Year: 1877




In the State. Bullychoop may be the
exception, but have never as yet visited
that camp. Saw some very rich rock,
however that came from those lodges
As said, we failed to strike anything,
but there is vast extent of country vet
to be prospected, and as there is not
particle of aoat upon the surface, it makes
1t very difficult for prospectors, having to
be governed by ranges, and the different
formations Of granite slate rock and
Its fine time for prospect
ing now and will be until the storms set
in this fall. A fellow can camp out any
where-he can find wood, water and grass
three very essential things to have
around in camp-out. There is, howev-
err, one other thing indispensable in fact
you can't get along without your regular
beans. Get the Centennial bean-what
mean by the Centennial bean, is bean
just 100 years old. Got acquainted with
0tt the boys and must say cloverer set
Of boys cannot be found in the makeup
Of any new camp. Also got familiar
with the mines which l propose to de-
scribe. think the JOURNAL was some
what mistaken in saying those lodges Of
Deadwood consisted only in very rich
stringers. Notwithstanding l differ with
the boys, the old he mother ledge has
not yet been struck, although the boys
most of them have well defined and rich
paying ledges.


Commencing with Frank Belleau and
Jack Muncey's claim, the first ledge has
swelled from = inch on the surface 10 >
feet at distance Of 80 feet and is still
growing richer as they go down. 720
pounds of rock yielding $3.50 and the next
tier they were taking cut when l left will
go about 80 or 60 cents to the pound. A
distance of 200 feet below this stringer is
the main ledge about 3 feet in width and
will pay S75 or 500 to the ton. The boys
have just commenced sinking on this and
when down 100 feet will start an arastra
to work night and day, and at the same
time will start hand mortar or sweep,
some kind OF a darned thing like we used
to beat homny with when | was bow,
both me and the JOURNAL Editor know
what hominy is both 2l years old before
we ever saw biscuit and then thought
them land terrapins amused ourselves in
putting Goals of fire on their backs to
make them poke their heads out.


Jack and Frank are very very clever
fellows, keep an open house for all visi-
tors, prospectors and bummers who come
that way and that Frank has more vein
matter on his brain than the W hole State
of California put together ; little near
sighted but can see further into quartz
with his naked eye than you could blast
in month. They are rigging u water
spout near the house, and rs it will neith-
er assay or dig rock there is no telling
what it is for, but the outside opinion is
that It is intended to shower bath any fol
low or fellows who visit them without
caking q bottle of bourbon. Boss and
Mr.. Flagg have gone that way and if they
fail to take along a bottle we may learn
upon their return just how the old thing
works.


Next in a westerly direction is the ledge
of my old friend Sebastian, his ledge as
far as opened shows width of from 4
to Z feet and very rich, Immediately north
of him and on the same ridge is the ledge
of Richard KILN. Now when it comes
to rich rock, all rich and no second or
third class rock Dick has one of the finest
and best Lo. Led. bar" guns on Dead
wood and proposes to use it on any son
of gun who will put his name in coun-
ty paper in connection with mining
claim, and the JOURNAL Office had bet
ter trot out their best fighting material
for Dick has the gun sure,


George Sargent has struck something
pretty good | am told since left. Now
George is deserving Of something good
having pnt in 3 or months hard work
and sunk holes enough to bury the whole
Turkish army on the opposite side OF
Deadwood. My friend Wiley has a
very nice ledge but different character
of rock from the Muncey and BeIeau
ledge, but has since | left struck it over
the divide in Shasta county | understand
very good, all of which | am very glad
to hear. Wiley is one Of your never
tiring prospectors, carries his pick, shov-
ell and pan, horn, sack and mortar with
him and runs over those mountains like
a deer, and what would discourage other
men he laughs at and goes it again. Bul-
ly for Wiley hope he has it good
Klein has an arastra which he has work
ed for number of years with what sue
cess | am unable to say. Schafier has a
6 foot ledge Immediately on the divide
which is said to be very lich, did not
get TO see it whilst was there.


With all my heretofore bad luck at min
ing and a full knowledge Of the facts be-
fore me, | propose to commence mining
placer diggings soon on Rush Creek, the
poorest stream in California perhaps, with
partner only few months my junior,
about as feeble, and l was going to say
could get away with as much whisky as
| can, but | think can beat him little
on that and as stubborn and unyielding
in his Democratic opinions as Govern
ment mule, which taking all things to-
gether should the claim pay you can date
the Journal the first week Of the mil
lennium. Now the thing was fairly tested
last Winter. A MINER good and hard
worker at that, worked months and
came out $500 in debt. played pedro
the same length OF time and came out
only a few dollars behind and if the books


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