|
By Emory L. Hamilton LOCATION: Tradition has always led to believe that this legendary lost mine was in the Stone Mountain and many believe that it is somewhere South of the town of Norton and perhaps somewhere around the High Knob. DATE: 1738-39 DESCRIPTION: The following was copied from what is supposed to be one of the original stories that was given out by Swift himself. The manuscript was badly faded and torn in several places the rending does not make sense. The history of the famous Swift and his silver mine of the year of 1738-39. this taken from a copy of one of Swift s Mine Maps and History as told by him and mapped. Hs and G. Frenchman was captured by the Indians and taken as though to be through the regions of North Carolina and through the mountains of Southwest Virginia. He remained with the Indians three years making his escape returned to his home and served there in the year of 1738. While he remained with the Indians they took him to a silver mine. He marked the place with an idea of returning. He had not been home long until he decided to return to the mine and work up some of the rock ore. So he and silversmith named Swift returned to the mine and finding it the richest known. Succeeded in coining up lots of the rich metal into French Crowns enough for two horse loads and then they decided to return home. After staying three months there decided to return to the mine again and could find no trace of the mine, hunting and hunting, he gave up all hopes. He gave out maps and charts, one reads as follows: Swift s Story As me and my guide coming to the mine we marked out path by rocks, creeks, gaps and maps on tree coming from home. Traveling thirty-five or forty miles, crossing mountains and rocky regions. We came through large gaps full of Indians called Mecca. From there through a bluffy region then from there to a cliff. On right up with the creek running in the opposite of the cliff, then through a bottom by an old Indian Graveyard. then up said branch to a Buffalo or Deer Lick Gap; thence through this gap to a valley running East and West to a tree stating Swift s and Monde s Map. Take notice to this ridge. Thence four or five miles to a half moon shaped rock house in the mountain on a little creek full of cedars, spruce pines where we smelted our ore. Thence back eastward to a ridge that runneth East. West with the ridge to a Cedar Gap in the ridge where the mine is, in the left as you go Eastward. At the mouth of the mine a Had (perhaps a haw tree) stands, containing the words, "Swift and Monde s Mine and Map." Take notice to this ridge in the mine as a canteen, molds and sheep skin aprons was left in the rock house, also a load of coined French Crowns buried on the right side as you go in the rock house. The ore was in a gray rock with a sandstone ledge running near by. The mouth of the mine was about as large as a hogshead and barrel and dropped in the ground for about ten feet, then made off level. Bringing with them Monde, an Englishman and a woman as a cook, they remained at the mine about one year. Monde and the Frenchman fell at outs, Mondo killing him and also the cook. Buried them just opposite the mine about four or five miles in a half moon shaped rock house in the large mountain straight across the valley running East and West. Swift and Monde fearing that the Indians would come upon them decided to return home to North Carolina. Upon returning and staying for a number of years, Monde decided to return, to go back to the mine once more, found the mining region settled up by people, but succeeded in finding a Buffalo Lick and decided he could find the mine. Returning home to get help he took sick and died. Swift being nearly blind, decided he would return once more to the rich mine. Upon returning he found the Country settled up by people. The mine was bounded on the West side by a creek and Beaded Spring of Indian Reeds, as run by a quodrel 16 degrees East 1590 feet from Beaded Spring, about three miles on the north by the large mountain and on the East by a creek and branch and on the Southwest by a Buffalo Lick and south by a river and rock house; 36 degrees north, 1768 poles from Beaded Spring. by quodrel 16 degrees East 1592 poles to Moon Rock House 36 degrees E. N. E. 68 poles. |
|
|
|
All files on this site are copyrighted by their creator. They may not be reproduced on another site without specific permission from Vickie Sturgill Stevens . Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which they are presented, the notes and comments, etc., are. |