The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-03
THEY FOUGHT FLOODS.
HERE is THE STORY OF THE FIGHT TO
GET THE STORED MILLIONS FROM
THE FAMOUS "SILVER ISLET."

Written for the Sunday Standard. 4.
The richest mine of silver ever opened
by man was not i'm Peru or Mexico. far
famed as are the mines of Potosi and
Guanajuato. but on a mere reef I'm that
greatest of fresh-water seas. Lake SUI
perior. Far-famed as is the LAX Su-
perior district for its iron ore and cop
per, its mines OF these baser metals
being the most extensive I'm the world.
IL has been forgotten by all but a few
of the older residents that only a quar-
ter OF a century ago the richest silver
mine i'm the old or new worlds was oper-
ated under it's waters. The story OF its
discovery, it's development under the
most trying conditions and against the
power of all the elements and the final
triumph OF nature over man affords
a romantic chapter In the drama of real
life. equaling in apparent i~mprobability
some of the tales OF Baron M~unchausen.
but all the details of which are verified
by authentic records and the memories
of men now living.
In the excitement attending the open
ing of the pioneer copper mines OF the
LAX Superior country, then a wilder
ness. IN the latter forties, a mineral
location was made on the north shore
OF the lake. of Thunder cape that nat
ural fortress OF granite which rises
sheer ADO feet from the blue waters
VI lnt ETtdl idkt. lntiuutu IN the itfd-
ton was a reef of rock. unnamed and
nearly overlooked by the surveyors. A
Canadian mining company held the
ground for a quarter of a entury, but
in 1870 transferred the property to a
Detroit corporation which began a sys-
tematic exploration of its lands. For
tunately their agent, Thomas Mac
farlane. possessed the Scotch thorough
ness. n among other explorations he
set foot one calm day upon the name
less reef now known as Silver Islct.
The little island was but rs feet long by
so feet in width. rising but a few feet
above the water on a calm'day and en-
tirely submerged by the long swells
from the east in stormy weather. Most
men woul have ignored Il. for the islet
was nearly a mile from the mainland
and the most unpromising place inn
aginable for mining work. To the sur
prise Of Macfarlane. who was perhaps
the first white man To w set foot on
that little speck Of solid ground encir-
cled by the deep waters OF the lake. a
plainly defined vein carrying small mug
gets of silver was seen. Miners with
drills. picks and blasting powder were
transferred 10 the reef on the first calm
day following the discovery. and Il took
but little work by them to prove the ex-
istence Of a bonanza upon that insig-
nificant ridge of trap rock which ex-
posed a few square feet OF It's apex
above the water.
So mail was the island that the
miners waded into the lake and followed
the seam until the water grew too deep.
picking nuggets Of virgin silver from
the vein. Five tons Of rock were secured
by this exploring party. much Of IL
taken from under the water by miners
working 20 their waists I'm the lake. the
water OF which II always intensely cold.
even In the warmest summer day. The
from the five ton OF rock
20 the smelter were far richer
than had been dreamed, giving more
than 81. 200 to the ton. or co cents per
pound. in refined silver. Encouraged by
this result the work of development was
In earnest. under. perhaps. the
most novel and discouraging circum-
stances that have ever attended the
making Of a mine. II was necessary 20
both mine and miners from the
angry waters which threatened TO swal-
them and the mine was started. not
by digging into the ground. but by
building a substantial crib or blockhouse
over the spot where Il had been decided
10 sink a shaft. This was imperative
for the safety Of the w0rkmen and also
to keep the waves from dashing INTO
shaft on their passage over the islet.
crib was built very solidly. on the
plan Of a lighthouse. with accOmmoda-
tons for the miners In the upper part.
above the pillows OF the lake. but not
above the spray. which on stormy days
blew over the top Of the structure. Pro
by this shelter. a beginning was
and a shaft was sunk for some
20 feet. but between the water percolat-
.ng through the rock strata from the
lake. but a few feet distant and the
which found It's way i'm from the
during storm. despite all pre-
rautions. Il wss found impossible u
with the primitive means at
all the time Of the men being
in an unequal battle with the
which would MI the shaft
Thus matters stood until the fall Of
1870. wnen Captain william Frue Of
Mich. an experienced miner
and a man OF bulldog persistence. was
In charge. II required all his abil-
.ty and all HE courage 20 conquer a
upon the reef Captain Frue
with him from HOught0n a
supply % mining timber. food.
powder and tools. with 20
miners IL vas realized that the islet
must be anchored II miners were ever
b work safely under II. and work was
and pushed diligently on the ar
mor-plating o. the reef. To the south
sast the blue lake rolled for full 30
miles without break and the force %
IL waves can b. comprehended only by
hose who have seen the power % the