The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-12-26
REMARKABLE CAREER
CAPT. ]. R. OELAMAR
o,cu SILVER MINE IN IDAHO WAS
FOUNDATION FOR VAST
FORTUNE.

idaho readers of the Miner. many Of
whom knew Captain J. r. De Lamar
come twenty five years ago when he
nos one of the most conspicuous and |
successful mining operators in the
s,ate. will be interested in the follow
ing story of his career from the En-
cheering and Mining Journal:
oaptain Joseph R. De Lamar, CAPT.
.a,;st mine owned and director in a
number of important business enter
nrses, died at the Roosevelt hospital
If pneumonia on December l. One
daughter, his only child, Alice A. De
Lamar, survives him.
Captain De Lamar was born in AM
sterdam, Holland, in 1s4S, but only the
first few years of his life were spent
IN his native land. His bold and vigor-
aus character displayed itself early;
for. being DESTROYS Of seeing the world,
he ran away from home at the age
Of seven years and shipped aboard an
Fast Indian ship as cabin boy. with
ont wages. On the homeward voyage
he was promoted and given salary
NJ four Dutch guiiders (about $500 a
month, His first voyage completed, he
continued to follow the sea. gradually
working his way up through the vari-
Gus grades Of seamanship His early
education in the elementary branches
of Misunderstanding, writing and
arlthmetic-was also acquired at sea,
the mates Of the various ships on
which he sailed teaching him, in con-
alteration Of his devotdng a portion
of his watches below to washing their
clothes.
Nv the time he was 81 years old.
CAPTAIN Do Lamar had visited the four
quarters of the globe. At the age OF
% ne obtained captains diploma
shipped for voyage as first officer,
and returned as captain. Submarine
work, or diving, being very profitable
at this time, so, soon after our civil
war he concluded to leave the mer-
chant marine service and engage IN
this business. For several years sub
seouently he was employed in this
manner, raising sunken vessels in the
Delaware river off the New Jersey
coast. and at st. Thomas, West Indies.
He finally established headquarters at
VINEYARD Haven, Mass. and continued
this line of work along the coast. In
1875 he succeeded in raising a cargo
of 1860 tons of Italian marble from
A vessel sunk off the Bermudas many
Years before. on which three different
wrecling parties had worked without
success.
Captain De Lamar was generail!
successful in this business and accum'
ulated considerable money from 1t
Looking around for an investment fol
his savings, he decided to embark II
the African trade. and himself assum'
ed charge of vessel as master ane
supercargo. In this venture he agar
met with substantial financial success
but on account of the African coas
fevers, which every year cost him Tn
lives of several of his crew. he de
termined to abandon such a hazardou
undertaking, and in 1878 sold his IN
terests.
About this time precious-metal min
ing in the Rocky Mountains was ex
citing renewed attention in the cas-
due to the wonderful bonanzas wnic
were Just being uncovered In Leadviil'
Attracted by the possibilities for Tn
accumulation Of great wealth in Tn
mining business. Captain De Lama
resolved to quit the sea for good an
engage in mining. Upon his arriV.
in Colorado. however. he immediate
realized the necessity Of thoroue
scientific knowledge of geology ar
mining for the successful prosecute
Of the business which he purposeo
follow. and, thereupon. went to wol
to make good this deficiency. 10 u
best of his ability, by studying ASA
ing chemistry, ore dressing, and meta
lurgy. He spent eight years IN MANI
in colorado. meeting with very II
success, Among the most importa
Of his undertakings was the, deveio
ment OF the Terrible lead mine
Custer county. This property ne p'
chased when it was a mere prosp'
for $500. He opened a large ooay
low.grade lead carbonate ore, ana y
ally erected dressing works OF ESQ &C
per day capacity for its concentrat'
This mill. which was at the time
best equipped and by far the iars
concentrating works IN Coior'
proved very successful. Notwithsta'
ing the low grade of the ore wn
averaEed in value only about y
per ton, and the high cost OF labor
supplies. the Terrible mine was OF
ated at substantial profit, ana
sold in 1885 by Captain De Lamar
the Omaha & Grant Smelling ana
fning company at good price.
Captain DO Lamar spent the
two years in travelling, visiting du'
this time most Of the principal mn
camps in the western United su
In search Of another property 10
,elop. He finally selected pros
an a ,,,ouotoin six miles west on