THE CALUMET AND HECLA MINE 83 



" We are having our share and more than our share 

 of misfortunes, and this time we are stopped at Hecla 

 for a fortnight at least. Knowing that you would ex- 

 pect me to get as much copper in April as I got in 

 month ending a couple of days ago, I thought it safest 

 to telegraph you of accident and tell you we should be 

 idle the rest of the month at least. I telegraphed: 

 ' Walls surrounding pit for additional heads at Hecla 

 mill have settled from jarring. Shall be idle rest of 

 month at least.' " 



After the Hecla Mill was repaired, both mills at last 

 ran smoothly. As the prospects brightened, Agassiz's 

 letters become less frequent. He now had a man on 

 whom he could rely as assistant, Mr. George Hardie, 

 who had been persuaded to leave the Quincy Mine and 

 work into the position of superintendent. 



The Hulberts and other incompetent and dishonest 

 individuals had been kindling jealousy and antagonism 

 in a certain element in the community. The back waters 

 from the Calumet dam flooded some land outside the 

 companies' property ; this the Hulberts took advantage 

 of to make trouble, and the affair culminated in the 

 cutting of the dam on the night of June 12. 



"I telegraphed you to-day that Calumet dam had been 

 cut and pond was empty. Ever since E. J. served his 

 notice of a nuisance on us, we have had a watchman 

 by day and night; but I am afraid they caught him 

 napping. Last night was a very dark night and, being 

 Saturday besides, a very good day, no one being busy 

 at mill after 12 p.m. Towards 4 o'clock in the morning 

 the watchman must either have been scared off or got 



