| Description |
onto a sled which was pylled by horses to where the derrick could load it onto a wagon. The derrick consisted of two large timbers anchored in the hillside. One timber acted as the post, the other fastened to a winch or windlass on the post timber. The wincn could be turned bv hand a and had a handle long enough for two men to crank, but it could also be pulled by a horse to load the larger rock. and the rock was mined. Always on top of the solid rock mite or black powder with an exploding cap and fuse were placed in the holes. "Do-gads"^ (round mud cakes) were placed in the hole and carefully tamped into place on top of the dynamite to seal the charge and make it more length of fuse so that there would be an interval between explosions. tunnel and took shelter so they were not in a direct line came flying outside. Two men stayed behind with carbide with a lighted candle, never with the carbide lamp be~ cause the fuse spitting could blow out the lamp and leave them in the dark.5 After lighting the fuses, they joined be sure each had detonated. When all had quieted down and the rock had stopped rock. The buttermilk was hauled out and dumped over the 31 |
