Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1901-05-10
PROM South Africa.

After an absence Of about three
y-ars in South Africa Frank Saxton
has returned to his home in this city,
remain until the struggle between
the British and the Beers Is settled
and mining operations resumed. His
three years have been full OF interest
ing experience.
Upon his arrival in South Africa
he entered the employ OF the Simmer
4 Jack mIne a Johannesburg
one OF the largest mines IN the world.
He vent into the assay department
and wss o chief Assaye-. There Is
little opportunity Tor advancement in
South Africa. in the metallurgy de-
plrtmeut, for the ore is uniform, as is
the process by when IT Is reduced.
The underground men are the ones
that Command the salaries, and 50 he
abandoned ssssyiuR and went I'm.
drrground rs Mine Captain, q
position that corresponds somewhat
with foreman or superintendent in
NeVsda mines
WSen war vKs declared With the
British the white men nearly al De.
serted the mines, but Frank took q
chAnee and renamed, being pro-
moted TO acting manager o. The
properly. He wa IN Johannesburg
during the famous serge. but says he
suffered no hardshiPs- The London
oxues Of tive mine allowed him a
considerable fund to Use IN entertain
ing the Boer officers ID order thAi
they might refrain from wreckrnE
the mine. and Ssxton put in the time
playing Lawn tennis aud haDquetInR
Boer officers. As d result the Beers
took nothing from the Simmer5 Jack
save what they actually needed at the
front and did not loot the property
generally. Thew left him q couple II!
horses and disturbed none u his phi
Tate property.
When the British regaIned posses
sion Of Johannesburg the mine was
kept pumped put and the machinery
maintained III repair for a time.
The Simmer j Jack employs about
loo white miners and about 1000
.%tafirs, when iii operation. The KAT
tirs receive from $40 To go per month
and their board aud spend every cent
OF it on tlashy clothes, piEch-beck
jewelry and bad whiskey. The are
good min"rs. strong and untirIng
Set to work eight or ten hours a day,
they accomplish little. bnt when
given a specified task with the under.
standing that when it is completed
their days work is done, they work
like demons and that Is the manner
i'll SEich they are handled. When
they drill a certain distance their
days work is finished and they get
through in from six to seven hours.
They are honest, good natured f5l
lows, except those that have been in
the hands Of the missionaries and at
tende ! the mission schools and after
that they are Of such a disposition
that they are Immediately run of any
mine on the reef.
Most of the white miners work by
contract and make from 1910 to s4OO
per month while those employed by
the day receive from g 80 to $3.50.
Fred Hanback, IA Nevada boy who
graduated from the University at
Reno is receiving a salary Of Sl0oU
per month; Fred Hrllman. formerly
Of the Comstock, manages to keep
soul and body together on $50, 00U
per year.
Under Mr.. Saxton were employed
YANG Sullivan, Jack Haley and
Frank Johnson, all formerly OF the
old Comstock. and working ear by
~ re Tom Johns. Harry Johns and
several others who had spent yearl
Of their lives in Virginia City. r. N,
Catlin. formerly OF Tuscarora. ID con
au)ting engineer Of the GoIdHeld.
Captain McCullum, brother Of
John McCullum, Of Carson, is one oil
the very bravest Hghters md most
dashing officers in the Bnti-h army
The cost OF living ut Johannesburg
is not very much greater than that il
Nevada. Board is ESQ and $3.50 pc
month with clothing about the samt
Rs In carson. but the town ia a Wild,
open one with ample opportunity 4
Ppend all the large salaries paid. I
comes easy and goes easy.
The orc runs abou, 10 per ton ant
is worked by elaborate and up to
date methods. The Simmer & Jacl
drops 800 stamps, zach weighing l25(
pounds under one roof.--Carsor
News.
AShrcp thief.