The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-06
BASSTCK AND HIS MINE.
Hrs FIRST USE or WEALTH TO RUIN
AN NEn

DENVER, Oct. 26.-The news which comes
from New York to the effect that n corporation
known as the Bassick Gold Mine Company has
been formed for the purpose OF working tho
famous Bassick mines at Rosita, Col. recalls
the history OF one of the most famous proper
ties In the State. The history of the discovery
OF the Bassiek mine and OF it's discoverer il
best told by one who was and is familiar with
all the circumstances surrounding the finding
and working OF the famous property:
Edmund @. Bassick drlfted into Custer
county. Col. about 1876 or 1876. Originally
from the State of Maine. he had wandered all
over the earth, He is said to have made and
lost q fortune In Australia; he had whacked
bulls across the plains had been a butcher. n
saloon keeper. a sailor and an all-around pros
pector and adventurer.
Whatever truth there may be in these ac-
counts. this much is certain: When Bassick
struck Rosita, with his wife and little yellow
haired girl. he was about as unpromising TYPE
as ever wore a jumper or pounded a burro
across n mountain. He had neither friends.
money nor hope. Before the little shanty. still
pointed out, where his wife did the washing
for the camp and the little yellow haired
girl fried the bacon and potted the
succulent bean. the future multi-millionaire
spent his days smoking his pipe and browsing
in the sun. In this same shanty she who per-
spired over the washtub and the little one who
saw life through the mingled odor Of grease
and steaming clothes wore later silks and
laces. When fortune came the natural instinct
for personal adornment asserted itself. and
there. amid the dingy, sordid surroundings OF
sooty windows, warped board floors. uncertain
and ill-mated furnishings. mother and daugh-
ter wore silks and l~aces-ate.s slept, cooked. and
washed in them.
AS for Bassick. the sense Of to him un-
limited wealth took the form of sardines-un-
limited, oil-soaked. tin-boxed sardines. The
day a $4,000 check came dow from Black
hawk for q mere handful Of ore sent up for
treatment Bassick was found before John
sons supply store. seated on the plank walk,
his Jaws dripping with oil. a dozen empty sar-
dine boxes strewn about him. and a dozen
others waiting the deft thrust of the horn
handled knife.
Yes he said, L like these things. and now
that l am rich l propose to have all the sar-
dimes I want. b'gosh.'
Later the Bassicks learned the luxury of
monster called society. Still, later, the yellow
kindly courtesies Of the mining camp. felt the
glamour Of ~pripcely favors-but that is another
drowsy idieness. While his wife washed. Bas-
s peeteG Gu so %oed a9 od d 5Rs % on Ttndail M Me- PFoS3
there are still the outlines OF a tunnel which he
began, But the work here was intermittent,
depending somewhat on the courtesy OF John
Mr. johnson said Bassick one day. I'm
grub: dir1a = e Johnson e' : SUI pose y ReS ust @Hdf
runnin, the tunnel and Just take a turn runnin'
AN 1 guess continued Bassick quietly. |
it some day. / only want a little flour and
Well. said johnson. when you strike it I'll
hit. and you'll be glad to se1 me e" When I s strike
bad luck. but have had ere dit with you and
others and I've always made 2 stagger to pay.
II ever do strike It. I'll drive We out Of camp
And he kept, his word. In the fulness Of
out 81 the camp npE without a d j sen driVen T to tse
Wal ~ the man Re ha L. insuited; For the first
given away at half their cost to the entire
district Greater things a%fterward shaped
fortune. but a sweeter .morsel he never tasted
than the sweet SAVIOR of that day when Johnson
But p the story Of the mine. Tbs trail over
cone. shsped. hhiilI. and this traiil Bassict followed 3
daily TO and from MS work, All down the sides
OF not the least interest to the average pros.
pector. but semeway they Interested Bassick.
h nilf near IL a h eSe tap' It way wGs he !" b STsGan p nTS6ins t thS
STRANGELY coated pebbles: $500
but agreed to test the stuff for a cord OF wood.
wood, but it was the last he ever cut, for the
strange coating on the, pebbles proved II to be a
{ Of tellupinm; rpp99ning from 40 per cent, to
FIR a isw days the little cone-shnped hill
s %as t o%t c feturp 81 IS sSo. TGTId' A q sh S5fg Kbf Garl %as
sent down showed the ore body to be appar-
emily Emily I,t I'm ties AN and fabulous Rh prices were Of;
bad fortune had unconsciously done their work
for the time-worn prospeet9r. and he kept his
unlimited, Under his direction systematic
800 feet, to meet the shaft at a depth Of leo
feet, and at the point OF junction all necessary
% %hsPsf Basssi SPs s RtueSaI his f"q pick III The & ,eT iitt %G toWn
Of Quireda sprang into existence. The cactus
.Ri PFNSl sd B sSs seFs .9His ard.np B sss 8 lold he sa 81
the leans and jumpers. became Edmund G.
This. was in rune. 1877. Before the expira-
slck mine Exceeded $356.ooo. an average value
ton. So valuable was the ore that
Tor a time to prevent stealing. the miners were
nished with another, suit; This they wore
during the shift, and exchanged it for their
Rwn an and le an aimed 9l ensrd P stood a Tf fTe RB eaa 81
htStA WI
every drift, but notwithstanding these precau-
lions L is generally believed that more than
probable when we consider that quantities of
ore were met worth $40 q pound.
"Excitement and interest grew with every
days developments. and before the end OF 1873
@. Bassick received S5O0.000 for an
eight-tepths interest. the largest sum ever paid
Tor a mine up to that time in the State. He sold
this interestto Dennis Ryan of st. Paul and i.
G. Brown OF New York. who organized the Bas-
siek Mining Company. They are ,reputed, to
main shaft reached a depth of 1.400 feet,
with drifts radlating from this in every direc-
lion, showing the ore to exist in the form of a
great chimney, but IN the course of time the
WAS again sold in 1896 and litigation began
which lasted until May of the present year.
a decision was rendered In favor OF the
Bassick heirs, Bassick died In this city last
March, IT will cost u pile OF money to get the
nine into working shape. but millions are be-
ieyed to await the people who are willing to
'ut up the. money. pump out the shaft. put in
machinery and inject new life into the old-
line bonanza"