Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-26

Kelly coulee and Yogo canyon. was
a regular little town. Buildings were
built along the side Of the canyon
and coulee, forming two streets
which came together at right angles.
On the east wall Of the canyon.
directly opposite the mouth OF the
coulee, was the mill and blacksmith
shop. and ranging up the creek we're
located several small cabins and the
bunkhouse. There was a bridge across
Yogo creek at the mouth OF Kelly
coulee and near 1t on the east side
OF the creek was the office.
Up Kelly coulee were the mess hall,
small private schoolhouse for the
children Of the mine presidents sister,
several houses, one equipped with run
ming water; a recreation hall. and
number Of barns.
Recreations and hobbies we're en-
couraged at the American mine. much
more than was done at the English
mine The American company was one
OF the first users OF daylight saving
time, although 1t was not called that
then. The clocks were set one hour
ahead to give long evenings for the
men to fish or hunt.
The men who worked In the mines
were watched closely, but at that they
managed to get away with some stones.
If they we're discovered, or even sus-
pected, they were discharged and had
to walk IL miles to Utica to catch the
stage for other parts.
Had Only Crystals
At the American mine, the wife OF
a past stakeholder used to return to
the camp occasionally, and, thinking
she still retained her old privileges,
visited the rifles and picked UP sap
phires. The new owner warned her
that he would turn the hose on her
If she continued to do this, but she
paid no attention TO him, and 1t was
necessary to carry out this threat be-
fore she would leave the rifles alone. |
At one time Mexican was reported
to have a large number Of sapphires, |
but when one Of the men asked TO
see them he produced tobacco sack !
full OF water crystals OF no value at
all, but thought he had a sack Of
sapphires.
at the English mine one night in |
the late nineties the sluice boxes were
robbed. The night shift had gone off, |
leaving the rifles to be cleaned up by /
the morning shift, but when that shift
came on, the dirt and sapphires from /
the rifles were gone. After that the
rifles we're cleaned after each day |
and night shifts wash, and guards
were placed to catch any other shifts.
Not long after the first robbery,
three horsemen rode up one night and,
finding the rifles already cleaned up,
suspected that they were being
watched, so they made for their horses
and got away. The guards could not
give the alarm as the men were heavily
armed.
Today the mines. particularly the
American, are rapidly deteriorattng.
Unscrupulous people have not hesttated
In carrying away most Of the smaller
articles belonging to the mine, and ma
ture Is retaining the rest.
The machinery Is rusting where II
stands In the mill, and the cabins,
inhabited only by mountain rats and
birds, are falling to pieces. Irreparable
damage has been done to bitches and
fumes by cattle, deer and weather. II
is truly a ghost mine.
Market FLOODED"
G. T. Gadsden, who came to this
from England In 1899 and was |
made manager Of the English mine IN
1900. has been caretaker Of that mine
from the time it closed until the
present. For this reason, together with