Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill
Encyclopedia
Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill is a historic mining site near Victor, Colorado
on the south slope of Battle Mountain.
One boulder from the Independence mine brought $60,000, which Stratton used to sink a chute. In doing so he tapped directly into a rich vein.
The next year, in 1892, Stratton also hit gold in the Washington mine.
Stratton became the Cripple Creek District's first millionaire.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 43.
When Cripple Creek miners went on strike in 1894
, Stratton's Independence mine and the Portland mine came to an agreement with them, against the wishes of other mine owners.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 55.
Stratton had incorporated the Portland company and was its first president and largest stockholder.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 44.
Stratton developed a theory that the gold veins in the Cripple Creek District converged at a great depth, roughly in the shape of a goblet. This theory did not pan out, however.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 66.
The mining companies became concerned about ore theft, and in 1897 they began hiring the services of Pinkerton agents
.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 71.
In 1900 Stratton sold the Independence mine to the Venture Corporation of London
for $10 million. The Venture Corporation incorporated the property as Stratton's Independence Ltd. and sold shares on the London stock exchange. The ore reserves were discovered to be less than previously thought in late 1900, and the share price crashed. Venture Corporation sued Stratton, claiming that the mine had been salted. Stratton died in 1902, but his estate successfully defeated the lawsuit.
In May 1900, two Western Federation of Miners
(WFM) union representatives checked for union membership cards at the Independence mine. Approximately a hundred miners belonged to the union, and six or eight did not. One of the union representatives talked to the miners, who echoed the union rep's view that they would prefer not to work alongside non-union workers. Mine Superintendent Summers talked the non-union men into joining the union in order to promote harmony in the workforce.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 74.
In September 1900, the Independence mine was the first mine in the District to introduce a new stripping order requiring all underground workers to undress in one room of a change house and walk into another room in the nude while a guard observed. This was to take place at start and end of each shift. The new rule was implemented to prevent high grading
(theft of gold ore) by the mine workers.
Five hundred miners met at Victor's Armory Hall, and they decided that while they would help stop ore thieves, they refused to work under the stripping rule. A compromise was reached which allowed the miners to strip to their undergarments. But the miners were unhappy. After the new practice was in place for about a month, a Pinkerton searched the miners at the end of a shift. No ore was found, and the miners walked out.
Three days later Independence mine manager A.H. Shipman met with the WFM Executive Board. He ultimately agreed to abolish the Pinkerton guard system, to appoint a guard for the change rooms from candidates the union proposed, and to accept a closed shop. Under the agreement, any miner suspected of high-grading could be searched by a fellow union member in the presence of a watchman. Shipman also announced that he would support membership in the WFM by miners in return for the union's help in stopping the practice of high grading.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 71-72.
In 1902 the miners at the Independence mine bought diamond rings for Shipman, who had negotiated the closed shop, for Superintendent Sam Lobb, and for Assistant Manager R.J. Grant. The miners and the managers enjoyed a "little smoking session" at Shipman's home after the presentation.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 102.
by the Western Federation of Miners. Many miners throughout the Cripple Creek District walked out of any mines that were shipping ore to the mills at Colorado City, in order to support a strike by the mill workers there.
The investigation focused on safety arrangements, and the qualifications of the hoisting engineer. One miner, James Bullock, survived the accident. His testimony to the coroner's jury describes the disaster:
The hoisting engineer's testimony is also quite descriptive of the incident:
The coroner's jury found the brakes had been inspected six hours before the accident, and the brakes were working after the accident. The coroner's jury questioned another hoisting engineer from the Stratton Mine about the qualifications of the engineer operating the hoist. They learned that "the employer had taken the man's word – nothing more – as to his qualifications. The engineer involved in the fatal accident, however, had been recommended by a former employer."
The coroner's report stated that the engineer had lost control because of management's negligence, having failed to properly install a safety device to prevent overwinding. Also, the [backup braking system consisting of] disk brakes on the hoisting engine had been detached.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
The Western Federation of Miners echoed the coroner's charge of mismanagement. Although the property was at that time guarded by soldiers and enclosed by the main militia encampment, providing no access to union members, management accused the union of tampering with the machinery.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
One hundred and sixty-eight non-union men reportedly quit the Independence Mine because of the incident.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
Just a few months later, after several violent incidents occurred in the district, the WFM was driven out by force of arms in a struggle that came to be called the Colorado Labor Wars
.
Victor, Colorado
Victor is a Statutory City in Teller County, Colorado, United States. The population was 445 at the 2000 census.Victor is in the heart of Colorado's gold country, home to two of the major gold mines in the Cripple Creek mining district...
on the south slope of Battle Mountain.
Production output
Between late 1893 and April 1899, approximately 200,000 ounces (5670 kg) of gold was removed from the Independence Mine.History
In the spring of 1891 W. S. Stratton persuaded Leslie Popejoy to grubstake him in the Cripple Creek District in return for half the profits. Stratton staked two claims on the south slope of Battle Mountain on July 4, 1891. He called the two claims the Independence and the Washington in honor of the holiday. Stratton quickly sold his house and two lots, one in Denver and one in Colorado Springs, so that he could buy out Popejoy's share. His reason: some assays from the Independence lode showed a value of $380 per ton gold.One boulder from the Independence mine brought $60,000, which Stratton used to sink a chute. In doing so he tapped directly into a rich vein.
The next year, in 1892, Stratton also hit gold in the Washington mine.
Stratton became the Cripple Creek District's first millionaire.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 43.
When Cripple Creek miners went on strike in 1894
Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894
The Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894 was a five-month strike by the Western Federation of Miners in Cripple Creek, Colorado, USA. It resulted in a victory for the union and was followed in 1903 by the Colorado Labor Wars...
, Stratton's Independence mine and the Portland mine came to an agreement with them, against the wishes of other mine owners.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 55.
Stratton had incorporated the Portland company and was its first president and largest stockholder.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 44.
Stratton developed a theory that the gold veins in the Cripple Creek District converged at a great depth, roughly in the shape of a goblet. This theory did not pan out, however.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 66.
The mining companies became concerned about ore theft, and in 1897 they began hiring the services of Pinkerton agents
Pinkerton National Detective Agency
The Pinkerton National Detective Agency, usually shortened to the Pinkertons, is a private U.S. security guard and detective agency established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850. Pinkerton became famous when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who later hired...
.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 71.
In 1900 Stratton sold the Independence mine to the Venture Corporation of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for $10 million. The Venture Corporation incorporated the property as Stratton's Independence Ltd. and sold shares on the London stock exchange. The ore reserves were discovered to be less than previously thought in late 1900, and the share price crashed. Venture Corporation sued Stratton, claiming that the mine had been salted. Stratton died in 1902, but his estate successfully defeated the lawsuit.
In May 1900, two Western Federation of Miners
Western Federation of Miners
The Western Federation of Miners was a radical labor union that gained a reputation for militancy in the mines of the western United States and British Columbia. Its efforts to organize both hard rock miners and smelter workers brought it into sharp conflicts – and often pitched battles...
(WFM) union representatives checked for union membership cards at the Independence mine. Approximately a hundred miners belonged to the union, and six or eight did not. One of the union representatives talked to the miners, who echoed the union rep's view that they would prefer not to work alongside non-union workers. Mine Superintendent Summers talked the non-union men into joining the union in order to promote harmony in the workforce.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 74.
In September 1900, the Independence mine was the first mine in the District to introduce a new stripping order requiring all underground workers to undress in one room of a change house and walk into another room in the nude while a guard observed. This was to take place at start and end of each shift. The new rule was implemented to prevent high grading
High grading
The term high grading in forestry, fishing and mining relates to selectively harvesting goods, to “cut the best and leave the rest”. In mining, it can also be a term for theft.-Forestry:...
(theft of gold ore) by the mine workers.
Five hundred miners met at Victor's Armory Hall, and they decided that while they would help stop ore thieves, they refused to work under the stripping rule. A compromise was reached which allowed the miners to strip to their undergarments. But the miners were unhappy. After the new practice was in place for about a month, a Pinkerton searched the miners at the end of a shift. No ore was found, and the miners walked out.
Three days later Independence mine manager A.H. Shipman met with the WFM Executive Board. He ultimately agreed to abolish the Pinkerton guard system, to appoint a guard for the change rooms from candidates the union proposed, and to accept a closed shop. Under the agreement, any miner suspected of high-grading could be searched by a fellow union member in the presence of a watchman. Shipman also announced that he would support membership in the WFM by miners in return for the union's help in stopping the practice of high grading.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 71-72.
In 1902 the miners at the Independence mine bought diamond rings for Shipman, who had negotiated the closed shop, for Superintendent Sam Lobb, and for Assistant Manager R.J. Grant. The miners and the managers enjoyed a "little smoking session" at Shipman's home after the presentation.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 102.
Colorado Labor Wars
In 1903 there was a major strikeColorado Labor Wars
Colorado's most significant battles between labor and capital occurred primarily between miners and mine operators. In these battles the state government, with one clear exception, always took the side of the mine operators....
by the Western Federation of Miners. Many miners throughout the Cripple Creek District walked out of any mines that were shipping ore to the mills at Colorado City, in order to support a strike by the mill workers there.
Cage mishap kills fifteen
On the night of January 26, 1904, non-union replacement workers were coming off shift in the Independence Mine when the cage that they were riding in had a serious mishap. The cage was drawn into the sheave wheel at the top of the shaft. The cable that supported the cage was severed, and the cage fell.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215. Fifteen miners fell into the shaft, 1500 feet deep.The investigation focused on safety arrangements, and the qualifications of the hoisting engineer. One miner, James Bullock, survived the accident. His testimony to the coroner's jury describes the disaster:
. . . We kept going right along but it kept slipping; we would go a little ways and then we would slip again; then he took us about six feet above the collar of the shaft, then he lowered us back down.
Q. Did he stop six feet above the shaft?
A. He stopped just for a second or two; then he lowered us and it must have gotten beyond his control, for we dropped about sixty or seventy feet, we were going pretty. [sic] We said to each other we are all gone. Then he raised us up about ten feet; then he stopped us and it slipped back again, and we went to the sheave wheel as fast as we could go. When I was going up there, I began to crouch to save myself from the hard blow. I seen a piece of timber about one foot wide, and I grabbed hold and held myself up there and pretty soon the cage dropped and I began to holler for a ladder to get down.
The hoisting engineer's testimony is also quite descriptive of the incident:
I tried several times, but that time the cage was at the collar of the shaft. I immediately reversed the engine and sent the cage back 100 feet. I again tried the brakes, reversed the engine, and brought the cage back to the surface. The brake was still stuck; I could not move it. I again reversed the engine and sent the cage back about the same distance and stepped over to the other side and took hold of the other brake, and it was in the same condition. The second time the cage came to the surface, I called three times for the shift boss, for God's sake come and help me put on the brakes. In the meantime, I was reversing the engine backwards and forwards. Mr. MacDonald came and two other men with him. I said come up and help me put on the brakes, and then I discovered the hood of the cage above the collar of the shaft. I immediately reversed the engine, but it was too late.
The coroner's jury found the brakes had been inspected six hours before the accident, and the brakes were working after the accident. The coroner's jury questioned another hoisting engineer from the Stratton Mine about the qualifications of the engineer operating the hoist. They learned that "the employer had taken the man's word – nothing more – as to his qualifications. The engineer involved in the fatal accident, however, had been recommended by a former employer."
The coroner's report stated that the engineer had lost control because of management's negligence, having failed to properly install a safety device to prevent overwinding. Also, the [backup braking system consisting of] disk brakes on the hoisting engine had been detached.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
The Western Federation of Miners echoed the coroner's charge of mismanagement. Although the property was at that time guarded by soldiers and enclosed by the main militia encampment, providing no access to union members, management accused the union of tampering with the machinery.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
One hundred and sixty-eight non-union men reportedly quit the Independence Mine because of the incident.All That Glitters—Class, Conflict, and Community in Cripple Creek, Elizabeth Jameson, 1998, page 215.
Just a few months later, after several violent incidents occurred in the district, the WFM was driven out by force of arms in a struggle that came to be called the Colorado Labor Wars
Colorado Labor Wars
Colorado's most significant battles between labor and capital occurred primarily between miners and mine operators. In these battles the state government, with one clear exception, always took the side of the mine operators....
.