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Show 182 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN The Mr. Watrous mentioned by Dr. Wislizenus was Samuel B. Watrous, a very prominent citizen of New Mexico in later days, and for whom the town of Watrous on the line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railway was named by the railway company’s officials. At that time the property known as the ‘‘Big Copper Mine,’’ *** was not being worked, although it was visited and exvisit and what he found at that time is peculiarly interesting. Dr. W. says, at pp. 26 and 27: ‘Several foreigners live here. The first one I saw was Mr. Watrous, a New Englander, but for many years a resident of this country. He received me very hospitably, and invited me to his dwelling. Some fresh skins of grizzly bears were Spread out on scaffolds, the sure American rifle stood in the corner, and everything else bore the character of a back-woodsman; but by his intelligent conversation he showed himself a man of very good sense, and as an acute observer. Though Mr. Watrous had not himself been engaged in mining, he paid attention to his whole neighborho od, and showed me many specimens of gold ores, which in his rambles through the mountains he had collected. I took a walk with him to the nearest gold washes. The first instance of this operation I witnessed on the small creek that runs through Old Placer. From the bed of the creek, which was in most places dry, they took up some of the ground — gravel, sand and earth — put it in a Spacious, rather flat wooden bowl (batéa), added water, removing first, by stirring with the hand, the coarse pieces of gravel, and then, by well-balanced shaking, all the earthy and sandy particles, till at last nothing is left at the bottom but the finest sand, from which all the visible picked out. The poorer class of Mexicans are generally portions of gold are occupied with these gold-washes in the creek; and they divide for that purpose the creek with the water amongst themselves, in lots, which often call forth as many claims and contests as the finest build ing lots in our cities, On the next day I went to see a gold mine near the upper part of the town, belonging to Mr. The mine lies between one and two the place. ; ‘he slope of some mountains. It was discovered Several years ago by Mr. Robidoux, who commence reason gave it up. Mr. Tournier had worked it for d working it, but for some one year, and found it very profitable. The old vein runs from SSE to NNW with a very slight 18 generally from two to four feet wide. Mr. Tournier has sunk a shaft dip. alreadyi in the entire depth of forty varas, and with the drift of about thirty varas, and the ore promises to hold out very fairly. The ores are carried in bags the surface, and on mules to the amalgama tion mill in town. After the orest0 have been ground, by hand (pounding them with rocks), they put in the mill, a small circular basin formed with rocks, with one or twoare mill stones, urned around in it by mule-power. These mill stones are placed on their face, revolving round a center pole, which is turned by the animals. To the coarsely powdered ore, water, and then quicksilver are added, and the amalgamation goes on in the usual way. Mr. Tournier told me he had worked in this way every day about two and a half eargas (750 pounds) of the ore, and that he draws, on the average three quarters of an ounce (about $12.00 worth of gold) out of it.’? _, Dr. Wislizenus met here Mr. Nolan and a Mr. Trigg, both prominent citizens of New Mexico of that period. He also met Mr. Richard Campbell, ibn J years a resident of the territory. ; This is known ag the San Pedro mine and belongs today to the Santa hy b Ug A mpany. S. A., visited In the month of October, 1846, Lieutenant J. W. AbertW® district. In his report he says: ‘‘In the evening this MINES AND MINING HISTORY 183 This is the mine amined by an officer of the United States army. which, subsequent to the coming of the railroad, gave rise to so much litigation as to title and with which identified were many distinguished men of the United States, including General U. S. A number of prominent citizens of New Mexico were imGrant. prisoned in the county jail at Santa Fé by Chief Justice Axtell, for contempt of court, having been charged with the violation of a, writ of injunction issuing from the court of the first judicial district of New Mexico.” visited a town at the base of the principal mountain; here, papers the houses, were huge mounds of earth, thrown out of the wells so — pn vi ~ looked like a village of gigantic prairie-dogs. Nearly all the people oe. at their wells, and were drawing up bags of loose sand by ei of 2 lasses. Around little pools, men, women, and children were groupe en y poring over these bags of loose sand, washing the earth in wooden pla i " goat horns. One can not but feel pity for these miserable bho Pa ape gratulate himself that he does not possess a gold mine. Even the _ he so poor pastores is much preferable to that of these diggers of tains about 250 inhabitants. It is situated on a ravine, sufficient water for this place and the town at the base which is one and a half miles distant. Some of the people gold. = oO : that Just furnishes of the age errno own large floc . sheep, which they keep in the valley of the Pecos. In the evening Bing ‘Villanos’ milking their goats. This business requires considerable dex and is not to examine one of the least amusing the mines of the New scenes Placer. in Mr. New Mexico. Campbell We kindly mules in order that ours might have an opportunity to rest and first visited a lead mine, situated near the road that runs to San is in a direction nearly south, situated at the foot of the or now a : y oe furnishe e 29 graze. ee - a pgs laying a bed of fossiliferous limestone. We collected specimens of t ‘ and the lime stone; then proceeding eastwardly, commenced ascending the m na tain. Near the summit of the mountain we visited a large copper epee “ Campbell proceeded to enter with great caution, and told us that os least some evil disposed Mexicans should be lurking in these yastesee = were many discontented spirits about the country, trying to revolu — : people, and some were said to dwell in these mines and caverns. ‘ He ne beautiful specimens of ore of copper of various kinds. Mr. oe = g o up some with the aid of a couple of stones, and after a little was me Ss error a great many particles of gold and silver; indeed, the ore was quite ric these metals.’’ 125 The individuals imprisoned for contempt of court were: P. B. Otero is his brother, Miguel A. Otero, sons of Don Miguel A. Otero, at one time — and delegate in congress from New Mexico; R. W. Webb, a os ; ee of Golden, N. M., afterward elerk of the district court at Santa oe attorneys, Francis Downs and William A. Vincent, the last named a cave appointed chief justice of the supreme court of New Mexico by Presic ent Cleveland, and later removed by him on charges of too close intimacy with Hon. S. W. Dorsey, which charges were groundless. Miguel A. Otero was subsequently clerk of the district court of the fourth judicial district, and was appointed governor of New Mexico by President McKinley and re-appointed by President Roosevelt. ; > The imprisonment of these men was a farce, as, owing to close political |