The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-11-15

A. new breakwater was begun, fac
ing the southeast, which was the most
exposed part of the island. 1t had a base
of rs feet, strongly framed, with five
separate bulkheads, and was given an
angle Of As 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 was not high enough to
prevent great volumes of water from
rolling over into the enclosure. Topre-
vent this water from pouring into the
mine, a system of water-tight timber
ing was constructed, and the space be-
tween the timber work and the Golfer
dam was filed with stone and n.y.
draulic cement. 1e
Notwithstanding Interruptions to
mining nearly 1000, 900 worth of ore
was taken out in 1871. During the
period of navigation in 1872 nearly
$500, 900 worth of ore was shipped. In
1873 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 rock.
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
a continuous fight with the water in
and out 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 it's men, construct
docks and wharves, harbor breakwat-
ers and lay in large stores of supplies.
Heretofore all the ore utilized was
packing ore"-that is, the very rich
est ore to be found in the vein. Ins1S74
and 1875 the company erected a stamp
mill and began the reduction of the
poorer ores. Though the stamp mill
| was not so successful Us it was expected
; to be, the mill produced S225, $50 dur
ing the last half of 1875. The amer
introduced into this mill by Capt. Frue
have been gradually adopted the world
over and bear his namea@
e The output of silver from the mine
III 1OiO lCii W 11DgpOE OuiltCo, III ItAN
. total product of the first six years oil
! it's operation was 1,561,82 ounces OF
fine silver. The continued decline III
the amount of the product and the
enormous expenses of operation re
0 suited in a deficit in 1876, and a conse
quent examination of the mine by /;
e special committee. At that time, thu
e ninth level, which was reached by
e winze las feet south of the shaft ant
directly under the lake, was ga fee
below tho level of the water. The com
mittee found that all the silver-bearinl
k indications kept up as far as the veii
IT had been followed, but that the silve
" was rot as prevalent in the vein as i
h had been. But as the mine had bee,
st decidedly "pockety" from the start, i
IS was felt that the poor quality of the or
g at that time was no reason for dis
s. couragement. A rich pocket of fabr
" lous extent might be struck at an.
al time. Between the sixth and sevent
e. levels q corner near the shaft ha
sc yielded 65 tons of ore valued at S113
ly 900. This report resulted in the reol
Of ganization of the company under th
name Of the Silver Islet Consolidate
of Mining 6 Lands company. This wa
<; effected in April, 1877.
:; The new company soon had its fait
o. rewarded. 1t had just been decide
to undertake the work of removing ii
a roof of the mine, where it was know
there was about $780, 600 worth of or
al when the work of exploring the diffe
ent levels and pushing them in the d
NV rection indicated by drill holes resul
ed in the discovery of immensely rio
deposits. In this year, with a produ
ne ton of 721 1923 ounces of silver, was II
high-tide of the mines prosperity. b
or 1879 witnessed a big slump and in 1s
on the production fell to 36,374 ounce
II The two following years were ev'
1T worse and the hunt for new poke
was unsuccessful, though the silve
be bearing vein was still as well defin
ne as ever.
no In 1883, when the lowest level W
en- 1860 feet below the surface of t
on lake, the directors undertook to s
~ cure some assistance from English ca
italists, but were unsuccessful. \
me Tretheway, the superintendent of t
nr- mine, was still exploring and searchi
vas for the bodies of wonderfully rich c
always in prospect.
Then it was that the coal boats ca
"a tain went on u spree and became il
bound. Vainly the islet people watch
~ for his coming. March l drew ne;
the engines were reduced to the sma
est possible ration of coal, and t
water gradually rose in the shaft. I
of water crept higher and higher again
the feeble pumps, and still no c.
steamer came. Then the pistons
the last engine made their last stro
the waters filled the first level a
rose to the top of the shaft. A feel
~ Of despair settled upon the little &C
munity whose world had been center
in the mine. The mine was alb
doned.
80 With the opening Of navigation
of the inhabitants of the town that |
been built upon the main shore mo
away leaving the streets and the bui
ings, the mills and the boarding-hou