A Gem Rush in Whitman County
Prospectors uncover veins of onyx and fire opal near Colfax, sparking excitement about the region's hidden 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 onyx deposits and opal mines of Whitman county are sources of wealth whose value is yet undreamed of. The recent Penewawa discovery has not ended the finds by any means. The bluffs of Union Flat, southwest of Colfax, are now known to be studded with the valuable stone. Henry Buckner, who has a ranch on the south bluff of Union Flat creek, formed an opinion that precious stones could be found there. On Saturday, he was rewarded with a sight of a block of pure onyx at the bottom of a prospect hole. On Tuesday, a block of pure onyx, five feet in length and over three feet wide, was raised. Furthermore, Zack Fisk struck opal-bearing stone in the valley of the creek and secured two very fine and valuable specimens of the genuine fire opal.
“The onyx deposits and opal mines of Whitman county are sources of wealth whose value is yet undreamed of.”
Eastern Washington has a long history of mineral exploration beyond just agriculture. This story reflects the boosterism and speculative excitement common in late 19th-century regional reporting.
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