The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-01-08

exposed part OF the lSldHu- I Adu DdSc
of rs feet, strongly framed, with five
separate bulkheads, and was given an
angle of is degrees on the outer face,
the highest point being IS feet above
the water. At last a structure had been
reared that defied the strength of the
waves, but it vas not high enough to
prevent great volumes of water from
rolling over into the enclosure. I opre-
vent this water from pouring into the
mine, n system of water-tight lmDer-
ing was constructed, and the space be-
tween the timber work and the Golfer
dam was filled with stone and n.y.
draulic cement.
Notwithstanding Interruptions to
mining nearly 100000 worth of ore
was taken out in 1871. During the
period of navigation in 1872 nearly
5000, 900 worth of ore was shipped. In
1878 the shipments declined to $780,
600. In the fall of that year the lake
carried away $50 feet of submerged
cribs, 10000 feet of timber, $4,000
pounds of bolts and 5000 tons of roc
The blacksmith shop was completely
demolished, great stones were hurled
around the island like beans, and an
accident to the pumps allowed the mine
to begin to fill with water. But after
Il continuous fight with the water in
and ont of the mine the crib work was
restored and the pumps put in shape.
Besides the great expense entailed
by the ceaseless combat with the ele-
ments. the company had to build houses
on the mainland for its men. construct
docks and wharves, harbOr breakwat-
ers and lay in large stores of supplies.
Heretofore all the ore utilized was
packing orc"-that is, the very rich
est ore t o be found in the vein. In 1874
and 1875 the company erected n stamp
mill and began the reduction of the
poorer ores. Though the stamp mill
was not so successful as it WAS expected
to be, the mill produced S225,1S0 dur
ing the last half of 1875. The vanners
introduced into this mill by Capt. Frue
have been gradually adopted the world
over and bear his name.
The output of silver from the mine
in 1873 fell TO 145,9O2 ounces, and the
total product of the first six years of
its operation was 1.j61, S22 ounces of
fine silver. The continued decline in
the amount of the product and the
enormous expenses of operation re-
suited in Il deficit in 1876, and 4 cOnse-
quent examination of the mine by q
special committee. At that time, the
r.-3h lnyn1 1-I1nh Woe Tnonhn1 Nv .,
Wine 14S feet south of the shaft and
directly under the lake. was ga feet
below the level of the water. The COM
mittec found hat all the silver-bearing
indications kept up as far as the vein
had been followed, but that the silver
was not as prevalent in the vein rs it
had been. But as the mine had been
decidedly ''pockcty" from the start, it
was felt that the poor quality of the ore
at that time was nc reason for dis.
enlargement. y rich pocket of fabu.
lous extent might be struck at any
time. Between the sixth and seventh
levels a corner near the shaft had
yielded Go tons of ore valued at $113,-
BOO. This report resulted in the
~ganizatiOn of the company under the
name of the Silver Islet Consolidated
Mining & Lands company. This was
effected in April, 1877.
The new company soon had its faith
rewarded. 1t had just been decided
to undertake the work of removing the
roof of the mine, where it was known
there was about 100000 worth of ore,
when the work of exploring the differ.
ent levels and pushing them in the di-
rection indicated by drill holes result
ed in the discovery of immensely rich
deposits. In this year, with n produc-
ton of 721 ,G23 ounces of silver, was the
high-tide of the mines prosperity. But
1879 witnessed a big slump and in 1850
the production fell to 3G,374 ounces.
The two following years were even
worse and the hunt for new pockets
was unsuccessful, though the silver
bearing vein was still as well defined
as ever.
In 1883, when the lowest level was
1,260 feet below the surface of the
lake, the directors undertook to Sc
cure some assistance from English cap
i~talists, but were unsuccessful. Mr..
Tretheway, the superintendent of the
mine. vas still exploring and searching
for the bodies of wonderfully rich ore
always in prospect.
Then it was that the coal boats cap.
tain went on a spree and became ice
bound. Nainly the islet people watched
for his coming. March 1 drew
the engines were reduced to the small
est possible ration of coal, and the
water gradually rose in the shaft. The
water crept higher and higher against
the feeble pumps, and still no coal
steamer came. Then the pistons of
the last engine made their last stroke.
the waters filled the first level and
rose to the top of the shaft. A feeling
of despair settled upon the little com
munity whose world had been centered
in the mine. The mine was aban-
doned.
With the opening of navigation all
of the inhabitants of the town that had
been built upon the main shore moved
away, leaving the streets and the build