� VISIT EMPIRE MINE STATE HISTORIC PARK
PIONEERS
H I S T O R Y
SuperStitionS, MuleS And Gold
Bourne Cottage
MITCH LORENS cc
tHEIRS WAS A DANGEROUS OCCUPATION, so it is not surprising local hardrock gold miners had their superstitions. One was the ghostlike Tommy Knocker with a long nose and tall black hat. It was believed that when he was heard knocking in the mine, something was going to happen, probably bad, so you best be careful. The miners also thought a woman in a mine was bad luck, as was whistling.
Cornwall, England supplied most of the labor for area mines, including the mighty Empire, now a State Historic Park. These miners gained their experience in the tin and cooper mines of Cornwall. They not only brought their expertise, but inventions like the Cornish Pump used to remove water from underground tunnels.
The Empire Mine traces its history back to 1850 when George Roberts discovered flecks of gold in an outcropping of quartz located in what is now the mine’ s main parking area.
His discovery brought hundreds to the area to stake claims, but the skills needed to build deep tunnels were lacking. Roberts, like many others, became discouraged and sold his claim to a group that consolidated a number of small claims under the name Empire Mine.
During the next 100 years or so, the Empire would become one of the oldest, largest and richest gold mines in California. An estimated 5,800,000 troy ounces of gold were extracted from 367 miles of underground passages. The mine produced over 8 billion dollars in gold by today’ s standards.
At one time 80 stamp mills worked 24 hours a day to pulverize the ore so gold could be extracted. They could easily be heard in Grass Valley and even at times in Nevada City. Residents became so accustomed to the noise, they only noticed if it stopped.
In 1871, capitalist William Bourne gained controlling interest in the Empire, and it prospered, only to decline after his death. His son William Jr., took over in 1879 when he turned 22 and by 1884 profits rolled in. Success was due in great part to George Starr, a relative who began working at the mine when he was 19. Although he had little formal education, he became one of the great mining engineers of his day.
Over the years, the Empire Mine was known as one of the most efficient and progressive mines in the United States. One improvement was the use of mules to haul ore and waste to the main shaft for transport to the surface. At one time, 44 mules lived in a barn underground. One of the most famous was Fanny. It is said she was fond of chewing tobacco and that she knew if there was an extra car to pull, refusing to move until it was removed.
Bourne Jr. sold the mine in 1929 to the Newmont Mining Corporation. It continued to prosper until World War II, when it was closed down by the War Production Board. The Empire reopened in 1945, but the fixed price of gold, high cost of extracting it and labor problems led to permanent closure in 1956.
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� VISIT EMPIRE MINE STATE HISTORIC PARK
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WAYDE CARROLL
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