The history of the Engineer Mine is as equally fascinating as the history of Ben-My-Chree. This controversial mine property is located 15 kilometers east of Ben-My-Chree, 42 kilometers west of Atlin, British Columbia, along the shoreline at the south end of the Taku Arm. The mine was listed on the New York stock exchange in the 1920s. This mine site, located in a area of incredible glacial wilderness beauty, has a long history of misfortune, litigation, and strange events.
In July 1899, two Swedish prospectors told a group of engineers who were working on the White Pass railroad about a pale yellow metal they had found on the eastern shore of Taku Arm. The engineers entered into a deal with the Swedes and two of the engineers, Charles A. Anderson and Henry C. Diers, decided to explore the area further. Charles Anderson rowed past large visible quartz veins running down into the Lake. He then staked the Hope Claim and recorded it in Atlin on July 20, 1899. In all twelve claims were recorded that year, in an area that became known as the Engineer Group. Ore samples assayed by the Bank of British North America showed very promising results, with gold yields up to $17,000 per ounce, according to an 1899 article in the Alaskan Magazine. Further samples had lower yields, but the finds were still very promising. Captain John Irving carried the first shipment of ore to Bennett aboard the S.S. Gleaner.
The major of Skagway, John Hislop, became President of a newly formed public company, the Engineer Mining Company of Skagway. There were a significant number of local investors, including many White Pass workers. Tunnelling work took place over the next several winters. In 1902 the company installed a Hendy stamp mill. Funds ran low at this point, and work ceased for two seasons. In 1906 some of the claims were mistakenly allowed to lapse. They were immediately staked by Mr. Brown from Atlin. A group of men from Atlin known as the Northern Partnership managed to acquire the claims from Mr. Brown. Captain James Alexander was a key player in this group.
Apparently there were some under-handed tactics involved with the group’s take over of Brown’s claims, and apparently Brown placed a curse of death and disaster on all people involved with Engineer. This is the first of several superstitious events involving Engineer.
Development work renewed, and in 1910
the company had a two stamp mill operating on the property. Up to 30
people worked at the time. Several high yield samples were recorded, but
the viens were difficult to follow and ended abruptly. For the next few
years the property was under litigation and work slowed substantially.
By 1912 Captain Alexander had primary control of the mine and he found a
larger ore body, according to Ministry of Mines documents. Development
work picked up. Some rich ore was taken from the Double Decker vein.
Higher grade ore was shipped out for smelting. The mine’s prospects
increased enough that several investors, including the provincial
government, funded a much larger scale operation.
There were no shortage of interesting
individuals associated with the Engineer mine. In addition to Captain
Alexander, another interesting character involved with the Engineer mine
was Reginald Brooks Snr, an engineer and geologist, who managed the
Engineer Mine in its early days. Brook had a close association with
Captain Alexander from 1885 to Alexander’s death in 1918. Brook went to
Engineer with Captain Alexander in 1912. Brook’s family still has a
strong association with the area. Otto Partridge, from Ben-My-Chree,
visited Engineer regularly, frequently taking in a poker game with
Captain Alexander, Reginald Brook and Colonel Conrad of Big Thing Mine,
Conrad. Characters all. The Conrad mine had a series of failed dreams
which was identical to the story of Engineer
Over the next several years
development work progressed. By 1917 work on the mine levelled off as
the war effort affected the pool of mine workers. In 1918 Captain
Alexander appeared to have found a buyer of the minesite. In October
Captain Alexander and his wife began the trip south with some employees
of the company which planned to buy the Engineer Mine. Alexander left
his parrot “Polly” at the Caribou Hotel in Carcross, and got on the
White Pass train to Skagway. From Skagway he sailed on S.S. Princess
Sophia down Lynn Canal. North of Juneau the Sophia ran hard aground on
Vanderbilt Reef. While rescue boats were nearby, the ship’s captain,
fearing it too dangerous, wouldn’t allow his passengers to transfer off.
He believed the high tide would free the ship. But in the hours
afterwards a strong storm arrived, and the rescue boats left the area.
The Sophia’s hull slammed against the rocks of Vanderbilt Reef for hours
until the boat split apart. The ship disappeared into the water, and all
aboard were lost, a total of 343 passengers and crew. This event had a
profound impact upon the north, as many key players from the Yukon were
headed south after the summer season. Polly the Parrot lived at the
Caribou Hotel in Carcross for more than 50 years after Captain Alexander
left her there. The parrot died in 1972, believed to be well over 100
years old.
Captain Alexander’s death had a
profound negative effect on the Engineer Mine. The minesite ceased
production for five years while litigation occurred over the ownership
of the property. In 1924 a group of investors from New York acquired the
mine. The company, Engineer Gold Mines Limited, began development work
on a much larger scale. A number of structures including bunkhouses, a
mess hall, and several residences were built. A power house was built on
the Wann River which was 5 km south of the mine. Extensive underground
work was undertaken. At this point the minesite took on the aspects of
small town, tucked up against the towering mountain spires of the
Florence range next to Ben-My-Chree. The S.S. Gleaner, and later the
Tutshi, made regular visits, and delivered mail to a wooden box nailed
to a tree at Golden Gate. That tree was the “Post Office” box for
residents of Taku Arm for several decades. It is still there.
By 1925 upwards of 140 men worked at
the mine. Development work continued, with new dam being constructed at
the Wann River to supply additional power. The company’s shares reached
$100 on the New York stock exchange, according to Minister of Mines
documents. But the same problems continued, in that the high grade ore
tracks ended quickly, and high-grade output never did reach a large
scale. The mine made a profit for short periods, but the mine never did
achieve much potential. Along with history of the mine at Conrad, there
were accusations that the mine’s leaders were more focused on the mine’s
stock price than mine output. The workforce slowly declined, to about 20
men in 1930. At this time several of gold stringers were exhausted and
the mine closed until 1933. At that point the litigation took over
again, and ownership changed several times. After that point there were
several instances of high-graders attempting to find selective deposits,
but the property never achieved the status it had in the mid 1920s. At
one time five women formed a small syndicate and worked in various
tunnels and drifts in the area in a rather unfocused fashion.
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