Patsy Clark Mining, Part 5.1 of Many

1900s, the Mining Edition (again)

This is the events in Patsy Clark's life that pertain only to the mining he did.  Feel free to skip over this post.  It does get a bit boring, however it is still what made the man who built the mansion.  So it is still important.  My advise?  Peruse for those tantalizing tidbits, those nuggets of interesting information, those Easter Eggs, if you will.  You might be amazed.

"Patrick Clark was a mining millionare.  He made his fortune in mines throughout the region" -- (Prager, Historic Patsy Clark's restored, 2006)

1900

13 January 1900

Controlling Interest in Mine

Patsy Clark holds Controlling Interest in Mine
Spokane Chronicle, 1900

The mines belonging to the Dewey company at South Fork are now controlled by "Spokane and eastern parties."  Those parties are defined as Toronto, Canada and Patsy Clark along with other Spokane mining men.  They paid $100,000 -- which is over 3 MILLION today -- of which half will go to the Dewey company and the other half for mine operations.  The sale is not finalized for another 30 days, but they still have full control of the enterprise.

21 March 1900

Purchase Sumpter Mine

to Purchase Sumpter Mine
The Sumpter Miner, 1900

Interesting rhetoric saying they think Brenshan is here to possibly purchase the Sumpter Mine in Sumpter Oregon.

4 April 1900

Wants to Purchase Sumpter Mine

Patsy Clark Wants to Purchase Sumpter Mine
The Sumpter Miner, 1900

Well, I didn't process this clipping very well, now did I?  So, Brenshan represents Clark.  Everyone knows him, knows that when he goes to a mine it is usually to review the mine with the idea of purchasing it for Clark.  But, he keeps everything close to his vest -- "says nothing and saws wood" -- which is an interesting piece of rhetoric.  I'd never head this phrase before, but you can bet your sweet bippy I'll use it now!

Someone asked what he thought of the area, he replied that he'd come 15 days too soon -- because there was still snow in the hills, and Brenshan doesn't like to take chances.  Yet, the journalist surmised that if Patsy Clark bought the mine, things would get better so fast.  Stocks would jump because everyone who knows anything about mining stocks knows that Clark stocks are the best, the most reliable stocks to have on hand.  

This article supports his great grandson's assertation that Clark had a great mind and business acumen (Richards, "The Life and Times of Patsy Clark: Mining Pioneer", 2018).  Also what I thought about the man from my own research.  Or, it could be ... The Luck of the Irish!

Apparently, as of December 2019, the book was available at Costco, according to the FaceBook page The Life and Times of Patsy Clark.  And Nostalgia Magazine online says the ordering link is included in their article, but I couldn't find it.  I did a Google search, and found this postcard from the 1960s for sale.  --- Oh, silly me.  I did find it for sale.  Richards has his own website, and sells his book there.  Check it out!

19 April 1900

Sells Republic Mine

Patsy Clark sells the Republic Mine
The Province, 1900

This snippet describes how a "ten stamp mill" is planned close to Grand Forks, and that it is owned by the same Canadians who purchased the Republic mine earlier.

25 July 1900

Leader in Testing Possibilities

Leader in Testing Possibilities
The Sumpter Miner, 1900

Another example of Clark's keen business sense.  He apparently has quite the following.

5 October 1900

In Montana

Patsy Clark in Montana
The Anaconda Standard, 1900

15 November 1900

Purchase Mines in Grangeville Idaho

Patsy Clark to purchase mines in Grangeville Idaho
Idaho County Free Press, 1900
newspapers.com

1901

12 June 1901

Gotta look at this one....  Remember Charles Sweeney of a couple of posts earlier?  Well, he's baaaaack!

Patrick_Clark_1901_battle_of_Giants
The Butte Miner, 1901

BATTLE OF GIANTS

Patrick Clark and Others Charge Charles Sweeney and F. R. Culbertson of Spokane With Swindling Them Out of Two Valuable Claims in the Coeur d'Alenes.

A sensational suit which will startle the mining world of the Pacific northwest was filed in the United States circuit court here (Moscow, Idaho) today.  It is a battle of giants.  On one side are pitted Patrick Clark, the noted mining man of Spokane, and a group of associates; on the other, Charles Sweeney, the well known and daring Spokane operator; F.R. Culbertson, another well known Spokane mining man, and two big corporations mining in Idaho and operating financially in New York city.  Clark and associates charge Sweeney and Culbertson with swindling them out of the two mining claims in the Coeur d'Alenes, vallued at a million dollars.  They sue for the recovery of these claims, for a receivership thereof, for an injunction restraining defendants from extracting ore from the disputed ground and for an accounting for ore already extracted, which is valued at about half a million.  The sensational allegation is made that Sweeney's company, the Buffalo Hump, is practially insolvent and that the Empire State Idaho company has little property of value behond the disputed ground.

The complaint is an intensely interesting story of alleged intrigue, falsehood and misrepresentation by which it is claimed the injured owners of the disputed ground were induced to part with property valued at a million dollars for a consideration of $4,000.

The disputed claims adjoin the Tiger-Poorman mine at Burke, Idaho.  Clark and the other complainants allege that Sweeney and Culbertson unlawfully explored the disputed ground by means of diamond drills, oeprated at a depth of 1,600 feet; that they located a great ore shoot; broke into it, extracted ore and paid dividends and then bought the claims for $4,000 on the alleged false representation that the ground was no good.  They wanted it only for the surface rights, it was claimed.  The title of the bill is Patrick Clark, Bejamin C. Kingsbury, James Clark and James P. Harvey complainants, vs. The Buffalo Hump MIning commpany [sic], a corporation, organized under the laws of the state of New York and the Empire State Idaho Mining and Development company, a corporation, organized under the laws of the state of New York, defendants.

Whew!  Okay, what I glean from this is that this was a scam.  That Sweeney and Culbertson (aka The Buffalo Hump Mining Co), did some secret drilling, found some good stuff, then offered to buy the land for $4,000 to harvest surface stuff, probably timber? [no probably not timber, but ore on the surface of the ground -- CTOW]  But when Patsy and his brother James and his crew found out what was really going on (okay, I'll say it -- under the surface), they got pissed off and sued them for lying to them.  They wanted The Buffalo Hump people to stop mining, to return the land, to pay back the value of what they'd already extracted, about $500,000.   That would make the amount to pay back equal to over $15 MILLION dollars today!

2 October 1901

The lawsuit with Clark taking the stand

Patrick Clark 1901 on stand against Sweeny
Spokane Chronicle 1901

CLARK VS. SWEENY

Hearing in the Big Mining Suit Has Commenced.

CLARK ON STAND

Told How he was Induced to Part with the Ella Mine.

     The $1,000,000 suit of Patrick Clark and others against Charles Sweeny, the Buffalo Hump Mining Company and the Empire State-Idaho Mining company came up today ....
Story of the Case.
     The disputed claims adjoin the Tiger-Poorman mine at Burke, Idaho.  Clark and the other complainants allege that Sweeny and Culbertson unlawfully explored the disputed ground by means of diamond drills, operated at a depth of 1600 feet; that they located a great ore thoot, broke into it, extracted ore and paid dividends, and then bought the claims for $4000 on the alleged false representation that the gournd was no good, and they wanted it only for the surface rights.

So, now Patrick is suing for a million dollars against the same men.  They drilled unlawfully, found the ore, "paid dividends" (I don't know what that means), then said this ground is no good but they would take it off their hands for $4000.  

     The complainants claim that at the time Charles Sweeny was manager of the Buffalo Hump Mining company and for the Empire State Mining company, and F. R. Culbertson was superintendent of that company and in charge of operations on the Tiger-Poorman.  

     F. R. Culbertson was given an undivided fifth interest in the Ella and Missing Link claims, for which he agreed to watch the grounds and protect the owners' rights.

     It looks like Sweeny was manager of the two mining companies, while Culbertson was superintendant of Empire State Mining, and was in charge of operations on the Tiger-Poorman mines, AND was given "undivided fifth interest" (would this be like stocks in the company?) in the Ella and Missing Link claims so he could watch out for Patrick Clark's property and protect his rights.  

Comspiracy Charged

     The complaint further alleges that Culberson entered into an agreement with Sweeny to defraud the Ella company.  That the Ella, as an adjoining claim, contained the same vein as did the Tiger-Poorman, and that Culbertson entered into an agreement with the manager of the latter mine to defraud the owners of the Ella.  That ... [they] located the ore body ..., and that Culbertson, who was supposed to look after Clark's interest, represented that he had sold his undivided interest in the claim to Sweeny for $500.  Clark claims that Sweeny said that while the property was worthless as a mining proposition, he wanted the surface, and so purchased it for $4000.

It appears here that Culbertson, who was supposed to be Clark's man, conspired with Sweeny to steal the ore.  He sold his undivided interest in the claim.  Sweeny claimed the land was worthless but he would still like to take it off his hands for $4000.

Four Feet of Clean Ore.

The first witness examined was Thomas Jay, formerly foreman of the Tiger-Poorman mines.  He states that he was actual foreman of the property ....  He offered to show the books in which he kept the record of the work done at the mine during that time, and the progress made.  This evidence was objected to by Heyburn.  The principal feature of this testimony was the fact that the company had four feet of clean ore from the mine which, when it was shipped, was mixed with the concentrating ore and sent it to the mill with the latter grade.

The foreman of the Ella claim -- who used to be Clark's man -- offered to show the books.  The ore was clean, it had no value at all.  When the ore was sent from the claim, it was mixed with ore which had value, and that was where the mistake came in.  

     

Clark on the Stand.

     The most interesting testimony given was by Patrick Clark, who stated that he was manager of the Poorman mine at the time of the combination of the Tiger-Poorman, and that F.R Culbertson was placed in charge and made manager.

     At this time Patrick Clark, B.C. Kingsbury, P. Hardy and James Clark owned the Ella mine.  That these owners gave to F.R. Culbertson a fifth interest in the Ella mine for his watching after their interests.    That Each of the above mentioned owners by James Clark made him out a deed for a twentieth interest in the claim.

So, now I understand.  The four owners of the Ella mine, gave Culbertson 20% interest in the mine to compensate him for watching over the mine and their interests.

     In October of 1899 Culbertson came to Patrick Clark and said that James Clark had not yet made out the deed for his interest in the claim, and Clark then asked him what was up.  Did he strike ore on the Ella?  Culbertson said: "No, but I want to sell my interest to Sweeny for $500, and want the deed to be able to do it."

     The deed was given him, and Sweeney then came to the other owners and stated that he wanted to buy their interests in the Ella claim.  He stated that he did not know of any ore on it, but that he wanted the land, and wished to be sole owner of the tract.  The interests were finally sold for $4000.

Here it is interesting, and seems as if Culbertson deliberately lied to Clark.  He wanted the deed in paper, as it hadn't actually been officially given to him yet.  He then sold that 20% interest to Sweeny who then went to the other four owners saying he wanted to be the only owner ... he wanted 100% of the mine.  

Afternoon Session.

     This afternoon the examination of Patrick Clark continued.  He stated that he did not give any one permission to run a drift or drill holes through the Ella mine.  That he did not know at the time of the sale of the claim to Sweeny that a four foot vein of clean ore had been struck.

     He stated that Sweeny had told him they had found no ore on the Ella, and that he was aware of none at the time he advised his partner to sell the claim.

     On cross examination he stated that as foreman of the Poorman mine he had driven through the Ella on the 600 foot level, and had driven into it from the 800 foot level of the Poorman, but that he had done so with the knowledge and consent of the owner.

Clark, here, says he didn't give anyone permission to drill the Ella.  Here is also another mention of "clean ore" but I still don't know what it means.  Sweeny lied saying there was no ore on the Ella.  The last two paragraphs are confusing.  It seems they are talking about Patrick Clark when they say that he was foreman of the Poorman mine, that he'd drilled underground from the Poorman mine to the Ella mine and that the owner knew about it.  I suspect they are really talking about Sweeny doing the "undercover" drilling but saying that the owners already knew about this covert operation.  I saw somewhere that Clark lost the legal battle.

     

(Spokane Chronicle, 1901)

1903

In 1903, he began mining in Southern Oregon when he took over operation of 14 consolidated claimes along the Blue Ledge Lode that spanned the California-Oregon border (Alexander & Weiser-Alexander, 2010).  

1906

In this year, he founded the Furnace Creek Copper Company and established the settlement of Furnace in Death Falley, California.  This year he also opened the Anaconda Mine for William Daly, where he also worked as foreman (Alexander & Weiser-Alexander, 2010).  Yes, I know  The chronology doesn't exactly fit, but remember, I did warn you!

After this, he went to Rossland, British Columbia, Canada where he opened up the War Eagle Mine, along with two other men, Finch and Campbell (Alexander & Weiser-Alexander, 2010).  

17 January 1906

Mining Suits

Patsy Clark in Mining Suits
Spokane Chronicle, 1906

PATSY CLARK IN BUTTE

Spokane Mining Man Trying to Straighten Out Mining Suits.

     Patsy Clark of Spokane and Several prominent Butte men have been engaged in straightening out titles to mine interests in the Butte district recently with a view of developing the property embracing these interests, says the Anaconda Standard.  The ground is located in the northwestern part of the copper belt.  It is the intention to organize a company to perate the ground, but no definite steps in this line have yet been taken.

     Mr. Clark is now in the east, having left Butte about the middle of last week, and until the affairs of the proposed corporation are in shape little of what is to be done will be generally known.  Mr. Clark has owned mining claim interests in Butte for more than 20 years and they are valuable.  It can be stated that the proposed company will be legitimate in every particular and that it will be a valuable addition to the list of corporations now operating here.

What I understand, in this article, is that there are more lawsuits.  Suits regarding who owns what claim.  Clark has an interest in getting these all settled out and above board, legitimate.  He wants to develop the property, making it a valuable addition to the area.

3 April 1906

Furnace Creek

Patsy Clark Mining in Furnace Creek
Spokane Chronicle, 1906

Patsy Clark is described as "the Spokane mining millionaire" and that his Furnace Creek properties in Nevada are one of the most remarkable.  Stock in this mine that were allocated to Butte -- 150,000 shares -- sold out in two hours, going for 50 cents per share.  That totals out to $25,000.  A few hours later, you couldn't buy any at 75 cents per share.  Later still, $2.00 per share were offered, but nobody wanted to sell at any price!  Someone in Spokane even offered $1.00 per share for 50,000 shares but Clark and company refused to sell.    The article further explains this phenomenon is due to Clark's honesty, and extremely good judgement in mining.  His reputation stood him well, indeed.  But not just his reputation, but early reports from Furnace Creek mine show this "... to be among the big bonanzas of the country."

1 December 1906

Patrick Clark

Patrick Clark experience with Furnace Creek stock
The Anaconda Standard, 1906
newspapers.com

This snippit of an article describes how Patrick Clark's Furnace Creek stock almost had a run on the Stocks.  The article opens with the Oxide mine shares, putting them up for sale almost immediately after getting them.  "This is what will break the market, for all the shares bought in the East cost $2 per share, while those sold in Butte went [for less]."    It goes on to explain that Patrick's experience was when Furnace Creek stock sold in Butte for 50 cents, but sold in New York  for anywhere from $2.75 to $3.50 per share.  Everyone in Butte wanted to make a profit by selling their 50 cent shares for $3 shares.  This dropped the price down, and "... a lot of money was required to prevent the market from going to pieces entirely."  After the event, stock actually went up to $5 per share.  I suspect Patrick Clark had a very good head for money, for the stock market, and how society worked in general.  I also think he may have had a good working relationship with his fellow miners.

Below is another view of the same article

Patrick_Clark_1906_similar_furnace_creek_stocks
The Anaconda Standard, 1906

1907

14 January 1907

Furnace Camp and Town

Furnace Camp and Town
The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review, 1907

This article describes how the Patsy Clark town in California is newly built up and will be named Furnace, California., A regular modern mining town.  It will supply all the mines in the area by way of a wagon road into Death Valley.  Businesses include boarding houses for the miners, general merchants, saloons, lodging house, hotel and restaurant, dry goods, men's furnishings and furniture, lumbar yard, hay and grain and coal and gasoline.  Post office, Stage line.

25 September 1907

Mexico Mines

Clark in Mexico Mines
The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review, 1907

27 September 1907

Greenwater Camp California

Patsy Clark at Greenwater Camp, California
The Colfax Gazette, 1907

This article describes how the Greenwater mine is a dissappointment.  

"... the outer edge of Death Valley, and as mystery hangs over everything connected with and surrounding that region, where imagination can play hide and seek from early morn till dewey eve, it was easy to build air castles and investors were many."  

What great rhetoric and poetry!  The author goes on to describe Patsy as 

"an adept in roping in suckers.  Since the time he sloughed off the War Eagle mine in the Rossland (Canada) camp and the Republic property at Republic (Washington) collapsed aborning ..."  

Whoa.  What the auther just said was that Clark didn't just sell the War Eagle mine, he dumped and duped the Canadians to purchasing it.  And that the Republic mine was a failure at the outset.  

"... he has laid low until the Greenwater proposition entered his brain."

The author quotes a scientific mining publication saying that the value of these properties was poorly documented, and did not warrant the explosive stock speculation.

"The larger companies controlled by Patrick Clark and Schwab are said to be looking for mining claims in other localities, with a view of giving their stockholders another speculative opportunity, and incidentally of adjusting matters so as to avoid the expostulation of those that have suffered by putting their money into these unfortunate schemes."

I think this part says that Clark learned his lesson and, while he is actively looking for more mines to develop, he will do so with more propriety and honesty.  If Clark was, indeed dishonest in representing the California claims as more than what they really were, it does not negate my earlier supposition that Clark had a great mind for money, for stock markets, and for society and people in general. 

If you want to see an example of Greenwater Mine Stock, go here.  It is an uncanceled 1906 bank note you can purchase for less than $200!

4 October 1907

In Mexico This Time

Patsy Clark in Mexico
The Colfax Gazette, 1907

Again, from the Colfax newspaper, an unflattering account of Patsy Clark and his business dealings.  As far as I have been able to determine, this is the only paper not effusive about how great Patrick Clark was.  The author says Clark has duped the Greenwater investors, and seeks to "corral more suckers."  The author again quotes the scientific mining publication --

"The larger companies controlled by Patrick Clark and Schwab are said to be looking for mining claims in other localities ... with the view of giving their stockholders another speculative opportunity and incidentally of adjusting matters so as to avoid the expostulations of those who have suffered by putting their money into these unfortunate schemes."

We have already seen this exact quote in the article above.  The author goes on to say:

The Mexican properties are in the 'mining claims in other localities' that the promoters have been seeking, the greatness of which will soon be heralded throughout the northwest.  Investors in mining shares are advised to keep their eyes open on this matter.

He advises the buyer beware.           

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Next week will be the NON-mining edition.  Definately less boring!

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Resources

Alexander, D., & Weiser-Alexander, K. (2010, December). Patsy Clark, Mining Magnate & the Haunted Clark Mansion. Retrieved December 13, 2019, from Legends of America: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/wa-patsyclark/

Idaho County Free Press. (1900, November 15). Patsy Clork 1900 to Purchase MInes in Grangeville Idaho. Grangeville, Idaho, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

Prager, M. (2006, November 10). Historic Patsy Clark’s restored. Retrieved December 13, 2019, from The Spokesman-Review: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/nov/10/historic-patsy-clarks-restored/

Richards, J. H. (2018, November 4). “The Life and Times of Patsy Clark: Mining Pioneer”. Retrieved December 13, 2019, from Nostalgia: http://www.nostalgiamagazine.net/2018/11/04/the-life-and-times-of-patsy-clark-mining-pioneer/

Spokane Chroncle. (1900, January 13). Patsy Clark 1900 Controlling Interest in Mine. Spokane, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 2019, from newspapers.com

Spokane Chronicle. (1901, October 2). Patrick_Clark_1901_on_stand__against_Sweeny__James_Clark. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved January 2020, from newspapers.com

Spokane Chronicle. (1906, January 17). Patsy Clark 1906 in Mining Suits. Spokane, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

Spokane Chronicle. (1906, April 3). Patsy Clark 1906 Furnace Creek. Spokane, Washingon, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Anaconda Standard. (1900, October 5). Patrick Clark 1900 in Montana. Anaconda, Montana, USA. Retrieved December 2019, from newspapers.com

The Anaconda Standard. (1906, December 1). Patrick Clark 1906, Experience with Furnace Creek Stocks, Anaconda, Montana.  Retrieved December 2019, from Newspapers.com

The Butte Miner. (1901, June 12). Patrick_Clark_1901_battle_of_Giants. Butte, Montana. Retrieved January 2020, from newspapers.com

The Colfax Gazette. (1907, September 27). Patsy Clark 1907 Greenwater Camp California. Colfax, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Colfax Gazette. (1907, October 4). Patsy Clark 1907 In Mexico This Time. Colfax, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Province. (1900, April 19). Patsy Clark 1900 Sells Republic Mine. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review. (1907, January 14). Patsy Clark 1907 Furnace Camp and Town. Spokane, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review. (1907, September 25). Patsy Clark 1907 Mexico Mines. Spokane, Washington, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Sumpter Miner. (1900, March 21). Patsy Clark 1900 Purchase Sumpter Mine. Sumpter, Oregon, USA. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from newspapers.com

The Sumpter Miner. (1900, April 4). Patrick Clark 1900 Wants to Purchase Sumpter Mine. Sumpter, Oregon, USA. Retrieved December 2019, from newspapers.com

The Sumpter Miner. (1900, July 25). Patsy Clark 1900 Leader in Testing Possibilities. Sumpter, Oregon, USA. Retrieved December 2019, from newspapers.com

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