The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-08-18
DISCOVERED BY STEVE THOMAS
WHILE HUNTING FOR HORSES
Abandoned by American Finance
Company Last Year Owing to
Stringency in Money Market

Stringency in Money Market
Now that Chafey has come promi-
nently before the public as gold pro-
ducer, the fact is recalled that the
town Is predecessor, Dun Glen, was one
of the important mining camps Of the
state for many years before middle
aged men of today were born.
Like all mining camps, few attain
ed success, while for the many it prov
ed to be the graveyard of blighted
hopes and rose-tinted, alluring pros
poets.
When the present living old settlers
arrived in the fall of 1867, Dun Glen
was a thriving camp with a population
Of more than a hundred miners, many
of whom had families, and containing
many substantial buildings 1t was on
the main stage line between Salt Lake
and Carson City, and emigrant trains
stopped there. For many years COM
pany of United States regulars made
the town their headquarters.
AT this time the Essex and Empire
mill was in operation, using the wet
amalgamation process, with George
Holt as manager. 1t was named for the
Essex and Empire mine, whose ores
it handled, and had ten large stamps,
with capacity of 25 tons day. Joe
Organ, lately deceased, was superin-
tendent of the mine
Old man Burrel Monroe, for whom
Monroe hill is named, worked here for
more than 80 years, reducing his ores
by means of an arastra. He died some
years ago, county charge, but up TO
dence in the district. He was positive
that the locality contained large de-
pesits of the yellow meta, which pre-
diction seems now to be in fair way
of. becoming verified.
The camp boasted a general store,
saloon run by Bill Bailey and hotel
owned and conducted by D. P. Crook.
This hostelry is still standing and was
leased by Mr.. Chafey last week to
Messrs. Kleebauer and Moore.
At that time Winnemucca was known
as French Bridge, socalled from a
bridge of poles which had been extend
ed across the Humboldt river, hun
dred yards or so above the present
bridge.
But first one thing and then another
happened, miners abandoned the
camp, the mill was dismantled, build
ings were moved to Winnemucca, until
finally all that was left of the once
prosperous camp was the hotel above
referred to. -s
In the year 1880, while coming down
the mountain looking for horses, Steve !
Thomas sat down on a rock to rest
Idly breaking off a piece, he found
that it was filed with specks of gold.
In company with Captain Jim Hendra
and Gilbert Ross, he at once located |
several claims, in which were included |
the Prince Royal, Mayfower, Lang
Syne, Golden Chariot, now know as
Golden Belle, and the Good Hope.
The property was worked intermit-
tently, with varying success, until
1902. when A M. Williams came along
and purchased what was known as
the "Hendra property which en-
braced all the above mentioned mines,
including buildings, for the American |
Finance company, of Milwaukee, Wis. |
Work was begun on the property, un-
der the direction of H. W. Kent, pres
ident of the company, Charles Har-
lowe, vice president, and A. M. Will
liams, superintendent and general man
ager. At this time there were two old |
mills on the property, filed with obso-
lete machinery, which was taken out |
and replaced by new, up-to-date appli- /
ances. Shortly afterwards, while work
ing under the direction of Superinteni-
ent Williams, James and Sol Hendra
color, and the place was named the
"Black Hole,' being situated on the
Mayhower, near the line of the Good /
Hope. The rock was so rich that
building was Immediately erected over
the mouth of the hole to keep the peo-
pie out, and it was locked up. About /
a month after the strike, which oc-
Cured year and half ago or so,
owing to financial troubles work was
abandoned The lease and bond of
the American Finance company expir-
ing on the 9th of April of the present
year, a new lease and bond was taken
by Charles Harlowe division superin-
tendent of the Western Pacific, and
the property was immediately taken