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Winslow Hall, one of the party who discovered the Silver King Mine.1890
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Crop failure in the summer of 1886 forced many individuals from Colville County, Washington to head north and try their luck prospecting for gold in the West Kootenay. A party of fifteen, led by two experienced prospectors, Winslow and Osner Hall, set out from Colville to placer mine on the Salmon River. The group included two Indians, Narcisse Downing and Dauney Williams. Towards the end of the mining season, having cut nearly one hundred miles of trail, their food supply diminishing and their spirits increasingly disillusioned, a couple of them wound up on Toad Mountain and accidentally stumbled across an outcrop of gleaming ore. Samples were collected and on returning home assays of the ore revealed a cooper silver deposit rich in silver.3
Looking Down the Silver King Mine Tramway to Nelson, B.C. and the West Arm of Kootenay Lake1900
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C
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Osner Hall, one of the party who discovered the Silver King Mine.1890
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Preparations were made to return in the spring. A neighbour, John McDonald, offered his services as manager of the venture in return for partnership. Meanwhile the two Indians were tricked into accepting $250 each for relinquishing their rightful claims.6
Early development at the Silver King Mine1890
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C
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The party returned to Toad Mountain in the spring followed in hot pursuit by hoards of prospectors lured by tales of the fabulous silver find. The Halls staked four claims: Silver King, Kootenay Bonanza, American Flag and Koh-i-noor. Transportation was extremely primitive consisting of canoe, pack train and man's back. Machinery and supplies were dragged up the mountain and work began on the Silver King. Timber was hewn and whip sawn to build nine shafts and rough winter shelter for the men. Fresh food was obtained by hunting and fishing.8
Ferry and namesake of settlement.1890
Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, USA
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The mine was ready for production in 1888. However, a major obstacle remained - smelting the ore. The nearest smelter was at Butte, Montana, a distance of seven hundred miles. Dick Fry, the trader at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, devised the complex transportation route. Ore was rawhided down Toad Mountain to Kootenay Lake, loaded onto barges, and towed by the steamer 'Idaho' south up the Kootenay River to Bonner's Ferry. Here it was transferred to freight wagons headed for Kootenai Station on Pend d'Oreille Lake and finally carried by the Northern Pacific Railroad to Butte. Transportation alone cost $57 per ton; consequently only the highest-grade ore was shipped.10
Silver King Mine site in Winter1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C
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Text by Helen Lee |
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