Page 73 - 2006 DT 12 Issues

I n T h i s I s s u e

Featured Article
Goldfield..........................................1

Special
Letter to Friends.............................7

Departments
News & Notes..................................2
October 2006 Programs & Hikes...........................4
Desk Schedule................................6
Bulletin Board................................8

Goldfield... in the diamond mines of South Africa Vincent St. John, who had tried his

and Australia. It became increasingly hand at many occupations ranging
Management vs Union common for miners to conceal this from farming to printing. He was
in the Old West “Jewelry Ore” in their clothing when known as “The Saint” partly because
they left work and the Goldfield Con- of his name, but also for his heroism in
solidated Mining company, along rescuing miners in a mine disaster. He
by H. Dan Wray with other mine owners, was soon was, however, no stranger to violence.

y the end of the 1800’s, mining losing thousands of dollars through The union had been involved in arm-
in Nevada was at a low. The “high grading,” as the practice be- ing members and encouraging them to
BComstock Lode in Virginia came known. shoot “scab” workers during a strike
City was long since played out, as were Mining communities were gener- at Telluride.
the gold and silver mines in Austin, ally seen as not the best ordered and as Things came to a head between mine
Eureka, Hamilton and other areas. attracting more than their fair share of owners and the unionized workforce
It was a Shoshone Indian prospec- when Wingfield, one of the
tor named Tom Fisherman who came directors of the Goldfield
to the rescue. Consolidated Mining Com-
In 1902, two impecunious young pany, sought to stop the
men named William Marsh and hemorrhaging of funds
Harry Stimler went to see him and by putting an end to
in all probability, acting on informa- “high grading.”
tion which he provided, came across His solution was to
a trace of gold in an area some 25 install changing rooms
miles from Tonopah. where the miners would
At first sight their discovery change from their work-
seemed modest. How wrong they ing clothes into their
were. The area proved to have some normal attire. But what if
of the richest gold bearing rock ever Daisy Mine, Goldfield, NV the miners simply trans-
found in Nevada and, indeed, any- unconventional and unruly characters. ferred the stolen ore into
where else. In addition, the deposit It was perhaps this stylized view as their own clothes? To prevent this,
was in a very concentrated area and much as economic reasons which lay Wingfield proposed to have the chang-
convenient to mine. behind the events about to unfold. ing room supervised by one of the
Because the gold bearing rock Because of its potential, Goldfield managerial staff. This proved totally
was valued at almost double the rate attracted the attention of a newly unacceptable to the union and a strike
of other Nevada mines, miners were formed union called, variously, the was threatened. Eventually a compro-
soon flocking to Goldfield, as the find Western Federation of Miners or In- mise was reached, insofar as it was
came to be called. dustrial Workers of the World. agreed that the changing room would
With such high value ore security The union was led by a rather
became a problem, much as it is now photogenic and charismatic man, Goldfield, continued on p. 6