The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-01-23

ing the southeast, which was h most
exposed part of the island. 1t had a base
of IS 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. 70 pre-
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 filled with stone and hy-
draulic cement.
Notwithstanding interruptions to
mining nearly 81 600, 900 worth of ore
was taken out in 1871. During the
period of navigation in 1872 nearly
$600,00 worth of orc was shipped. In
1873 the shipments declined to $780,
900. 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 its 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. In 1874
and 1875 the company erected a 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 1925, $50 dur
ing the last half of 1878. 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 1875 fell to 145,902 ounces, and the
lOldi DIOQnCI VI lie uI5b SlA years VI
its operation was 1,561,622 ounces of
fine silver. The continued decline in
the amount of the product and the
enormous expenses of operation re-
suited in a deficit in 1876, and a conse-
quent examination of the mine by a
special committee. At hat time, the
ninth level, which was reached by a
winze 14S feet south of the shaft and
directly under the lake, was 624 feet
below the level of the water. The COM
mittee 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 as it
had been. But as the mine had been
decidedly "pockety" from the start, il
was felt that the poor quality of the ore
at that time was no reason for dis
enlargement. A 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 65 tons of ore valued at $113,
600. This report resulted in the reor,
ganization of the company under the
name of the Silver Islet CONSOLIDATED
Mining & Lands company. This wa:
effected in April, 1877.
The new company soon had its faitI
rewarded. 1t had just been decided
to undertake the work of removing the
roof of the mine, where it was known
there was about $500, COO 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 ricl
deposits. In this year, with a produc
!, ton of 1853 unc of silver, was TIL
Z high-tide of the mines prosperity. Blu
: 1879 witnessed a big slump and in 1885,
the production fell to 36,374 unces
: The two following years were ever
worse and the hunt for new pocket
was unsuccessful, though the silver
: bearing vein was still as well defineI
2 as ever.
D In 1883, when the lowest level wa
l 1850 feet below the surface of tn
lake, the directors undertook to sc
cure some assistance from English car
e i~talists. but were unsuccessful. MI
Tretheway, the superintendent of tn
mine, was still exploring and searchin
8 for the bodies of wonderfully rich or
), always in prospect.
r Then it was that the coal boats car
I tain went on a spree and became ice
bound. Vainly the islet people watche
for his coming. March 1 drew neal
the engines were reduced to the small
v est possible ration of coal, and tn
e water gradually rose in the shaft. TIL
e water crept higher and higher agains
the feeble pumps, and still no Coz
S steamer came. Then the pistons c
I the last engine made their last strok'
the waters filled the first level an
rose to the top of the shaft. A feelin
r of despair settled upon the little cen
e munity whose world had been centere
in the mine. The mine was abaI
doned.
o With the opening of navigation a
of the inhabitants of the town that ha
been built upon the main shore move
Or xxro loo x-if~ &ha Cfraofc and fha h1tilf