The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-08-10

far enough beyond the Indian lodges
SO that our paddles could not be
heard; then struck across due east
to the land and coasted around the
point until we landed in the west
part of what Is now called Stuntz
bay.
I'VE pulled our canoe into the
dense forest, got breakfast and then
proceeded to make explorations.
"The first discovery made was
about 40 rods from the canoe-a
quartz vein eight feet in width with
slaty iron ore walls on each side.
Subsequent examinations of this vein
proved thek last end of it to have
been worked by some ancient people
as far as they could get for the
water. I run stick down as far
as 10 feet below the natural surface
of the ground. This trench that
had been worked for 80 or 40 rods
had been filled in either by nature
or by the operators with intent to
cover up their work-the masses Of
rock had been tumbled back.
II continued south over the end
of the mountain and on the crest
discovered an eXposure-1mmense
rocks of an impure iron ore. Contin-
uing down the south face discov-
q very fine iron ore from what Is
now the Breitung mine. I took a
few specimens from the first dis
covery-some beautiful and novel,
specimens of Bonded quartz-one in
the shape of an s that was done
surely by compression and not by
water.
"After coastiag around and sketch
ing In the country I started home
about Nov. rs, 1866.
"Iron had been known to exist in
what Is now called the Lee mine
by the Indian blacksmith, a half
breed named North Albert Posey,
or Joe Posey, as he was commonly
called, for three or four years pre-
,vious to this time, but it was not
until my next trip that saw the To-
,cation at the east end Of the bluff
where it showed the richest and
where I got the specimens that final
ly called the attention of the cap
italists to that part Of the country.
"While I was making the explo-
rations I found afterwards that ]. B.
Culver and Vose Palmer were on my
trail, very anxious to know what I
had found.
AT a Sunday conference when
asked my opinion told the boys:
"'When this country Is developed
that big mountain of iron will do It.
When they get to hauling that iron
out they will haul its supplies cheap.
It now costs not less than 10 cents
pound. Then we can work those
veins cheap, If they will pay
"In 1875 capitalists began to sus-
picion that there was iron on the
range. These suspicious were found
ed on the statements of Ontonagon
parties that there was solid noun
tain of iron ore IL miles long on the
Mesaba, 16 miles this side Of Yer
million. In that year was out on
a wildcat expedition to find coal near
the international border.
IT was requested by George c.
Stone to get specimens of iron on
the Vermilion on my way.
"These specimens, which had
forwarded, resulted in courier be-
ing sent to head me off at Embarrass
river to get some more specimens.
"Just as a matter of history, I
camped on the Embarrass river July
l and ice froze there quarter Of an
inch thick. I had summer blankets
and didn't relish the cold snap a
bit.
"Prof. Chester of Hamilton col
lege, New York, an expert, was sent
out here by Charlemagne Tower, of
Philadelphia, and Mr.. Munson OF
Utica, N. Y. This was in 1875.
"Prof. Chester came out again in
July, 1880. He would have started
from Duluth on the 4th, and will
probably never forget the combina-
ton of national holiday, red-eye
whisky, half-breed and true Amer
lean patriotism that delayed our de-
parture from Fond du Lac until the
5th. Nor will he, I think, forget the
canned beef, which, I had left at
Wine portage in 1875 and had for
gotten. A strong appetite and Pc
culiarly formed log logged my men,
DRY as we were passing in 1880. Prof.
Chester, as a chemist, said It was not
poisonous; as hungry man he pro-
nounced it palatable and in his graf
itude he promised to send certifi-
cate to the packer.
II had prepared the way for Prof.
Chester's operations and got in the
supplies and built cabins. What his
report was I never knew, but he was
enthusiastic, though In August had
sudden call to 60 home. I bought
his supplies for use on my surveys.
"After Chester had left, Engineer
Lee, a son-in-law Of Charlemagne
Tower, came up, missing Chester on
the way. When he found me he had
no supplies but I fixed him out. We
looked over the country for a rail-
road route. ..
elm 1881 eastern parties wanted
another exploration and made 1t, es-
timating 10000 tons on the Vermil-
ion range. Prof. White also came
up in that year. I remember his tap
ping b ledge and asking him what
he was looking for.
"T am trying to find foreign
rock" replied he. 1T seems all iron
80 far