A Massive Gold Find in the Swauk Placer Mines
A prospector recovers a fourteen-ounce gold nugget from the Swauk district, highlighting the region's enduring mineral wealth.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The largest gold nugget taken out of the Swauk placers in the past two years was brought down today by W. A. Ford. It is from the famous Black claim, and was taken out by Ben C. Pitcher, the claim's present owner. It is worth $250, is remarkably handsome and attracted much attention. L. R. Grimes, World's fair commissioner, immediately purchased it for Kittitas county's exhibit at Chicago. C. E. H. Bigney, on Williams creek, alone is taking out on an average $100 a week. He can show nuggets that are worth from $20 to $30 each. Ben C. Pitcher can show a nugget which J. T. Brien, of Seattle, picked up Wednesday, that weighs fourteen ounces.
“The largest gold nugget taken out of the Swauk placers in the past two years was brought down today.”
The Swauk mining district in Kittitas County was a major hub for 19th-century gold fever. The pursuit of such natural resources continues to shape the economy and landscape of Washington's rural highlands.
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