Mineral Kingdom. (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1905 Page: 1 of 4
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MINERAL
Devoted to tfye MiQeral Interests of tl)e Wichita Mountains
Volume 2.
LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1905.
REMINISCENCES OF MOUNT
SHERIDAN AND VICINITY
Number 24.
There never has been in history a mining camp developed in which
there has not been many incidents long to be remembered by the
participants, some of which border on the grave, and others ridiculous
in the extreme. Mt. Sheridan and vicinity has been no exception to
this rule, and being at this time slightly reminiscent, we will strive to
bring to mind a few of the past happenings.
One very hot day during the summer of 1903, it having been reported
that the indian police from Ft. Sill were coming to destroy and burn all
mining equipment found on indian land, a party of about a dozen indians
on horseback, accompanied by Frank B. Farwell, chief of the indian
police, and the farmer agent from Ft. Sill, the two latter white men,
were seen wending their way over the hill from the direction of Mt.
Scott. This was a warning similar to that given by a hen to her flock
of chicks, and every miner in Camp Meers was soon armed with the
best implements of war that he could command, and reported for duty
at the mining property of Mr. lies, located on a small eminence just
outside the camp and on an indian allotment. The writer counted as
many as 20 Winchesters in the crowd, and six-shooters were as plentiful
as flowers on a May day. It was expected that the eventful moment
would have arrived, should this band of indians captained by a white
man attempt to destroy the steam hoist and shaft house, and it would
undoubtedly have been very entertaining for the intruders had they
attempted to carry out their threats made at Mt Scott but an hour before.
However, upon their arrival and taking in the situation, it was decided
there v/ere too many miners for them to encounter, and after a half
hour's conversation they returned the way they came, with the idea that
there was a little nerve among the miners of the Wichitas.
During the fall of 1904, the inhabitants of Hardin's camp, or a part
of them at least, decided to have a little fun at the expense of a "tenderfoot"
who was then stopping there. It was arranged that he and another
young man should walk over to the postoffice about a mile distant, just
after dark, and of course the companion of the fellow to be hazed was
o<i to the job. After cover ing about half of the distance, in a small ravine
a man appeared with six-shooter in hand and demanded them to hold
up their hands, but without waiting for them to comply, fired two or
three shots, and the companion of the "tenderfoot" fell and begun to
groan as though his life blood was ehbing away. The "tenderfoot"
started on a run that would have made a race horse ashamed of himself,
and stopped only when he reached camp, with hardly enough breath to
tell that his partner had been murdered by robbers, and that he escaped
only by his fleetness of foot. It was not until afterthesupposed murdered
man appeared on the scene that he could be convinced that he had been
made the victim of a practical joke, and the laugh was certainly on him.
Probably one of the nerviest things seen in Camp Meers was enacted
by one Kennedy, a homesteader, who claimed to be a bad man from the
Chickasaw Nation. He had come to that part of the mountains and
made entry on a quarter section of land that was absolutely worthless
for any purpose except mining, and there is no doubt but that this act
was simply to even up a grudge held by a one-eyed homesteader against
a certain miner who had mining claims and was then living upon the
land, and had planted a small garden adjacent to his camp, which was
plowed up by Kennedy and his crowd. Several other acts of similar
import raised the ire of the miners, until one day when Kennedy was in
Camp Meers where there was being built a small testing plant, it was
discovered that he had in his possession a six-shooter, and as he had
made his brags as to what he was going to do to the miners, a consulta-
tion was held and it was decided to see that he discard the gun and pay
the penalty. Accordingly Constable Langdon was summoned and with
a crowd for helpers, gun in hand, he attempted to make the arrest. He
was resisted by Kennedy, with his hand thrust in his blouse, who swore
he would kill the first man who advanced an inch closer to him. Lang-
don finally dropped his gun and Kennedy backed off to a safe distance
and made his get away, but was afterward arrested and laid out a fine in
jail for carrying concealed weapons. The funniest thing connected with
the affair was. that just after Kennedy was gone a head was observed
peeping out of the smokestack of the smelter asking if it was safe to come
out. and that individual is a very influential resident of Meers.
We could go on enumerating instances of whipping the editor, stealing
flour, and other acts of violence and depredation, but for fear that it
would prove uninteresting we will refrain. Meers Camp has seen her
practical joke days, has had its days of hypnotism when men were
turned to horses, has had the agony of entertaining a Bain and a DeBarr.
and in general it is a very historic spot, and the remembrances of the
early-day miners will live and be handed down to their descendants.
Miners as a rule stick more closely together than any other class of
people, and the miners of Camp Meers are no exception, It is very rare
that any friction arises among them, and this also holds good in all other
parts of the mountains. The rough element is entirely absent, and those
who are prosecuting the work have, whileperhapsaslightly roughexterior.
a heart that is on the right side, always willing to divide their last crust
with a brother miner, and such a thing as jumping property among them
is rarely over known. It is a picturesque spot, situated almost in the
shadow of Mt. Sheridan, whose lofty crags can be seen for miles standing
out in bold relief against the horizon.
INJUNCTION AGAINST MINER
Last Monday Horace Southard was served with an injunction suit,
brought by Marlow parties to prevent him working a certain mining
property located on the Wheeling townsite.
From investigation it would seem that the parties bringing the suit
have a lease on the property made to them by the Wheeling townsite
company, but the same was not acknowledged before an officer, neither
was there a consideration mentioned in said lease, which was made more
than a year ago. Near the first of this year the same company sold to
Mr. Southard the property for a consideration, making him a warranty
deed for the same, and it is understood that this is the grounds upon
which Mr. Southard places his claim of title. Also Officer Hethering-
ton was the locator of the property and is at this time an equal owner of
the same along with Mr. Southard.
It would seem from the notes and plat made by the county surveyor
that these Marlow parties had a mineral location in this vicinity, but
according to their field notes does not conflict with the Hetherington-
Southard property. It being on the townsite, it was deemed best by the
two latter-named parties to secure a deed to the tract of land which
Hetherington had located under the mining laws of the United States,
thereby saving controversy, but it seems to be quite the reverse.
The shaft being dug is not on the property claimed by the Marlow
parties, so reports Surveyor Joyner, and this being the case it is claimed
there is no cause for action. We trust that this matter will be adjusted
with justice to all, and that the development work will at once proceed.
COPPER THE LEADING METAL
In conversation recently with Mr. Kennard, of the Golden Age Mining
Company, he stated that in his opinion copper would eventually be
proven to be the predominating metal in the Wichita Mountains. He
also stated that generally copper formations carry more or less gold, in
consequence of which gold values will be encountered, but that when
any depth, comparatively speaking, is attained all silver values in the
greater part of the prospects will have vanished, and the two above-
named metals will be the ones sought after.
Mr. Kennard is very enthusiastic over the property of his company,
which is located at the base of Mt. Scott, and it was he who advised
sinking the shaft in the location it occupies. This company has shipped
a tone of their ore to Newark. N. J., where it will be treated by the Ba'-
bach Smelting & Refining Works, and if the results come up anywhere
near the assay values, the company will commence the erection of a
plant for the treatment of their ore on the ground. This is a porphyry
formation, and from the width of the vein it is safe to say that the body
of ore will justify a large plant which can be kept running from year's
end to year's end.
If an emerald is heated to a certain degree the stone assumes a blue
color, but it quickly recovers its green color on becoming cold.
Fluorspar is used mainly as a flux for iron, in the manufacture of
opalescent glass, and for the production of hydro-fluoric acid.
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Davis, Frank C. Mineral Kingdom. (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1905, newspaper, April 13, 1905; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc227080/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.