Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-04-27
the meantime was rustling, and
succeeded in getting the firm of

succeeded in getting the firm of
Clark & Sweeny to investigate.
They sent their mining engineer,
w. Clayton Miller and the well
known Spokane metallurgist, Chas.
NJ. Fasset to examine the prol erty.
This was accomplished and upon
the report of Mr.. Miller, the sum
of $4,000 was wired here and
paid over to the owners on Feb. I,
1899, being the first payment on
the bond of $500, 900. The same
day work was started under the
direction of Silverman's engineer,
Walter Hovey Hill, who was
retained as Supt. for the new
company. Snow roads were built,
following the lines of the sled road
and hundreds of tons of machin-
cry and supplies were taken into
the camp which was at this time
all hustle and excitement. Actual
sinking on the property could not
be commenced until a road was
built, which was completed the
| middle of March and work at the
mine started. Sinking was con-
tinued until the water forced the
work t stop after the shaft had
reached a depth Of 60 feet. The
vein was then crosscut and drifts
run both north and south. In all
245 feet of work was done, until
June 4, when the work was stopped
and Mr.. Sweeny threw up his
bond, for the reason that the
property did not justify the price
asked. During the winter a grub
stake suit-in fact three of them
were filed against the property
some Of these were bought off by
Clark & Sweeny, but one suit
that of Perry Mallory and j. N
Rice went to trial in the district
court and they were awarded
one-half ownership of the Big
Buffalo group. An appeal wa
immediately taken from the decis
ion of this court.
As soon as Mr.. Sweeny relin
quished his bond on the propert,
it was rebonded by J. j. Bennet
who acted for the DeLaMa
Mines Co. Ltd, of Idaho an,
London. Mr.. d. B. Huntly, tn
manager of the company. came ol
and made an examination anC
asked for more time until the sno,
should leave and he could thcl
make another examination; thi
was granted but after second an,
thorough examination, Mr.. Hunt
ley made the owners an offer whicl
was not accepted.
The next gentleman to appea
on the sc enc was Capt. John X
Wood, of Chicago, who represent
ed John w. Gates, Pres. Amercal
Steel & Wire CO., Gov. Tanner, o
Illinois, and others. This gentle
man made a careful investigation
and sampled the property fo1
himself, and then took an option
for thirty days until he could gel
to Chicago and see his principals
For some reason Mr.. Wood.
failed to make a payment and the
property was still open fol
negotiation. Soon after this Mr.
Sweeny opened negotiations fol
the mine again through differen'
parties, and finally the plum fel
to Mr.. De Lashmntt, who CLOSED
the deal as above stated. Since
the discovery of the Big Buffalo
two of the original owners have
died, Charles F. Robbins who dice
at Lewiston, in the spring of 1899
and Dell Butterworth who died il
this city on Saturday last, Apri
81.
Though no decision has as ye
been rendered in the Suprem,
court on this case, the litigants
Rice and Mallory have sold theil
interest in the suit to Mr.. Sweeny
who is the undisputed holder o
the property.
There is no doubt now but tina
Mr.. Sweeney will at once commenc,
to actively operate the mine. l
is understood that sinking will b'
started immediatly on the ole
shaft, and as soon as the min,
justifies further work, a Ion,
tunnel will be started from thu
Lake creek side and the min,
tapped to great depth. Probabl,
before the summer is over We will
see a 50-sJamp mill below tn
mouth of the tunnel on Lake ere el
crushing the Big Buffalo ore.
OTHER PROPERTIES.
While the Big Buffalo may hav
!. the greatest showing in the camp
there are many properties tina
have the ear marks of futur
} mines and with the incentive {
r cash behind them will in shol
, time become producing propertie:
=, Next to Clark & Sweeny, TIL
} Boston Buffalo Idaho Consolidate
Gold Mining Co. have done tn
greatest amount of work. This
{ one of the strongest companit
1 operating in the Hump, bein
. composed of men of high fnanci;
r standing in Boston.
8 James P. Turner is manager
!, the company and Wayland I