Lost Treasures Old Mines by Ann Lacy

Author:Ann Lacy [Lacy, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780865348202
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Sunstone Press
Published: 2011-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Source of Information: Charles D. Mayer, Carrizozo, New Mexico.

The North and South Homestake Mines

by Edith L. Crawford

The North and South Homestake Mines are located on the east slope of Baxter Mountain in the White Oaks Mining District. The town of White Oaks, New Mexico, is located on the east side and at the foot of Baxter Mountain.

On the 14th day of August, 1879, three prospectors, John E. Wilson, Jack Winters and George Baxter, were prospecting on the east slope of Baxter Mountain. Being tired they sat down to rest and while resting John E. Wilson was idly digging with his prospector’s pick when he broke off a piece of ledge and greatly to his surprise found the rock filled with gold. The three men at once staked out a claim and called it the “Homestake Lode.” Soon after making the strike George Baxter sold out his interest in the claim to John E. Wilson and Jack Winters for a saddle horse and $43.00 in cash. He then left White Oaks and was never heard of again. The mountain was named “Baxter Mountain” for this same George Baxter.

After buying out the interest of George Baxter, Wilson and Winters divided the claim and Wilson took the south half and Winters took the north half. They called them the North and South Homestake Mines. The “Homestake Lode” was the first big gold strike made in the White Oaks Mining District.

Shortly after this division of the North Homestake Mines was sold to Jas. M. Sigafus for $50,000.00 and in twelve months the mine returned the purchase price and earned a profit of $10,000.00. It was stated that this mine yielded $35,000.00 from rich pockets in two days.

In the year 1882 the North Homestake shaft was down 40 ft. with drift in to top of shaft 60 ft. In 1892 the shaft is down 695 ft. with average stations every 40 ft. and an aggregate of about one mile in drifts. This is on the north end of the mine. On the south end, a shaft 310 ft. deep, with levels 50 to 153 ft. in length. The mine and belongings are owned by Jas. M. Sigafus in 1892.

The total yield of this mine up to January, 1904, was $525,000.00.

The South Homestake Mine was the first mine on Baxter Mountain on which large money was expended in developing. In 1882 its pay roll consisted of five men and the methods used were crude. At that time two drifts, each about 150 ft. existed, a shaft about 18 feet deep, and the discovery shaft on the line between the North and South Homestakes about 30 feet deep. In the year 1892 there are 1200 feet in shafts, 1500 feet of tunnels and over 2,000 feet in levels and drifts. In 1892 the South Homestake was owned by a company with improved machinery for working.

This mine has had some very hard experiences. In July, 1891, the Mine was discovered to be on fire, the fire having started the night before near the surface.

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