word
was brought to the mines that George
DAILY and Lieutenant Smith had been
killed by the Apaches on the Gavilon
trail, Is to 20 miles from the mines.
The death of DAILY and Smith was the
result of sharp raiIlery by DAILY on
Lieutenant Smiths disposition to catch
the hostiles. and IT came short n scrfe
sad way as heard it related by differ
ent persons at various times.
Geo. Days quarters were in the
adobe building on McEyerett's ranch,
which this company owned, about five
miles from the mines. About noon
time some troops camped near the
residence. DAILY sent a man to find
out who they were. what they wanted.
who returned with the information
that it was Lieutenant Smith and de-
of U. s. troops after In