The following article can also be found in the February 2007 issue of Maverick.

Fun Facts and Safety

Back in the October issue I wrote about some Ghost Towns, including Gillette and Tip Top.  I mentioned there was more to their story so here goes and I’ll even add a few other notes of interest.

One good one is that the town of Gillette at one point was a station on the Butterfield Stage route, and there was a time when it was being robbed some distance before reaching the town.  Turns out the Blacksmith was leaving town, robbing the stage a few washes out and returning to his shop before the coach got into town.  Successful for a few times only, he was eventually caught and his treasure stash found beneath the floorboards of his shop, which is why every so often, holes appear all over the area.  People still looking for some of the old treasure they feel still remains.  Of course, I doubt it does, but if you do find a million, well, take me out for a cup of coffee.

Now I spoke of Tip Top, which is a mine 7 miles away from Gillette and high in the Bradshaw Mountains.  Gillette was where they put a 5 Stamp Mill for processing the ore before water was piped up to the mine.  I did mention it was named Tip Top as it was thought to be a Tip Top prospect.  I did not mention what they mined however.  Originally, Tip Top was a silver mine, and a profitable one at that time for that area, but when silver prices declined before WWII, the mine closed.  It was later reopened but instead of silver, Tungsten was the prize.  It was basically used for light bulb Filaments and a few other science and metallurgical applications.  Eventually, that mine closed for good.  There are a few side tunnels, and a great main shaft (45-degree slope with rail tracks for about 100 feet, then the shaft turns straight down).  An old wooden access ladder is still on the ceiling but not weight bearing any more.  Best to tie off on the main headframe and go down the tracks…..

Now, before going any further, let me state that, for the record, on safety, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE ENTER ANY KIND OF ABANDONED MINE SHAFT, TUNNEL OR OPEN HOLE.  These mines are unstable for the most part and can collapse at any time. Shafts covered by rotten wooden planks often get covered with materials as rock sheds off interior mine walls covering the boards and looking like a solid dirt floor.   Step on it unknowingly and you may take a tumble you won’t ever recover from, and chances are, they would have a hard time rescuing you.  Usually, the rescuers end up in mortal danger too. Subsidence also occurs.  This is when underground tunnels and mined areas collapse and the ground above sinks into them.  Depending on the extent of the materials removed determines how deep you can fall.  Bad thing here is that you may be walking on top of an area such as this that has not yet collapsed but is on the verge, in which case, you will be the causative agent and collapse the hole thus falling into who knows what.

The Arizona State Mine Inspectors office has records on all mines and digs done in the state so when going out to these places, it is a good help to know where the holes, tunnels and shafts were dug so you can anticipate problems in these areas.  If you want to be a serious mine hunter, it is best to go prepared.  Me, I have been doing it for years but take many safety precautions, and even then I still am not sure or can not guarantee that there won’t be a problem or injury, or that I could never be trapped or killed.  This is not something most sane people would do but I enjoy the excitement of what I might see or find be it man made or naturally occurring.  Mines are often filled with odorless gasses which are deadly to breathe and/or flammable.  Bats and wildlife from rodents to bears also often make old mines their homes as well as wasps, bees and other fun bugs. Near an abandoned site called Copperopolis just outside of Globe,  I had gone into an abandoned concrete mine entrance about 200 feet when I realized the opening I had just come through and my only way out became blocked by about a zillion mud wasps I had walked past and disturbed. Talk about becoming a bit anxious.  Bats in great numbers fill mines with ammonium gas from their guano (Droppings).  I know one mine where the pile was a modest 6 feet high at the bottom of a main shaft I found while tramping near the Harquahala Mountains west of Phoenix. 

Another inactive and abandoned mine, Octave, is filled with water when you reach a certain level as the miners hit an underground river, which killed the miners working at that time.  Only a cross made out of plumbing pipes marks the spot and memory, as the bodies were never recovered.   Now that mine is an adventure for the brave at heart.  The only problem is I am not sure whether any study was ever done to measure the current flow of the water deep within that mine and diving is even more dangerous in mines when you figure you may get carried into an aquifer by an unexpected underground current.  If it broke into the mine, who knows what state the tunnels and shafts are in.  So, to wrap it all up, there are treasures out there, there are dangers out there, but still, the lure of learning about the past makes us wonder, question and look for the truth, for often, history has many faces.

Anyone out there have a good mine story to share?  Let me know.  Till next time, please be safe, and God Bless.  ( E-mail: bassguybill@gmail.com )

 Below Article from December 2006 edition of The Maverick:

Christmas Ghost

The Dripping Springs mountains are where you can find Christmas. As you know, Christmas brings to mind wonders, sparkling lights, tinsel, adventure and mystery.

The Story: Back about 1878, two copper claim sites were located by two gentlemen, Dennis O'Brien and Bill Tweed. In 1882, Dr. James Douglas (Important figure in developing what is now Jerome) located adjoining sites. The problem was that they were on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, and could not stay, well, forced to leave. in 1902, reservation boundaries were changed, the orders being signed a few days before Christmas.

Tow other fellas (George Crittenden and N.H. Mellor) found out about it somehow rather quickly, so they went and made their own claims on the sites the aforementioned three men had originally claimed.

They ended up calling the area Christmas in honor of the day of their claim.

Christmas grew from the copper mining activities and at one time, boasted a store, barbershop, dairy, meat market, school and a Catholic church. The mines went inactive for many years but reopened in 1956 making the town a collaboration of the new and old.

In the early 1900's, the post office at Christmas began receiving mail from across the united states requesting they be mailed out of the place bearing the official stamp of Christmas.

O.K., there is the story. Remember I mentioned that Christmas brings to mind Mystery? The mystery is this. What is the status of Christmas (the town) today? Is it still a town? Is it lost to ghost town past? Every mystery has clues. Here are yours. Coordinates: T.4S.,R.16E., Mine and post office originally located approximately 22 miles northeast of Winkleman, Some references say 9 miles north of Winkleman, and it is in Gila County.

Hmmmm, I never thought that I could have the chance to hunt for a possible place that Santa Claus might reside. I figure he is a smart old guy, and tells folk about the north pole to throw them off and have them looking in someplace far away from his secret city, and all the while, he lives right here in our own state. Talk about a mystery at the end of the trail. So, Christmas (the holiday) is about us this month, and It is good to see how seemingly this time of season brings an added inner warmth, a special touch of kindness, and a brighter ray of hope along with love. Of course I wish this could be the case always, and there are indeed those individuals that seem to posess the secret gift of positive smiles and thoughts every day they abound. I like being around those kind of folk, so it goes to follow that Christmas is a season I tend to enjoy. I know most Christmas thoughts are on presents, rushing to get here and there, working longer hours in bigger crowds of people and the like. But, if you find that special Christmas warmth, love or mystery within yourself, go out and share it with others, and, like a pebble in a pond, it will ripple across the lake of mankind. A merry Christmas to you all, and may you have a great, and safe, holiday. < E-mail - bassguybill@gmail.com >

If you have any questions, comments, corrections, Column Suggestions, etc., please feel free to drop me a line anytime.Just mail to:
Bassguybill@gmail.com

Reopening the page for Historical reasons. 10/01/2021   (7)