[K. R. Casper, The Bullfrog Bonanza: How Recent Gold Discoveries Have Awakened Southern Nevada and Added New Towns to the Map, Sunset, August 1905]

 

MODERN GOLD MINING—TRADING IN MILLIONS AT BULLFROG

                The type of modern gold-mining prospector and promoter is a great contrast to the argonaut of '49; he sits serenely in his canvas cabin, behind a roll-topped desk, smokes the best brand of cigars, and dresses in khaki and puttees, while he talks with his friends of millions in sight. From a study at Bullfrog, Nevada, by Maynard Dixon. See "The Bullfrog Bonanza."

The Bullfrog Bonanza

How Recent Gold Discoveries Have Awakened Southern Nevada and Added New Towns to the Map.

By K. R. CASPER

Photographs by Joe Mullender.

            THE awakening of southern Nevada seems little short of marvelous. This is written in the town of Beatty on the Amargosa river right in the heart of the now famous Bullfrog district in the southern part of Nye county, and the only oasis in this immense desert.

            Less than one year ago there were living between Thorpe's mill, thirty-five miles north of here, and Montgomery, fifty miles south, just three families, and they were those of M. M. Beatty, after whom this town was named, G. W. Howell, who has a small ranch ten miles up the river, and "Panamint Joe," a Shoshone Indian, and a few of his tribe who were camped a short distance above Howell's.

            Today there are within this radius of eighty-five miles certainly not less than 4,000 people; there are the towns of Rhyolite, Bullfrog, Beatty, all substantial, growing, thriving towns, and the smaller ones of Gold Center and Crystal Springs, both of which have large aspirations which are liable to be realized. Where ten months ago only an occasional weary prospector punching a burro could be found and where the trails were few and indistinct, there are today as good roads as can be found anywhere, stages going and coming from Goldfield on the north, and Las Vegas on the south, supplemented by not less than a dozen daily automobiles to obtain a passage in which one has to be booked ahead.

            This wonderful transformation is due to the accidental discovery of a mine which came about in this way: Ed Cross and "Shorty" Harris, two prospectors

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MAIN STREET OF GOLDFIELD, A CITY OF SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE, WHOSE MINES IN EIGHTEEN MONTHS HAVE YIELDED OVER $4,000,000

whom fortune had treated none too kindly, came up from San Bernardino, California, to the Kane Wonder, a mine situated in the Funeral range forty miles west of here where they remained for some time.

            Excited by the reports of the richness of the mines at Goldfield, they struck out across the desert for the new Eldorado. Traveling in the desert is no child's play and those who spend many years at it are called "Desert-rats." Springs and water-holes are so scarce, and frequently so far apart, that great care must be exercised in undertaking a journey. Buck's springs were known to exist and were known to Cross and Harris, and were the first objective point for which they made when they left the Kane Wonder.

THE TOWN OF BEATTY ON THE AMARGOSA RIVER, BULLFROG DISTRICT

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            They remained at the springs, which are situated about six miles in a northwesterly direction from Beatty, and while prospecting around accidentally stumbled over the Original Bullfrog, the outcroppings from which showed high values in free gold. They located the claim on August 8th of last year.

            Taking some specimens they continued on their way to Goldfield, where assays were made which showed that another bonanza had been added to Nevada's list.

            A stampede followed and soon the hills surrounding the new find were filled with eager prospectors. In passing,

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THE HEART OF THE BULLFROG DISTRICT, OVER WHICH PROSPECTORS BY THE THOUSAND ARE ROVING IN THEIR EAGER SEARCH FOR GOLD

THE HARRIS PROPERTY, BULLFROG DISTRICT, WHERE EVERY SAGE BRUSH MAY COVER THE PRICE OF SEVERAL KING'S RANSOMS

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GOLDFIELD, 1905, THE DESERT KLONDIKE, WHERE ONE MEETS A HALF DOZEN NEW MILLIONAIRES EACH DAY

TOP OF THE ORIGINAL BULLFROG MINE, AMARGOSA IN THE DISTANCE.

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RHYOLITE-A LUSTY TOWN IN SOUTHERN NEVADA AT THE

it may be said that one small shipment made to Reno from the Original Bullfrog consisting of a little less than seven tons brought $5,800—or something over $800 a ton. The discoveries of the Ladd and Benson, the Denver, by Judge Ray, the National Bank and several others followed in rapid succession, but it was not until November 15th when the excitement reached its zenith and this was occasioned by the discovery of a rich ore chute on the Shoshone, or the Montgomery as it is better known.

            The location of this mine and the finding of the ore is even more interesting than that of the Original Bullfrog and will bear telling. For the past twenty years E. A. Montgomery, familiarly known as "Bob," has followed prospecting with varying success in various sections of this extensive desert. He made the first location in the Crescent district in Lincoln county, eighteen miles from Searchlight, in 1891, which did not prove a success, and afterward he found the Johnnie mine in the Montgomery district, out of which he realized some money.

            Montgomery happened to be in Goldfield when the specimens from the Original Bullfrog were brought there, and knowing this section of the country very well, and believing in its richness was one of the first to join the rush. On his arrival in the district he employed a young Shoshone Indian called "Johnnie" who made the first location on the property in question on the 6th of September. Mr. Montgomery subsequently made additional locations to the group which bears his name and which bids fair to make him rich.

            Considerable prospecting was done but the highest assays that could be obtained did not exceed $8. Here again the element of chance or luck came in.

            Some time in the early part of November "Al" James, a first-class prospector who had seen much service in Arizona, around Kingman and the Gold Roads district came down from Goldfield to the new "diggings." While prospecting

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AGE OF THREE WEEKS-THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN MAY 30, 1905

around on Montgomery mountain on November 15th he found ore which upon assaying proved to carry values in gold and silver running from ten dollars to one hundred and eighty dollars. He kept his own counsel until he met Mr. Montgomery when he asked him what interest he would give him if he showed him where he would find a rich ore chute. Montgomery agreed to give him a one-tenth interest in the mine, and so on the 9th of January of this year he showed him the ore and one of the richest mines ever found in Nevada was disclosed to the world. Tom Edwards, who was interested with Mr. Montgomery, also made an agreement with James who has since disposed of his interest for a handsome competency and whose burro-punching days are now a thing of the past.

            The first thirty-eight tons of ore taken out of the Shoshone tunnel across the ledge for a distance of forty-two feet without sorting or sampling and which were shipped via Las Vegas to Salt Lake a month ago netted, so it is reported, the Montgomery-Shoshone Mines company $500 a ton at the smelter. Development work by winze and drifts proves that the values do not diminish and every indication points to the fact that here will probably be one of the richest mines ever found in Nevada. It is a pleasing thing to say that nobody envies "Bob" Montgomery his good fortune. Everybody is his friend and he is a friend to everybody. With his charming and accomplished wife, who is a native daughter of California, he has already begun to do good with his money and the more he makes the more good he will do.

            Among the other locations which have passed beyond the stage of prospects may be mentioned the Bullfrog-Western, the Bullfrog-Eclipse, the Lige Harris, the Peery-Montgomery, the Commonwealth, near Crystal springs, and the Gold Bar, formerly known as the Hazeltine.

            This latter property has also an interesting history. Like many of the other

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BROWNSTONE FRONTS IN GOLDFIELD

discoveries it was found by Colorado miners. It was discovered by N. P. Reinhart and Ben Hazeltine, both of whom came from Cripple creek to Goldfield last September.  Finding that they did not stand much show there they came on to Bullfrog district, camping at Buck springs, two miles east of the Original Bullfrog mine, on October 7th.  On the 10th they located the Hazeltine and proceeded to develop it. When seen by the writer a short time ago the property had been opened in a dozen places and excellent pannings were obtained from every opening. In one place there was a pay-streak, which assayed from forty-two dollars to one hundred and twenty-nine dollars a ton,

STUDY OF NIGHT LIFE IN BULLFROG, NEVADA'S NEWEST MINING CAMP

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and in another opening there was a vein eighteen feet wide which averaged fifteen dollars a ton. This property has all the earmarks of becoming one of the large mines of the district.

BEATTY IN THE BULLFROG DISTRICT

            When the fact is taken into consideration that the distance in a straight line from the Hazeltine on the north to the Lige Harris on the south is not less than seven miles and that values have been found between these points in many places for a width of five miles, some idea of the possibilities of the district may be obtained.

THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF ORE FROM THE ORIGINAL BULLFROG

            The water question has been a huge bugbear. In Tonopah and Goldfield ample supplies were obtained, while here the Amargosa river, although but a very small stream on the surface, has inexhaustible quantities of water underneath. In the town of Beatty ten wells have been sunk to a depth of fifteen feet and then the water came in so rapidly that the well-diggers were forced to discontinue their work. A pipe-line eight miles long is nearing completion which will supply the town of Bullfrog with water, and it is confidently stated that Rhyolite will soon have a like supply.

            Just below the town of Beatty and near Gold Center there are still to be seen the ruins of an old silver smelter, operated many years ago, and a mile below that evidences of an arrastre, operated by the Mexicans so long ago that no authentic history concerning it can be given.