The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1888-04-21
Homestake Mill and Mine-Down in
the Depths.

POAHbSht1 WIN u NVuN y ohSS "
take us up to the South Homestake
mine and mill. The mine was our
first objective point.
Arriving, the horse was hitched
near the mouth of the tunnel, and
with candle in hand we followed
our file leader 335 feet from "out
of doors" to the engine used to
hoist and let down ore, and which
was to let us down and hoist us up
In the mine there are 3 levels,
not counting the one canopied by
heavens arch. We were told to
seat ourselt in the bucket, but the
buckst wasn't our size. We got
our feet in, but to sit down in the
pesky thing was impossible. SO we
just scrouged into it. Schrontz and
Joe. Glishoeber, with candles in
their hands which shed light in the
dark abyss and sperm upon our
head and clothes, stood upon the
chimes Of the bucket, and on Arm
strong being told to " let 'er go,
Gallagher" we made our descent.
We have had more fun in our time
Apprehension that something or
other might break and make waste
of the most precious ore ever low
cred in that bucket freighted our
senses but we arrived safely at
the bottom Of the 300 foot leve,.
The first thing we noticed was the
purity OF the air at that depth. the
candles burning as brightly as on
the upper level. Here were men
employed penetrating the rock
with the view OF reaching the main
lead, for be it understood that not
withstanding the immense amount
of bullion extracted from ore taken
from this mine, it has all been the
product of seams, the lead not
having yet been discovered.
After looking around the lower
level until curiosity was satisfied,
we assembled to the second level,
where we dismounted and took in
the view afforded there. These
levels are rooms or floors 60x20,
we'll tlmbered. rendering work
men perfectly secure in their work
ing. The blasting is done from
the roof instead of the floor, which
renders the working of two men
equivalent to that of dozen men
in downward blasting, inasmuch
as blast will throw more ore
downwards than one would up
wards. On the walls Of the second
level we saw lots of gold winking
at us, and all we could do was to
return the winks.
But we longed to again bask in
the sunlight. The signal to hoist
was given, and the chap at the
throttle seemed to think us in a
greater hurry than we really were,
so yanked us up at the rate Of 60
miles an hour, making us feel fun
ny though not bit amused. We
got to terra tirma in short order,
when we gave voice to the good
old song:
III bid farewell to all my fears
And wipe my weeping eyes,
But "the divil's in the male" if
we ever 60 down into the depths
again until the undertaken gets our
OIueT LOT IrduSlL.
The openings are too few from
which to provide ore sufficient to
supply the rapacious NAV of the
mill, ahd Superintendent Schrontz
is now sinking the old Wilson
shaft" 800 feet, with 100 foot lev
els to reach out and connect with
the other openings. This work
will soon be completed and some.
time next month a large force OF
miners will be put to work and the
mill started "never to stop again
for want of auriferOus food.
! We then took in the mill, but al
IL was NOT runninop LITTLE Xvas IN hf