, 1890-04-24

slncltcr would destroy all pr0tlt.
The ore rs II comes from the mine
l. dumped into II hopper, from
which 1t Is fed to crusher. Then
1t Is chopped and crushed into small
bits, and the mineral thoroughly
separated from the waste matter.
The fine ore is then washed upon
large revolving disks, or pnsscs Ia
the jigs, which shake the light
pieces of quartz To the top. These
disks and ies are inclined, and
streams of water wash away the
worthless gnnguo and quartz, lcav-
ing the mineral in the shape ol con-
ccntratcs, which Is sacked and
shipped To market,
-
When Mr.. Culbcrtson conducted
me into the shafthnuse of the mine,
aud bchcld the black chnsm that
WAS yawning for us, | wanted to go
out into the open air and admire
the landscape, but the eyes Of too
many miners We're upon me-, "a |
kept silent and awaited develop
ments. \ big iron bucket, filed
with ore, came up out Of the depths.
The ore was dumped into car, aud
the empty bucket swung back over
the dark abyss. | had imagined
that we were to step inside the
bucket, aud my hear; dropped away
below zero when Mr.. tulbertsOn
stepped airily upon the rin, and di-
rected me To- take the other side, |
did So, my heart humping away
like trip-hammer. MIR. Culbcrt-
son lightly claspcd the wire cable
with one hand, and held his candle
with the other. | cNtiu-
gui-hcd my candle and took
"a grip on the cable with both hands.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Three
hcll-, the engineers signal to lower
and down We went into the black
ness of the earth. A cold current of
air rushed up the shan, and the
superintendent candle was soon
pulIj'd out. Then we went bump
ing against the timbors Of an incline,
and | felt something scraplng away
ut my heel. That was hardly cheer
ful, but I dare d not move. drew
u long breath aud awaited results.
| The next moment we dropped
among II group of miners, and into
the cheerful light of half "A dozen
suffering candles. We were in the
lOO-fuot level, and could 90 no
tst I..ftattA.s tlsn .lufl l...lnNt
nearly iilled with water
-.
BY the dim light Of our llaring
candles we walked several hundred
feet to the face Of the level; then we
climbed Shiny ladders and CROPPED
through the Slopes, whore miners
were working upon the great ore
body, In pincps eight feet Wide.
Everywhere there was ore abovc,
on either side, aud great piles or IL
lying whore the men hal blasted
and picked II out of the rich vein.
Thefe was IA constant drip, drip,
drip, of water, and occasionally Il
big drop would fall upon the flame
of our candles, and leave Us In par
tinl darkness.
We wandered through the slopes
and along the long driit until lost
all idea Of the points Of the compass.
Then Mr.. Culbcrt-ou led NE back to
the shaft, and We climbed upon an
empty bucket. In another minute
we We're In the sweet, fresh air and
cheerful light of day, and silently
thanked the fatcs that had not
beon killed.
Tho Tiger IL undoubtedly n iine
minc. II was discovered In
1855, aud to-day employs about
sixty men, who are turning
out about 100 tons Of ore daily. The
Hidden Treasure, nm eNtcnsi sion of
| the Tiger, L. owned by II Spokane
company. In addition to the 100
foot level, the TIGER mine l. worked
10y means OF three tunnels up the
mountain side.
The Tiger and the Poorman aro
upon one great ledge, which was
exposed in crossing Canyon creek.
Both mines and their conccntrttors
are right In the town. The Poor
man crosses the guich aud takes in
n few feet of the hill across the way.
The mines are connected under
ground, and are being worked
directly beneath the town.
Ia the afternoon ! met Mr.. Simon
HALEY, the superintendent of the
poormnn, aud he ohligingly showed
me the workings Of this great prop
crty, undoubtedly the largest and
most thoroughly equipped mine
that IL now being worked In the
Cmur d'Alenes. Mr.. Haley has
been mining sincc his boyhood. He
has developed ayd is now working
the mine with three tunnels running
in from the mountain side aud three
levels below, aud IL now sinking for
the iO0-ioot level. The mine gives
employment to 100 men. II Is
equipped with a large conccntrntor,
steam and w9ter power, air COM
pressor and air drills. We stepped
upon the cage, which bore n safe and
rc,ssuring appearance after my cx-
perience ON the Tlger bucket, eai
were quickly lowered to the 2O0-foot
level. Here we inspected the mag
niiiccnt ole body in the drift and in
the slopes, stopping occasionally To
watch little group of miners at
work with pick aud shovel, ar TO
observe the working pf the air drills.
One of these machines will tlo more