The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-24
It's Total Collapsed Very Expensive
Piece of Nonsense.
Spokane Spokesman.

Winthrop, Wash, Aug. 1.-The Slate
creek mining boom that started so au-
spiciously last March when Col Hart set
the hearts of mining men on ire by en-
ploying upwards of 100 men to MAKE snow
roads into the Slate creek country, has
bursted. Word was received here today
that Superintendent Mckay arrived at
the Eureka mine on a hurried trip from
Anaconda yesterday and 10 the surprise
of everybody ordered all work TO stop.
discharged all employees and today pack
ers are at work bringing the company
effects out of the country.
So ends a mining project that has cost
Marcus DAILY and his cOnfreres a great
deal of money.
Vera Cruz. the little town which was
built up within the past six weeks.
is in sackcloth and ashes. The little
burg nestles on an eastern hillslope 1000
feet above sea level and half a mile
from the famous Eureka mine, and
since the snow disappeared a few weeks
ago has developed into an interesting
town, with seven substantial log houses.
including several stores and a saloon.
Last night the salooonkeeper was setting
'em up" on account of his hard luck and
drinking with the boys TO better luck in
the next camp. Pack horses that had
been growing fat on fresh grass and idle
ness were being brought in from the
move for anywhere but Vera Cruz"
The dozen or more tents that marked the
home of the big mining company and its
employees are already down, and faces
generally are as long as the road to the
Columbia.
The collapse of the big Slate creek
excitement is really of interest to mining
history II was at once the most daring
and expensive piece of nonsense that has
occurred In mining speculation for some
years. Three years ago prospectors en-
tered Slate creek and began prospecting.
The formation there is mostly granite
and slate, the hills are rounding. covered
with trees or light vegetation and but
little rock 10 be seen, except on rugged
snow peaks. But over a dozen years ago
placer mining on Ruby creek. OF which
Slate creek is In part its source. and
which in turn enrpties into the Skagit
river, was the cause of wild excitement
There was then a town Of :. 600 miners at
tho head of Ruby creek and some big
nuggets were taken out. The ruins of
some big diggings are still there and show
what hope must have been in the breasts
Of the miners. The prospectors went into
Slate creek three years ago to find the
source of the placer supply They
searched the hills and valleys and finally
struck some fine leads on Slate mountain.
The find caused a rush of prospectors
and when snow fell last year every bit of
hilltop for miles was staked off There
were some very fine looking properties.
among them being the Eureka and Nam
moth. Both were free gold. and there
were many rich specimens. The Eureka
mad a vein Of about twenty feet on the
surface, and the Mammoth, across the
sulch. was even better
Last winter Col Hart, representing
Marcus DAILY. OF Anaconda. bonded these
two properties and half a hundred others
Hart bonded on samples only. The snow
was too deep % get in 10 examine the
prospects and ne took the word Of the
owners. For come he paia 500 down. for
others $3.50, ana for the Mammoth and
Eureka about 5000 each, as first pay
ments on bonds for $500 20 S50oo0 pros
poets.
Then came the determination TO cross
the Cascade range in March and the
building Of snow roads The snow road
was just completed. when. in May.
sooWstorm set in and filed the road
up before Col Hart could get into the
mine Il vas about this time another q
Ar. Days agents arrived. Mr.. Toole.
Hart hsd spent SIS o0a on his snow road
and had not even seen the mine. Fe was
released and Toole took charge Investt-
cation showed that money had been
S9-Andered. The men IN charge % the
tompanys stores had sold goods. hun
ereas % dollars worth 81 provisions had
beeeD allowed "a spo3l and a great lot was
stolen. Ordinary laborers shovelfng snow
were paid s. ~ Ter day AMI Board AMI
t9e company's boarding house was a free
hotel. BESIDES the time FOR the making OF
the first tire payment on the bonds was
about up and nothing was known % the
prospects
Toole at once stopped all work and
Hart went 10 Arizona The thousand
men waiting a; ventura. being told that
Hart had pulled oct left the country.
Then Toole went around = get an extern
sion on the bonds With the Eureka pe0-
ple he was successful. and the first pay
uent time was extended 20 July J The