So far I have just posted bits and pieces of old newspapers. So why not some finished product? This story is one that will be in Northwest Wyoming, it is from Fremont County. It is called "A Case Of Credibility."
A Case Of Credibility
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A Case Of Credibility
There is an old story that, back in the 1870s, a miner believed that he had made a rich gold strike in Fremont County, Wyoming. According to some sources, the man’s name was Farley. He took a sample to be assayed. The assay results showed the sample to be of no real value. But, a short time later, Farley, who made the strike, learned that the real value of the sample was much higher. The first assayer had misled him.
More Later …..
There is an old story that, back in the 1870s, a miner believed that he had made a rich gold strike in Fremont County, Wyoming. According to some sources, the man’s name was Farley. He took a sample to be assayed. The assay results showed the sample to be of no real value. But, a short time later, Farley, who made the strike, learned that the real value of the sample was much higher. The first assayer had misled him.
More Later …..
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After this, Farley trusted no one and refused to divulge the exact location of his gold strike. There is a good chance that Farley’s rich bonanza remains untouched after he departed the region. Following is an old article from an out-of-print magazine telling the Farley story: Anyone ever hear of PACIFIC MONTHLY MAGAZINE
December 1, 1898
LOST LEDGE OF MINERS’ DELIGHT
You're about to!
More Later ….
December 1, 1898
LOST LEDGE OF MINERS’ DELIGHT
You're about to!
More Later ….
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PACIFIC MONTHLY MAGAZINE
December 1, 1898
LOST LEDGE OF MINERS’ DELIGHT
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It was in early spring, 1870, when Grant Farley plodded into the snow blanketed mining camp of Miners’ Delight, Wyoming, after a prospecting foray into a nearby gorge.
Located east of the Wind River Mountains (part of the Continental Divide), the town was established at Spring Gulch in 1868 by Herman Nickerson, and was first named Hamilton. A few months later a paying mine named Miners’ Delight opened up west of town, and the name of the town was changed shortly thereafter. A ten stamp mill was set up; and in just one year, the town’s population soared to nearly 3,000. Almost $7,000,000 in gold was recovered from surrounding canyons.
More Later ….
December 1, 1898
LOST LEDGE OF MINERS’ DELIGHT
–––––––––––
It was in early spring, 1870, when Grant Farley plodded into the snow blanketed mining camp of Miners’ Delight, Wyoming, after a prospecting foray into a nearby gorge.
Located east of the Wind River Mountains (part of the Continental Divide), the town was established at Spring Gulch in 1868 by Herman Nickerson, and was first named Hamilton. A few months later a paying mine named Miners’ Delight opened up west of town, and the name of the town was changed shortly thereafter. A ten stamp mill was set up; and in just one year, the town’s population soared to nearly 3,000. Almost $7,000,000 in gold was recovered from surrounding canyons.
More Later ….
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Farley climbed off his mule and made his way slowly to the assay office, struggling through waist high drifts with a heavy knapsack. He walked into the office and upended the sack over the assayer’s desk, piling it high with big chunks of gold ore. He shrugged off his heavy fur coat and sat down in a chair, a big grin on his face.
“Tell me the value of the samples,” Farley said.
Farley had discovered the ore high at one end of Strawberry Canyon, where months of winter erosion had exposed the ledge. When the assayer finished testing it, it was official. Farley’s chunks of gold ore were richer than any found in the region before. Preparations for filing a claim were made; and though Farley was careful not to divulge the exact location of his find, he did tell the assayer it was in Strawberry Canyon. Then he gathered up all his ore samples but one and left for the saloon. He needed whiskey to warm the chill out of him.
More Later ….
“Tell me the value of the samples,” Farley said.
Farley had discovered the ore high at one end of Strawberry Canyon, where months of winter erosion had exposed the ledge. When the assayer finished testing it, it was official. Farley’s chunks of gold ore were richer than any found in the region before. Preparations for filing a claim were made; and though Farley was careful not to divulge the exact location of his find, he did tell the assayer it was in Strawberry Canyon. Then he gathered up all his ore samples but one and left for the saloon. He needed whiskey to warm the chill out of him.
More Later ….
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The assayer grabbed a coat and ran out of the back door to spread the news. By the time Farley reached the saloon, a happy reception committee awaited him. In a friendly mood, Farley bought drinks for everyone in the house, but ignored their pointed inquiries about his fine. After a couple drinks and a hot meal, Farley trudged back into the snow, mounted his mule and rode to the bank, where he deposited his gold ore. Then he rode back to his gold ledge and chipped out enough ore to fill his knapsack and saddlebags.
Upon his return to Miners’ Delight, he was ready to file an official claim, but discovered that a commercial development company had claimed title to the entire end of Strawberry Canyon. Farley was furious and believed it was no coincidence that the chief partner in the new company was the town’s assayer. After a bitter argument, Farley realized he could not legally stake a claim on the land.
The members of the company insisted Farley show them where the gold ledge was, but he refused. He went to the bank, exchanged his gold ore for cash, then left town heading for California.
Members of the development company and other prospectors searched for the deposit, but it was never found. The rich gold ledge still sits undisturbed in strawberry Canyon.
–Jeff Ferguson
More Later ….
Upon his return to Miners’ Delight, he was ready to file an official claim, but discovered that a commercial development company had claimed title to the entire end of Strawberry Canyon. Farley was furious and believed it was no coincidence that the chief partner in the new company was the town’s assayer. After a bitter argument, Farley realized he could not legally stake a claim on the land.
The members of the company insisted Farley show them where the gold ledge was, but he refused. He went to the bank, exchanged his gold ore for cash, then left town heading for California.
Members of the development company and other prospectors searched for the deposit, but it was never found. The rich gold ledge still sits undisturbed in strawberry Canyon.
–Jeff Ferguson
More Later ….
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According to most versions of this lost treasure legend, the area of this discovery is believed to be somewhere in Strawberry Canyon. There is a Strawberry Creek in Fremont County, Wyoming, southeast of Miners’ Delight.
Although Miners’ Delight is said to be where this story is supposed to have taken place, it is most likely that Strawberry Creek was the exact location of the find. For whatever reason, Farley went to Miners’ Delight instead of Atlantic City or South Pass City, which would have been closer. It likely that he did this to put other treasure seekers off the track. The Strawberry region held great riches, so Farley’s lost lode could very well exist.
More Later ….
Although Miners’ Delight is said to be where this story is supposed to have taken place, it is most likely that Strawberry Creek was the exact location of the find. For whatever reason, Farley went to Miners’ Delight instead of Atlantic City or South Pass City, which would have been closer. It likely that he did this to put other treasure seekers off the track. The Strawberry region held great riches, so Farley’s lost lode could very well exist.
More Later ….
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Back on June 27, 1867, Mormon mountain man Lewis Robison, rode into Great Salt Lake City with two other men and went to the office of Bohm & Mollitor, assayers. The party carried 40 ounces of gold dust that they had crushed from quartz rock in two days. The assayers refined the ore into a gold bar. It was valued at $740.06, with a fineness of 934 ½!
The Union Vedette, Utah’s first daily newspaper reported: "The only account the discoverers have as yet given is that the mines are about 200 miles from here and are rich," Five days later, The Union Vedette ran the headline, "The New Gold Mines," reporting that Robison’s find had "set the people wild in this locality." Newspapers as far east as Chicago and New York picked up the announcements in the Vedette.
The Salt Lake Journal kept up a steady stream of reports. It seems that Wyoming's gold rush was on. What Robison and his associates had found in June 1867 was the Cereso ledge, which soon became renowned as the Carissa Mine of South Pass City.
More Later ….
The Union Vedette, Utah’s first daily newspaper reported: "The only account the discoverers have as yet given is that the mines are about 200 miles from here and are rich," Five days later, The Union Vedette ran the headline, "The New Gold Mines," reporting that Robison’s find had "set the people wild in this locality." Newspapers as far east as Chicago and New York picked up the announcements in the Vedette.
The Salt Lake Journal kept up a steady stream of reports. It seems that Wyoming's gold rush was on. What Robison and his associates had found in June 1867 was the Cereso ledge, which soon became renowned as the Carissa Mine of South Pass City.
More Later ….
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CAMP DOUGLAS, U.T. JULY 1, 1867
The New Strawberry Mines
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THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING.─The new Territory of Wyoming is described as bounded on the west by the Rocky Mountains, north by the Territory of Montana, east by Nebraska, and south by Colorado. The resources of Wyoming are yet undeveloped; but enough is known of its immense deposits of gold, silver, copper, and coal to warrant us in saying that, within a year from now, it will equal Montana in population. The veins of coal alone will supply the Pacific Railroad with fuel for ages to come. These veins are already being worked in Colorado. At Boulder City, north of Denver, there are five veins of a superior quality of coal, the largest being fifteen feet and the smallest five feet thick. At the crossing of the North Platte, there is a coal strata among the rocks on the north side of the river. The other precious metals will be found rich. This Territory is bound to be settled up with a thriving population. ─Exchange.
The new mines on Strawberry are in this supposed new Territory. That being the case, it will attract a large population within its limits.
The New Strawberry Mines
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THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING.─The new Territory of Wyoming is described as bounded on the west by the Rocky Mountains, north by the Territory of Montana, east by Nebraska, and south by Colorado. The resources of Wyoming are yet undeveloped; but enough is known of its immense deposits of gold, silver, copper, and coal to warrant us in saying that, within a year from now, it will equal Montana in population. The veins of coal alone will supply the Pacific Railroad with fuel for ages to come. These veins are already being worked in Colorado. At Boulder City, north of Denver, there are five veins of a superior quality of coal, the largest being fifteen feet and the smallest five feet thick. At the crossing of the North Platte, there is a coal strata among the rocks on the north side of the river. The other precious metals will be found rich. This Territory is bound to be settled up with a thriving population. ─Exchange.
The new mines on Strawberry are in this supposed new Territory. That being the case, it will attract a large population within its limits.
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