C. L. Yearzago #508 A Tour Down in the C & C Mine, 1899

An article from the Territorial Enterprise, issue and date unknown only as 1899.

One o’clock is the hour when visitors are admitted to the black hole in the C&C hoisting works.  There is no placard reading, “All hope abandon, ye who enter here,” The first halt was made at the Sutro tunnel, where the water from the lower levels passes out into that open air.  At the rate the one elevator was discharging the tepid, sulphurous flood it would seem that either but the descent into cavernous could not be by more terrorful entrance. 

    Down, down, three thousand, three hundred feet, nearly half of which distance is in steaming water reeking with the sulphurous fumes that are said to fill the Stygian pit.  

    But if all goes well;  if the broad woven cable does not break, if the tiny  platform does not part company with its supports, if the engineer does not fall prey to a fit of mental aberration , if the thousand and one things that might possibly happen do not materialize – then we will make the descent in safety.  Thank heaven, that insurance policy is paid up. 

     But all goes well.  There is no possibility of accident.  Safeguards in the form of automatic brakes, perfect construction of hoisting machinery and constant inspection of the appliances make the journey safe.  

     At the time the scribe descended into the depths of the C&C shaft the shifts were being changed and upon this little platforms were three rows of three man each.  A “special car” was, however, reserved for the scribe and his conductor, Mr. McKintry, foreman of the mine. 

     The first halt was made at the Sutro tunnel, where the water from the lower levels passes out into the open air.  At the rate the one elevator was discharging the tepid, sulphurous flood it would seem that either unwatering should be quickly accomplished or that the source of the flow was some vast underground sea.  

     Day and night this twelve inch stream gushes forth and gradually the water is falling.  From ten or twelve feet below the 1750 level it has sunk to 128 feet below the 1950 level.  The work is a marvel of engineering skill. 

     In the 1750 level a winze is being sunk to meet the upraise from the floor below.  Here the miners delve away I comparative comfort, so well are the workings ventilated by the powerful blowers.  They are well lighted also.  These systems of electric light and power are superintended by James Sullivan, formerly electrician at the Asylum.  He carefully explained the workings of these plants, entombed nearly two thousand feet below the surface of mother earth. 

     In the 1800 level the heat is intense.  A pair of drawers and a cap are all that the miners find bearable in the matter of clothing.   

     We had to step aside every few minutes to allow cars of ore to pass.  On this level the work is being done which may mean no more assessments on the stock of the famous Con. Cal. And Va.  When the Morgan mill starts up on the accumulation of ore from this level there will be bullion cars travelling again over the V&T 

     Unwatering has done wonders for the C. and C. Shaft, and so has Joe Ryan, the Superintendent, whose able hand is at the helm. 

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This article was pasted to back side of a photograph that was dated, Virginia City, Aug 8, 1899. 

C&C Hoisting works