Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-06-08
MILLIONAIRE CAPITALIST AC-
QUIRED BIG MINING INTERESTS
IN AT HUMP-CIRCUMS
ES SURROUNDING FAMOUS
BUFFALO PROPERTY
(L, ,wiston Tribune,)

Throughout the central Idaho min.
ing country the death of Charles
Sweeny, tho mining magnate, will re.
call the Buffalo Hump mining boom in
Idaho county occurring during the
years 1899 1904, when the interest of
the entire western country was directed
to that district as the result of the
Big Buffalo discovery made by Bert
Rigley and associate prospectors.
People rushed to the district from
all sections in the advance guard be-
ing many experts, representing the
largest mining operators of the coun-
try. Mr.. Sweeny s men were early on
the ground into negotiations with the
owners, having as competitors the De
Lamar company and mining operators
of like prominence. He finally sue
ceeded in making deal on the basis
of $500,000. Litigation, however, de-
veloped among Rigley and associates
and Sweeny ultimately acquired the
mine for about 100000 AT the period
he also secured other properties, includ-
ing the VeBuvius, and those closely ac-
quainted with the operations state that
his total outlays in the Buffalo Hump
district finally reached close to $780,
900.
A mill was installed at the Big Buff
falo mine, the are being free milling,
and operations were carried forward
until the 2l0-foot level was reached.
The public was never advised as to
what this pre- returned. The announce
ment of the shutdown came as "a sur
prise, the only explanation being that
the vein had "run out"
The purchase of the Big Buffalo by
such an interest as Mr. Sweeny result
ed in boom values being placed on all
holdings in the district and the coun-
try for many miles was staked out.
Other properties than the Big Buffalo
group were acquired by interests in
dependent of Mr.. Sweeny and stock in
some of these companies, capitalized
at $2,000,000, sold as high as go cents
share. Towns were established in
the camp and at Concord outlaying lots
sold as high as $250-the presumption
being large mining town there was
inevitable. With Mr.. Sweeny's with
drawal a general decline of confidence
! followed and in recent years properties
and prospects have been developed
/ only in transient manner.
| At the time of the shutdown of the
/ Big Buffalo many persons formed the
view that the step had as an object
the acquiring of other properties by the
Sweeny interests-that the showing
made on the Big Buffalo and other
properties in the district did not war
rant the shut -down-and that opinion
is still held by many mining men.
However, the Swesny people stated
that the Big Buffalo had proved to be
a wedge of ore, the upper portion of
| Al J,,n bo Ncnr and
that the vein pinched down to nothing
at the depth the shaft was sunk.
In the process of milling very rich
free milling ore was encountered. The
owners claimed this was simply found
in kidneys. The quartz was almost a
pure white and streaks of gold ribbed
it. Many of the miners retained such
specimens and the display of these later
tended I'd promote the doubt that the
shut down of the mine was justified
In recent years the Sweeny interests
have perfected patents to all theil
ground, hut there has been no indica
ton of renewing operations. The Biz
Buffalo mill was moved years ago tt
, property in the Elk or Dixie district.
An interesting sidelight on the grea'
mining boom was afforded in the per
sonality and career of Bert Rigley, th'
discoverer. He had appeared as 1
prosepctor in Idaho county from Colo
RADIO, and it was later disclosed that h
was a fugitive from justice, having
killed a man at Victor. Rigley's rea
name was Young. He was a cowbo,
as well as a miner and had the aban
don of the old west. His prospecting
partners were men named Butterwortl
and Robbine, and they as well were o
the frontier type. All three eow ar
dead. Robbins died after a Brief i'll
ness from an attack of typhoid feve
, and Butterworth succumbed to lun,
trouble. These two left no information
as to relatives and seemed just to hav'
] drifted into the Idaho county section
> then one o. the most isolated district
of all the west A fourth miner inter
ested in the property was Bert McKin
) ney, a former Occur d'Alene resident
5 while Jacob Rice, formerly Of Asotii
} county, elaimed an interest in the min
: through some grubstake arrangement.
When Rice instituted suit while sal
!. of the property was pending Rigle,
! shot at Rice in the principal hotel o
: Grangevllle and this further compli
: Gated the situation, ultimately Rigley
1 who had held the "whip hando owe
4 his associates, consenting to dea
at lower figure than would otherwis
: have been the case. His type was i
5 lustrated by statements he would max
to prospective purchasers;
$ eco look at the mine; study tn
2 cards in sight as much as you want
J but before you see my hole card you "
t got to call my bet. bet $500, 900"
7 Rigley was poker player-stu
: poker being his favorite game-and b
t used the above illustration to explai
e that no prospective buyer would put
: shot in the vein until after he had b,
: come the owner--that what the vel
Il IL L 4