MINERS TRAPPED

March 15, 1917 - Another chapter in the checkered history of Cordova Mines was brought to a close when the big mills, No. 1 shaft house and the black- smith shop was totally destroyed by fire last Monday night.

The origin of the fire was a mystery but it started in the' shaft house. The buildings were all of wood and burned with surprising rapidity.

During the past year the old compressed air system had been done away with and a modern electric power system installed. The mine had been in operation only a few weeks and a number of men were at work below ground where the fire started. All but three escaped through another shaft but the three who were cut off were not rescued until noon on Tuesday. The trapped men succeeded in reaching the third level where there was a storehouse for powder and other supplies and were little worse for their experience when rescued.

In 1890, H.T.Strickland discovered gold in Belmont (Lots 20 & 21) and Marmora Township. A syndicate, composed of Messrs. Carscallen, O'Neil, Strickland and Burnhas acquired the property and in September 1891 began sinking the first three of several shafts through which the early development of the mine was carried out. From October 1892 to late in 1893 when it became idle, the property was under lease to the Moira Gold Mining Company of New York.

In 1897 an English firm, the Cordova Exploration Company, was granted a working option by A.W. Carscallen, who had by then acquired sole ownership of the property. A mining plant was erected and a 10-stamp mill put into operation. During the next 2 years considerable underground exploration was carried out, after which the company purchased the property. At that time development was being carried out in six shafts numbered as 1,2,3,6,7, and 10, but by 1901 all mining operations were being confined to shafts 1,2 and 3, and an additional 10-stamp mill had been added.  (Charlie Barrons recorded that buildings included shaft houses,  mill building and miners' residences including Manager's house,  adding   "Before the English firm took over,  the power was supplied by a large team plant that burned about 10 cords of wood a year.  Most of it was brought in by rail.  The rail was very welcomed as a lot of lumber and pulp wood was shipped out by it.  There was also a wye to turn engines on." )

In January 1903, The Belmont Gold Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Cordova Exploration Company took over the mine but operated for only a few months when the mine was closed. At that time the main mine workings consisted of No.1 shaft sunk to a depth of 125 m, with 4 levels; No.2 shaft, 310.9 m and east of No.1, to a depth of 56.4 m, and No.3 shaft, 392.3 m southeast of No.1, to a depth of 99.1 m with a connection to the bottom level of No.2 shaft. Shafts Nos.1,2, and 3 were inclined at 67 degrees. Several additional shafts had been sunk: No.4 shaft, little more than a deep prospect pit; No.5 to a depth of 31.4 m; No.6, 228.6 m northeast of No.1, to a depth of 25.9m; No.7 (vertical), 129.5 m north of No.1, to a depth of 24.4 m, and No.10, 170.7 m east of No.1 to a depth of 14.0 m.

Photos from the George Barrons collection

In 1933 Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Limited pumped out flooded mine, supplied the mine and in 1935 bought the property. Development included the deepening of No.3 shaft to 305 m (inclined depth), with the establishment of several new levels; the sinking of a 2-compartment winze (No.912) from the 9th or 304 m level, 50 m on the incline, to the 10th level; and several hundred meters of drifting, cross-cutting and underground diamond drilling. As a result of this work, a small body of ore was blocked out in 1938 which justified the construction of a 110 tonne/day cyanide mill which was completed in 1939. Work on the property continued until July 1940. At this time all operations ceased. The company treated 30,000 tonnes of ore for a recovery of 0.1117 oz. of gold per ton ($4.50/ton at $38.50 per oz. of gold).

In November 1963, Orvana Mines Limited acquired an option on the property diamond drilling and sampling of the dumped ore was undertaken in 1965.

In 1979 a small group of businessmen, members of the Cordova Gold Syndicate purchased these claims from Cameron S. Belmont and subsequently assigned the property to Lasir Gold Inc.

In 1983 the company entered a joint venture with Minetech Limited building a plant to recover gold from the old ore dumps using cyanidation. Minetech expended about $250,000 before it went bankrupt. The whole mining area was cleaned.

In 1984 Silver Princess Resources Inc. optioned the property but did not pursue the option and the property was sold to the private ownership.

During the years 1917 to 1930, two other operators treated an additional 41,722 tonnes and recovered 13,700 ounces of gold. During peak production in early 1900's, the town of Cordova Mines grew to a population of 500 people. During this period the English Company made a number of improvements including the construction of a hydroelectric power plant at the outlet of Deer Lake. The use of this valuable water resource improved the economics of the mine by eliminating the need for 10,000 cords of wood per year previously used for producing steam power and heating. The original plant (the foundations of which are still evident today) produced compressed air for the mine using 800 H.P. compressor and generated approximately 250 kilowatts of electric power. The compressed air and electricity was transported to the mine located approximately 4 km away.

Fatal Accident at Cordova

Conrad Fredrikson, a native of Norway 42 years of age, who came to Canada when about eighteen years of age, was the victim of an accident at Cordova Gold Mine last Friday forenoon which resulted In his death. He was working at the 500 foot level, protected by a bunk, when a timber fell from the 200 foot level. It dropped with such force that it broke through the bunk striking  Fredrikson on the right leg almost tearing it off below the knee and severing an artery. The medical officer was summoned from Havelock and Dr. D. J. Holdcroft responded and rendered first aid but the victim onlylived a short time.

So far as is known the deceased had  no living relatives, but for about five years be had made his home  with Mr. E. J. Martin, Actlnolite. For about four years he was employed by Henniger & Scott Construction Company and was well liked by his employers and popular with his fellow workmen. He had also made a lot of friends since going to Cordova Mines. The funeral was held on Sunday. The service was conducted at the home of Mr. Martin, Actlnolite, by Rev. Merritt Price, after which the remains were conveyed to Marmora Protestant Cemetery for interment. Rural Dean A B. Caldwell pronounced the committal sentences at the graveside. A number of officials of Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company and quite a number of residents of Cordova attended the service at Actinolite and also at the cemetery. The pall-bearers were John Bell, John Anderson, Edward Flynn, sr., Edward Flynn, Jr., G. Dalbgren and MORRIS Martin.

Marmora Herald  August 29, 1935 

TO READ THE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF CORDOVA GOLD MINES BY WALTER HOOD, CLICK HERE