The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-10-09
IT IS PINCnING OUT.
The Famous Drum LummOn Lead Is
Gradually Vanishing Away.
SIXTY STAMPS WILL HANG
This 10 a Rumor. But There Seems
to Be Too Much Truth In lt-A
Montana Romance. World
Wide Famous.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch TO the Standard.
Helena, Mont. Oct. SIT Is current
talk here that the famous Drum Lum-
mon gold mine. discovered by Thomas
Cruise OF this city, and which after
wards made him a millionaire and
banker. Is slowly plnohing out. For
more than a week past II has been
whispered that all was not well with
that world-renowned mine In Marys-
vile. No one seemed to know just ex-
actly where the street rumors started
from. or who put them in circulation,
but 1t was an assured fact that the
story was going the rounds. and that
many people believed 1t. No one
seemed to know anything definite con-
cerning the alleged coming end Of the
property. They had simply heard that
the mine was pinching out and that
arrangements were being made to
close down. 1t has always been the
policy OF the Drum Lummon company
to keep Its affairs within its own con-
fines. and for that reason no one was
able to quote anything as coming from
one OF the employees Of the company at
Marysville. II has always been an
ironclad rule Of the company to drop
an employe from Its payroll who told
all he knew. For that reason II Is I'm
possible to learn any Of the details o<
the alleged trouble. But considerable
credulence Is placed upon the rumors
from the fact that they have become
so general In the last day or two and
because several persons in position
to know whereof they speak are not
surprised to learn that the matter has
at last gotten out. They hinted that
matters are not as they should be. but
as strenuously denied that they are as
bad as reported. but the simple fact
that these people say anything Is
wrong. goes a mighty long way to bear
out and substantiate the street corner
talk.
In speaking OF the matter to-day. a
prominent mining man said: II have
known for some time that matters
were not as they were several years
ago. To be sure the company has not
missed dividend In the past. and as
for the future / cannot say what will
take place. The regular dividend may
be declared and IL may not I do not
think the present plant will be aban-
doned or anything like that. but q
temporary shutdown may occur at
any time. The mine Is not what you
might call pinching out. In the true ac-
ceptance Of the word. as II Is applied to
mines to-day. Some time ago the vein
In the mine split or forked. That II q
common occurrence In mining and
nothing was thought Of II. although
the owners would rather have seen the
vein remain intact. When the split
was found think II occurred upon the
S00-foot level. Although l am not cer-
tain. one fork OF the vein was followed,
the other being left as Il was. This
fork was worked and am told II grad
ually lost Its value. although II did not
materially decrease In size. II kept
losing Its value until II became such o
low grade proposition that II was i'm
possible to work II at any profit. II
was then abandoned or partially 50.
and the other fork worked. This one
was found to be as rich as the main
vein before It was split. but its rich
ness did not last. | am told. and after
being sunk several hundred feet began
to lose its value the same as the other
vein. I believe this second fork was
sunk on to the 1000 foot level. When
this fork commenced to lose Its value
the head Office In London was notified
and Superintendent Bayliss went to
England to lay the matter before the
directors OF the company. Several
times. II was reported. the mine was
plnching out, but II regained Its old
time richness after sinking further In
the vein. History may repeat itself In
this, but / think Il doubtful. as the
mine is too deep for a gold mine and
AT the same time hold Its old-time
richness. The present workings have
| lasted longer than thought they
would. and / am not surprised to
learn that men are being laid on"
From Marysyille to-day came the re-
| port that since Sunday about 60 men had
been laid OF. About 80 OF these were ma
chine men who worked the Burleigh
drills In the mine. the remainder being
a portion OF the force employed In the
| blacksmith shop. AS the force below
| ground Is decreased so Is the force In
the blacksmith shop in proportion. Mr.
| Bayllss went to London In the early par,
Of last month. and 1t is claimed the men
| were laid OF In accordance with a tele-
gram received from him. gentleman
residing In Marysvllle. and who enjoys
the confidence OF one of the head men u,
i tue nliuc, sdiu tp-uay that ne was given
to understand that the present force will
be considerably lessened from time tc
| time by wedding out the Inferior miners
and that the expert men would be re-
tained TO do development work on neigh
boring claims owned by the Drum Lum.
mon company. II has many In that I'M
mediate vicinity. and these. II Is said
will be developed and II they prove tc
be any account and worthy OF working
they will be worked II they prove to be
valueless and the present workings show
no signs OF returning richness. then mat
ters would naturally come to a crisis
But such may not prove to be the case
as the undeveloped leads may prove
themselves to be as rich. II not richer
than the present workings were.
II was also current talk upon the
streets OF Marysville to-day that the o.
stamp mill will be closed down Saturday
for an indefinite period. From whence
this rimor started could not be learned
but Il was general talk and many believe
Il to be true. The men laid on since
Sunday were employed upon the night