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Story
September 10, 1937
The Kusko Times
Takotna, Tokotna, Mcgrath, Alaska
What is this article about?
Revived 1887 tale of Solomon Turpen's secret silver ore find near Boonville, Indiana. Despite analysis confirming high-grade silver, location unknown; failed digs at Dyson Knobs. Brother hints at spot along Lynnville-Boonville road.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
STORY REVIVED OF
RICH HOOSIER MINE
Boonville, Ind. - Somewhere among the brush-filled, abandoned mine workings along the Lynnville-Boonville road 'old timers' say there are riches awaiting a lucky discoverer.
The bearded veterans have told that same alluring information to gravelers and townspeople for more than a half century. Today, however, the "silver secret" Solomon Turpen carried to his grave seems as secure as it was back in 1887 when he displayed a handful of silver nuggets and ore to a disbelieving audience in the general store.
Close-mouthed and taciturn, the lucky miner refused to say where he had made his discovery.
Excitement ran high in the town that day," recalled Albert Hart, 71, who lives near the abandoned workings. "It was even worse when metallurgists analyzed the ore and reported it contained a high percentage of high-grade silver.
"Through it all Turpen was pretty close-mouthed. The up-shot of the situation was that a shaft was started near his property on what is known as Dyson Knobs."
But the diggings were destined for a discouraging end. The silver supply began to run low and finally petered out altogether. The well-like shafts gradually became filled with dirt and debris. The road cut from the Knobs from the highway grew up in bushes and trees.
"Nothing is left up there now except a few shallow holes in the ground and a couple of the old timbers used to brace the walls of the shafts," said.
There is a curious angle to the story - one that indicates ore of these days some lucky person is likely to stumble into wealth somewhere along the Boonville-Lynnville road.
Matthew Turpen of Evansville, a brother of the secretive miner, is still living.
"My brother never told where he found that silver," Matthew said after a visit here. "It happened he had a lease on the Knobs land people jumped to the conclusion he found it here.
But I don't believe it was there it all - it was some place along the Lynnville-Boonville road.
Sol might have intended mining the stuff himself later on, but he died too soon."
RICH HOOSIER MINE
Boonville, Ind. - Somewhere among the brush-filled, abandoned mine workings along the Lynnville-Boonville road 'old timers' say there are riches awaiting a lucky discoverer.
The bearded veterans have told that same alluring information to gravelers and townspeople for more than a half century. Today, however, the "silver secret" Solomon Turpen carried to his grave seems as secure as it was back in 1887 when he displayed a handful of silver nuggets and ore to a disbelieving audience in the general store.
Close-mouthed and taciturn, the lucky miner refused to say where he had made his discovery.
Excitement ran high in the town that day," recalled Albert Hart, 71, who lives near the abandoned workings. "It was even worse when metallurgists analyzed the ore and reported it contained a high percentage of high-grade silver.
"Through it all Turpen was pretty close-mouthed. The up-shot of the situation was that a shaft was started near his property on what is known as Dyson Knobs."
But the diggings were destined for a discouraging end. The silver supply began to run low and finally petered out altogether. The well-like shafts gradually became filled with dirt and debris. The road cut from the Knobs from the highway grew up in bushes and trees.
"Nothing is left up there now except a few shallow holes in the ground and a couple of the old timbers used to brace the walls of the shafts," said.
There is a curious angle to the story - one that indicates ore of these days some lucky person is likely to stumble into wealth somewhere along the Boonville-Lynnville road.
Matthew Turpen of Evansville, a brother of the secretive miner, is still living.
"My brother never told where he found that silver," Matthew said after a visit here. "It happened he had a lease on the Knobs land people jumped to the conclusion he found it here.
But I don't believe it was there it all - it was some place along the Lynnville-Boonville road.
Sol might have intended mining the stuff himself later on, but he died too soon."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Exploration
Misfortune
Fate Providence
What keywords are associated?
Silver Discovery
Secret Mine
Failed Mining
Lost Riches
Historical Secret
What entities or persons were involved?
Solomon Turpen
Albert Hart
Matthew Turpen
Where did it happen?
Along The Lynnville Boonville Road Near Boonville, Ind., Dyson Knobs
Story Details
Key Persons
Solomon Turpen
Albert Hart
Matthew Turpen
Location
Along The Lynnville Boonville Road Near Boonville, Ind., Dyson Knobs
Event Date
1887
Story Details
Solomon Turpen discovered high-grade silver ore in 1887 but refused to reveal the location. Excitement led to mining at Dyson Knobs, which failed. His brother Matthew believes the find was elsewhere along the road, and the secret died with Solomon.