Mine Inspector Mash

I got my mine inspectors mixed up last week! After talking to Mike Miller who remembers Charlie Schultz, I realized that Oscar was the name of the OSHA inspector who I described in SS #54. Charlie Schultz was the MSHA (Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration) inspector in the 1970s and no doubt, he also sat at our kitchen table. Then as now, both OSHA Inspectors (CA State Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and MSHA Inspectors, inspect mining operations quarterly, for a total of 8 inspections per year. After he retired from MSHA, Charlie was hired by OSHA as a mine inspector in the early 2000s. Do any old miners in the wings remember Oscar? Oscar was quite a bit older than Charlie. Evidently, Charlie and Oscar got mushed together in my childhood memory.

Mike Miller had a couple of Charlie Schultz stories to share: Back in the 1970s he and Tom Woodfin were working in the Morning Glory Mine in Alleghany when Charlie showed up for an inspection. Mike and Tom were using a rope to go down the shaft where they were working. Charlie took one look at the rope and said: “MSHA inspectors don’t go down ropes.” Mike asked why and Charlie replied: “Because there might be somebody at the top with a knife to cut it!” No citation was issued but they got the message and got their ladders built before Charlie’s next “visit.” On another inspection, Charlie mentioned that he collected pocket watches. He invited Mike and Tom to come to his vehicle where he pulled out a briefcase full of pocket watches. He said it was ok to handle them, and each one had a price tag on it. After Charlie left, Mike and Tom were scratching their heads and wondering if they were expected to purchase one.

During this time, back at the Golden Lion Mine, Allen Power’s crew was hard at work in the new tunnel. I don’t know what the target was, but Allen hired a surface crew in 1979 to build a mill. If I remember correctly the mill was intended for placer (gravel) as opposed to quartz (hard rock). A more seasoned mine operator would not build a mill before reaching the geological target and verifying the presence of gold, but Allen had a timeline all worked out. He was certain that the Golden Lion Mine would be in production by the summer of 1979. Accordingly, he planned a large celebration in the meadow. The surface crew was instructed to build a stage and create seating. Allen designed a half-ounce gold coin, intended to make its debut at the party. When no gold was discovered by the “due date”, Allen had the coins minted in copper. These were handed out at the party. As is often the case with new mines, the Golden Lion Mine was a bust. By 1982 Allen had sold the property to a man from Oregon. The new owner kept Dad on as the mine foreman and caretaker.

Invitation to readers: You are invited to share your stories related to southwest Sierra County. Please jot down your memories and send them to the contact info below. You might see your story here on the back page, but even if you don’t, it will be filed in Underground Gold Miner Museum’s archives. Photos and other documents are also desired for preservation and can easily be shared by taking a picture of the original with a cell phone.

About the author: Rae Bell (aka Pauline) grew up in the Ruby Mine area. She currently resides in Alleghany proper and can be reached at raebell44@gmail.com or PO Box 919, Alleghany, CA 95910.