Montana oil and mining journal., 1935-05-04


Filings for teeth. as silver nitrate in
photography, and in metal alloys. As
a wealth producer in Beaverhead coun-
ty, Glendale was second only to the rich
gold mines Of Bannack, which, in 1858,
caused the gold rush to Montana.
Few but old residents, or grubstakers
and leasers who have worked in the
abandoned mines Of Lions mountain
know OF their vast underground work.
ings. According to the surveyor who
surveyed 40 miles of the tunnels about
II years ago, the survey covered less
than half of the original workings. The
famed Comstock silver mines Of Nevada
had not more than twice this length Of
tunnels.
Biologists say that the largest single
body Of ore in the world was found in
the Cleopatra mine on Lions mountain,
at Hecla.
Although they never took any credit
for the Hecla silver strike, had 1t not
been for q bunch of "onery" cayuSeS,
the strike would not have been made,
at least not in 1873.
In 1878, James Bryant in company
with several other men, went into the
mountains at the head of Trapper
IlECh OA AAOAAsAAAe e4AANA ~ 11f1-g@--1
expedition. The year previous, William
Spur, although a partner to Bryant
at the time, had located and recorded
in his own name the Forest Queen
mine Of this section No work was
done on 1t, but Bryant determined 70
look over the ground when the Forest
Queen was open for relocation in 1873.
Bryant and his men made several To-
cations but no great strike was made
until the men decided TO leave and dis
covered that their horses had strayed
away.
Jerry Grotevant. tramping about in
search of the horses, became tired and
sat down upon log to rest, discouraged
with the futile hunt for the lost cayuses.
Idly he turned q small boulder over
with his foot and noticing shining ma
terial on the underSide, eagerly picked
II I'D for closer examination, TO find
the material to be pure native SILVER.
Looking about for more traces OF the
precious metal, he found outcroppings
OF good ore. In great excitement he
marked the place and hurried of TO
find his companions When they saw
ats find. the lost horses were forgotten
In the search for other rich prospects
in the vicinity.
Later, one man was sent to Bannack,
then the county seat, to record the
claims. Whether he told Of the rich
strike, or whether they read the good
news on his c0untenance and guessed
the rest by his purchase of supplies.
as they did less than 10 years before,
when Fairweather and his men came to
Bannack after making the Alder gulch
strike, it was soon known that bon
ANA had been struck and old reports
say that men followed the proSpector IN
great hordes as he went back to the
claims on Trapper creek.
A prospecting party sent over from
Madison county by Noah Armstrong,
located the Cleve and Avon the first
Gay Ia camp. Both were very pr0duc-
tive mines, and the Cleve has been
worked profitabIy even In recent years.
Geological reports say that ten tons
OF ore carrying 14O ounces OF silver TO
the ton and lead In high percent was
taken out Immediately after Bryant's
strike in 1873, but no record of the
mine or mines producing 1t Is given. A
pack train or horses carried this ore
out to the Argenta smeIter, (west Of
Dlllon) q distance of about 90 miles
by present day roads but no doubt the
pack TRAIN cut across country and
Shortened this distance considerably.
In Argenta the ore was made into bars
OF silver bullion, and these loaded on
freight OUTFITS n0uu0 Tor G8M Lake
CITY where the bullion was transferred
70 the railroad, and oid-time mining
n5n say sent TO Swansea, Wales. for
final treatment.
According to the department OF I'M
terror geological survey, In 1875 Danler
and Armstrong opened q Alton sn1etter
at Glendale, eight miles from Hecla.
Ores from the Hecla mines and also
from the Vapond and Highland districts
was treated In this sgnelter. Charcoal
was used for fuel. Limestone used Ia
Flasxing was quaxried near Glendale.
Iron ore, also used In fluxing, was min
ea an Soap g1lch, In Silver Bow coun-
~. about 10 miles from Glendale. The
little settlement of Norwood sprung
LID about these iron mines.
Eilver ore produced In Hecla COM
Kumnded q high price. Some sold 1or
As 600 q ton or 81 80 pound. The best
nra from CoRnsbock, Nevada, sold at
fwa1y 20 cents a pound more.
with the minas OF Hecla pr0oucing
assch high grade ore In large quantities.
7lendale gained in fame Throughout
Ebn west, and consequently gained IN
Greater days were yet %
T0Tgae for Glendale and Hecla, as well
- Tor the auxiliary settlements cnat
sssrssaaw ND with the development OF the
n1axas and sneiteT.
....namss ..ssxsxre