The Silver King Mine traces its beginning to 1870, during the Apache Wars General George Stoneman, desiring an easier access route to Apache strongholds, had ordered the construction of a road from Camp Picket Post into the Pinal Mountains.[The road became known as the Stoneman Grade. A soldier named Sullivan, who was assigned to the construction, discovered some heavy black rocks that flattened when struck. Interested in the rock, he collected several samples but did not mention this to his fellow soldiers.After completing his term of service, Sullivan went to work on a ranch owned by Charles Mason. Sullivan routinely showed off the rocks, known as "nugget silver" to prospectors of the region, but never divulged the location of the discovery. After a time, Sullivan disappeared and was assumed to have been killed by Apache.
Mason, joining with Benjamin W. Regan, William H. Long, Isaac Copeland, and another companion went searching for the location of Sullivan's find. On March 21, 1875 the group was attacked by Apache and the unnamed companion was killed and buried near the summit of Stoneman Grade. Following the burial, one of the group's mules strayed. Copeland was sent to find the wayward animal, locating it near the base of Stoneman Grade. Upon finding the mule, Copeland noticed an unusual rock outcropping and upon closer inspection saw markings that had been left by Sullivan. Sullivan's find had been located.
If you would like to read about the Silver King and the mining progress from newspaper articles -
at the time the most prolific silver mine in the U.S. - see
at the time the most prolific silver mine in the U.S. - see
http://ghosttowns.com/states/az/silverking.html . Fascinating stuff!
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