Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-08-26
THE BRIDAL CHAMBER MINE
lteresting Early History Of Lake Valley, N. H.
, Eron be slerra counly Aavoeale. !.


In 1879. George Lufkin. a prospec.
tor. picked up heavy piece OF ors
on the spot where was found, fouI
years late. the famous bridal
Chamber" Of Lake valley. when the
ore was assnycd n was found 90 be-
nearly pure horn silver
A small town, later known az "Oid
Town" was built near the find. Luf-
kin aud his partner sold their claim "a
John A. Miller Of silver CITY. Miller
was then sutier IA Fort Bayurd and
built what was then considered the
finest house in silver CITY. about
three hundred yards from the depot
Of tho old narrow gauge railroad
From him the mine was passed In
10 the hands 81 what was knwn az
the Washington company, and from
this company. TO some ouakera IN
Philadelphia. These formed four
companies. the largest 81 which, tho
sierra Orande. OWNED the ground ON
which the Bridal Chamber" was dis
covered by John Leavltt IN August.
1889. lie having no idea Of the value
Of this lease. sold u for small sum
Nowhere In the modern world has
there been found such rich ore IN
such quantity. one lump was sc
large that the engines were unable
to hoist u; and the shaft was TOO
small TO permit ~ In passage u
was known as the jackson Baby
getting It's name from the manager
Of the mine. y. II. Jackson. A piece
OF the "Raby" Was exhibited az the
New orleans exposition IN 1855.
The town called Lake valley had
doomed after the Lufkln strike, hut
Il nov experienced q much greater
boom Saloons gambling houses,
dance halls. and eating houses sprang
up over night The old town buiis
during the l.ufkin strike was desert
ed, ana the people found new hahlta-
tions nearer the great center OF at
traction, the mine. Houses We're
moved from Mutt. thirteen miles avs
and the Santa re ran branch lne
To the new Mecca. The place. rev
months before inhabited by me Wig
cat and the jnckrabbit, was now q
scene OF never ending action.
As might be expected there was
drunkenness and violence. BFaw'H,
murders. ana suicides were Of COM
mon occurrence II 10 said that Of
the first thirty men buried In the Lake
Valley cemetery, not one had died ~
bed.
Naturally. where nca ore was
found IN such compact form, there
was much theft, Pockets afforded q
4meana Of conveyance on small scale
for pieces OF ore; ana q mnch pau
would hold the equivalent OF sever
Al weeks pay. Under bushes and IN
deep rnvines. rocks and crannies ore
was hid away.
one afternoon after "A nard rnin =
man who was passing along the street
CHANGED 10 sec, something shining "
the mud. Moved by his curiosity ne
returned that night, but az ne ap'
preached. he found this particular
section Of the street being patroiiee
hy n man with n gun Man number
two Instantly concluded that he mad
no further business IN that vicinity
Another time about midnight q COW
cred wagon. evidently heavily Loaded
was seen leaving tho lower part q
town. A sack 81 ore feii froW ms
back 81 the wagon Which immedNte'
~ stopped. and a person slipping from
beneath the canvas FASTENED 20 res
cue a. much az possible OF the scat
tered treasure He again climbed 10
ana the vehicle resumed its iourney
The following day the watcher ~ th'
night before picked az on the epo
where me sack had droQped abou