Wonderful Discovery of gold near Vanoouver.

Manawatu Herald, 10 August 1899, Page 2

Wonderful Discovery of gold near Vanoouver.

. . +- * : * , •'" A recent despatch from Victoria (B.O.) to the San Franoisoo* $all " reports a wonderful discovery pf gold > near Alberni, the mining town situated at the head of Alberni-Caual an inlet on the west fto-ist of Vancouver Island, about 100 miles from Victoria. ' : " t The published acoonnt saya :- M A cave of nnknown depth bias been disoovered by a miner while basting which contains ore fabulously rioh — worth millions in gold. "William Moore, a prospector, who for several years past has b?en mining in the mountain ranges of the west .coast, was the discoverer; Moore, Who has been working for some time past at B ayes' mining camp, bronght tba news of his find to Alberni. " Moore says that on May 24th, while he was working on a nawlydiscovered lead «Jbout iflft^iem tho surface, he put in a shot intending to loosen the rock. None of the debris ooming out, he was nonplussed and upon investigation found that, instead of drifting npwards, his shot had broken an entranoe into a huge cave The inner part of the mountain of ore in which he was working was hollow and form?d a monstrous cavern. The foreman was notified tnd upon a thorough investigation it was found that a 4&l&^gg&ted *ome 25ft by 40ft mr wlpb^nd height, and with an unknown drift. A rope was procured, and Moore, with a miner's lamp in his hat, was

t ltmmimmiimAmmmtmimmm mtmmimtmii lowered into the inky depths. He veutured down some 40 or 50 feet, and there he beheld a grand and wonderful sight. The cave wap rich like Aladdin's. As he gazed at the glistening walls, bn saw a ledge of ore suoh as never h;is been foond at Vancouver Island, or, for ihat matter, in the Northwest. Gold was showing in big and little nuggets on its face, and it was evident that wh' n the cavern's ledges were woik<-d there were millions in it for the lucky mine owner. Moore broke off a nugget worth about 15 dollars witb ease with his fingers, which goes to Bhow that the ledge is of a slat) crumbling ore, and easily worked. A furlher investigation was then made by Moore, he being then lowered about 80 feet down into the mysterious cave, revealing other rich looking ledges which seemed to be equally as rich as the top one. One of these showed tracts oi haviDg been worked. Great excitement prevails amony the miners of the vicinity over the strange find."