Product Code Database
The Argonaut Mine was a Gold mining in Jackson, California, United States. The deposit was discovered in 1850, and in 1922 was the site of the worst gold-mining disaster in the state's history. The mine closed in 1942 and, along with the nearby Kennedy Mine, is registered as California Historical Landmark #786.
The gold deposit was discovered in the 1850s by two miners, James Hager and William Tudor, both freed slaves. Serious development began in 1893 when it was purchased by the Argonaut Mining Company. The mine operated until 1942 reaching a vertical depth of via a 63-degree shaft and produced more than $25 million (~$ in ) in gold.
Rescuers began re-opening tunnels from the Kennedy Mine which had been closed since an earlier fire in 1919. They were proceeding slowly, but hopes remained high until September 18, when a canary inserted beyond a bulkhead by oxygen-tank-equipped workers died. It took three weeks to reach the level at which the miners were trapped. No one survived and evidence indicated that they had all died within hours of the fire breaking out. One of the bodies was not recovered until a year later.
It was determined that the mine had violated safety regulations, but the owners escaped punishment, as the United States Bureau of Mines had little enforcement power. The exact cause of the fire was never determined, but it was said to be "incendiarism" (a broad term meaning either arson or defective wiring).
There are no commercial organizations responsible for mining still in existence to be held responsible for the mine cleanup. When the mine is listed on a Superfund site the mine will be eligible for federal cleanup funds.
Ghost Adventures visited the mine to investigate possible paranormal activity.
Ghost Hunters investigated the mine to determine if the claims of paranormal activity had any validity.
|
|
