The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-03-15


exposed part of the island. 1t had base
of rs feet, strongly framed. with Ave I
separate buIkheads, and was given an
angle of As degrees on the outer face,
the highest point being is feet above
the water. At last 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. To pre-
vent this water from pouring into the
mine, system of water-tighf timber
ing was constructed, and the space be-
tween the timber work and the Golfer
dam was filed with stone and hy-
draulic cement.
Notwithstanding interruptions to
mining nearly 100000 worth of ore
was taken out in 1871 During the
period of navigation in 1879 nearly
10000 worth of ore was shipped. In
1873 the shipments declined to S426,-
900. In the fan of that year the lake
carried away $50 feet of submerged
cribs, 10000 feet of timber, 1900
pounds of bolts and 5000 tons Of rock.
The blacksmith shop was completely
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 entaiIed
by the eeaseIess combat with the eIe-
ments, the company had 70 build houses
on the mainland for its men, construct
docks and yVharTes, harbor breakwat-
ers and lay in large stores of supplies
Heretofore all the ore utilized Wac
packing ore'-that is, the very rich
est ore to be found in the vein In 1874
and 1875 the company erected stamp
mill and began the reduction of the
poorer ores Though the stamp mill
was not so successful as Il wss expected
to be, the mill produced 1925. $50 dur
ing the last half of 1878. The vauners
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 1875 fell to 145 ,o02 ounces, and the
total product of the first six years of
its operation was 1,561, so ounces of
fine silver. The continued decline in
the amount Of the product and the
enormous expenses of operation re-
suited in deficit in 1876, and a conse-
quent examination of the mine By
special committee. At that time. the
ninth level. which was reached by a
Wine 145 feet south of the shaft and
= - III
below the level Of the water The com
mittee found that all the silTer-bearinR
indications kept up as far as the vein
had been followed. but that TIE silver
was not as prevalent in the vein as IL
had been But as the mine had been
decidedly '-poekety" from the start, 1t
was felt that the poor quality of the ore
at that time was no reason for dis
couragement. A rich pocket of faou-
lous extent might be struck at any
time Between the sixth and seventh
levels a corner near the shaft had
yielded 65 tons Of ore valued at sII3,-
COO This report resulted in the reor-
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 $40. GOO worth OF ore.
when the work of exploring the differ
emit levels and pushing them in the di-
rcction indicated by drill holes result
ed in the discovery Of immensely rich
deposits In this year. with 2 produc-
ton of 721.625 ounces of silver, was the
high-tide of the mines prosperity. But
1879 witnessed big slump and IN 1850
the production fell to 1854 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 1888, when the lowest level was
1880 feet below the surface of the
lake, the directors undertook to Sc
cure some assistance from English cap
italists. but were unsuccessful Mr.
Trethevay. the superintendent of the
mine, was 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 q spree and became ice
bound. Vainly the islet people watched
for his coming March l drew near.
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 stiil no coal
steamer came Then the pistons of
the last engine made their last stroke,
the waters filed the first level and
rose to the top of the shaft A feeling
ef despair settled upon the little ccm-
munity whose world had been centered
in the mine The mine was aban-
doned.
With the opening of navigation all
I of the Inhabitants of the town that had
been built upon the main shore moved
away. leaving the streets AID the build
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