Volume 030-4 - October 1976 (8 pages)

Creek and below the Portuguese Ditch. Deep Quartz mines were never explored to their fullest in Rough and Ready. The Quartz proved to be very hard and lots of money was involved in getting this type of mine to pay. The Osceola, possibly the best known, tried three times before backers gave up. The Black Bear, later called the Forlorn Hope, the Mistletoe, the Spanish Mine, and the Ironclad were worked until early in the 1900’s with no great appearance of richness. The Ironclad closed in 1911 due to stockholders dissatisfaction with income versus cost of handling the ore. On April 15, 1905 John T. Black made arrangements with Francis Torpie; Book 3 of Leases at page 559 to “for the purpose of running tailings from the mine, known as the Spanish Mine,” into “that certain ravine running diagonally across --Section 24 Township 16-”. How much longer it was in operation is not recorded. The Forlorn Hope also managed to survive but there was no great development. The first attempt for the Osceola Ledge, in what is known as Osceola Ravine where it is traversed by the Rex Reservoir Road, was in 1855. It was prospected under contract with E.W. Roberts. ‘‘A remarkably rich pocket of ‘bunch’ was found in this ledge, and in addition to several thousands of dollars taken out in solid specimens, a lot of several loads, worked by mill process, returned an average of $225 perton”’.A 24 stamp mill was constructed and work began in April of 1856 but the results were very disappointing to the San Francisco backers who soon withdrew their support. John Theodore Black from an old portrait was owner-operator of the Black Bear Mine, 2% miles northwest of Rough and Ready on Deer Creek. Pictures show the Mine office, the mine operation and John Black’s cabin. In 1876 the Osceola was again opened up and a 10 stamp mill was erected by Messrs Tew and Morgan. Ore at this time yielded $377 a ton but. this too soon disappeared. A shaft was sunk to find a ‘chimney’ which was supposed to exist. It was not located. The Osceola was again opened in 1880 when it was discovered the shaft had cut right through the chimney. “Work was being prosecuted with Faye M. Dunbar the Author of this bulletin resides in Rough and Ready, is a columnist and is a Past President of the Nevada County Historical Society. She has gathered information on Rough and Ready for several years. This 128 year review of happenings fits Rough and Ready into “The Mining Camp that won’t ghost.” The Society is indebted to Faye Dunbar for her work that will be interesting reading to allof us and those that follow. Clinton H. Lee, Editor vigor’’. There is no further recording of work on the Osceola after this chimney was cleaned out. There were numerous other Ledges located in Rough and Ready but none were ever developed to any great depth due to disappointing <™ surface results. A five stamp public mill was opened by a man named Smith just where the Country Store is now but it soon closed since so few Quartz mines were kept working. * * * * * Bibleography: The Rip Roaring Town of Rough and Ready by Andrew Rogers California by John Caughey Gold Versus Grain by Rober Kelley Experiences of a Forty-niner by Charles Ferguson Acknowledgments: Jack and Esther Bixler Retha Downey Doris Foley Hepsi Frank (Mrs. Wm.) Marcolm Hammill Loveta Hornsby Elza Kilroy Martina (Morrison) Paull Doris (Frank) Trauner Lyle White

Creek and below the Portuguese Ditch. Deep Quartz mines were never explored to their fullest in Rough and Ready. The Quartz proved to be very hard and lots of money was involved in getting this type of mine to pay. The Osceola, possibly the best known, tried three times before backers gave up. The Black Bear, later called the Forlorn Hope, the Mistletoe, the Spanish Mine, and the Ironclad were worked until early in the 1900’s with no great appearance of richness. The Ironclad closed in 1911 due to stockholders dissatisfaction with income versus cost of handling the ore. On April 15, 1905 John T. Black made arrangements with Francis Torpie; Book 3 of Leases at page 559 to “for the purpose of running tailings from the mine, known as the Spanish Mine,” into “that certain ravine running diagonally across --Section 24 Township 16-”. How much longer it was in operation is not recorded. The Forlorn Hope also managed to survive but there was no great development. The first attempt for the Osceola Ledge, in what is known as Osceola Ravine where it is traversed by the Rex Reservoir Road, was in 1855. It was prospected under contract with E.W. Roberts. ‘‘A remarkably rich pocket of ‘bunch’ was found in this ledge, and in addition to several thousands of dollars taken out in solid specimens, a lot of several loads, worked by mill process, returned an average of $225 perton”’.A 24 stamp mill was constructed and work began in April of 1856 but the results were very disappointing to the San Francisco backers who soon withdrew their support. John Theodore Black from an old portrait was owner-operator of the Black Bear Mine, 2% miles northwest of Rough and Ready on Deer Creek. Pictures show the Mine office, the mine operation and John Black’s cabin. In 1876 the Osceola was again opened up and a 10 stamp mill was erected by Messrs Tew and Morgan. Ore at this time yielded $377 a ton but.

this too soon disappeared. A shaft was sunk to find a ‘chimney’ which was supposed to exist. It was not located. The Osceola was again opened in 1880 when it was discovered the shaft had cut right through the chimney. “Work was being prosecuted with Faye M. Dunbar the Author of this bulletin resides in Rough and Ready, is a columnist and is a Past President of the Nevada County Historical Society. She has gathered information on Rough and Ready for several years. This 128 year review of happenings fits Rough and Ready into “The Mining Camp that won’t ghost.” The Society is indebted to Faye Dunbar for her work that will be interesting reading to allof us and those that follow. Clinton H. Lee, Editor vigor’’. There is no further recording of work on the Osceola after this chimney was cleaned out. There were numerous other Ledges located in Rough and Ready but none were ever developed to any great depth due to disappointing <™ surface results. A five stamp public mill was opened by a man named Smith just where the Country Store is now but it soon closed since so few Quartz mines were kept working. * * * * * Bibleography: The Rip Roaring Town of Rough and Ready by Andrew Rogers California by John Caughey Gold Versus Grain by Rober Kelley Experiences of a Forty-niner by Charles Ferguson Acknowledgments: Jack and Esther Bixler Retha Downey Doris Foley Hepsi Frank (Mrs. Wm.) Marcolm Hammill Loveta Hornsby Elza Kilroy Martina (Morrison) Paull Doris (Frank) Trauner Lyle White