A.C. and Sylvanite Mines

Reference to his [Hathenbruck] personal knowledge, of at least one of the mines can best be gleaned from the following letter dated September 24, 1905, and addressed to the President and Board of Directors of the Sylvanite Mining Company, to whom he wrote:

Gentlemen;

Through unforeseen circumstances not being able to be present at the stockholder meeting, I herewith take pleasure to submit a report of my doings and locatings since July 21st, 1905 - for the Sylvanite Co -

On August 2nd 1905 I located the Sylvanite #1 and 2 a fissure veine breaking through the country rock- commonly known as a Quartzite (but which I term a course Gueis). This mine - the nature and location of which has been described to me, over 20 years ago by Mr. CB. Rhodes - and at a time before there was only talk over the fabulous Mines on the Reserve - and is what is termed the Rhodes Mine.... these mines are - in the second left hand fork - going up stream from the narrows of Rock Creek - about 4 miles above the confluence of this fork with the main stream -

Another very important location was made on August 24th for our Company - via theAlice which is situated in the left handfork of this second left hand fork in which the Sylvanite #1 and 2 are located and shows better values than any - on the surface - and is best approached from the Plateau on the west and can readily be seen from one part of Plateau directly above mine - but hard of access from the Forks -

The A. C Mine at the mouth of 2nd left hand fork of Rock Creek - going up stream - is a continuation of Sylv: 1 and 2 and a low grate (grade) Gold proposition in contact or Quartzite and Lime shale - located August 3rd - 1905....

Respectfully Yours,
F. W. C Hathenbruck

P.S. Last but not least I desire to state that a Power Co. will develop the Water for Electrical purpose- between S and 10, 000 H.P. and build a large plant within a few miles of the Sylvanite Mines - building roads etc. benefiting our enterprise extensively - and illuminating the reduction of our ores in every respect -

My faith - I might say certainly - of our stock going above par in a (illegible) month - beyond a doubt, providet (provided) we work the claims for development -

Yours Respectfully
F. W. C.

In describing the A.C. Mine, i.e. Rhoades Mine, Hathenbruck referred to the Alice, therefore I assume the term A.C. Mine stood for Alice Creek Mine. However, there is no such creek by that name listed today in that region and I have been unable to find one by the same name in any old record or upon any old map. Nevertheless he states that it's located at the mouth of the second, left-hand fork of Rock Creek. It's not entirely clear, though, whether he is really referring to the second left-hand fork of Rock Creek or the second left-hand fork of the West Fork of Rock Creek.

When referring to the Sylvanite #1 and 2 claims, he seems to be indicating the second left-hand fork of the West Fork of Rock Creek in his statement "about 4 miles above the confluence of this fork with the main stream." This indicates the Lodgepole Lake area, where the Rhoades and Hathenbruck cabin stood and where several low grade placer deposits had been worked.

Another interesting piece of information and, perhaps, even a legitimate clue as to the possible location of the A.C. Mine (or Rhoades Mine) might be that of an old record I once uncovered at the Wasatch County Recorder's office in Heber City, Utah years ago. This was a mining claim filed by C.B. Rhoades, et al, in 1901 (Book 0, Page 133) called the "Shipwreck #4." (See Map #118.)

It was what I would call a "floating claim", in more ways than one. First, not enough specifics were given by the description for anyone to determine exactly where it might be -- worthless, really, except from a legal point of view. Secondly, the name "Shipwreck" had been chosen for some odd reason, and I had always assumed probably for some strange landmark which may have reminded him of a wrecked ship. Many years later, while prospecting southeast of the old Rhoades and Hathenbruck cabin, about mid-way between Grandaddy Lake and Doc's Lake (named after Doc Hathenbruck), I happened upon another smaller lake called Red Cliff Lake. As I glanced across it, chills crawled up my spine. There, in the middle of that small lake, were large rocks protruding from the water in the image of a sunken ship; its bow and bridge pointing up above the water and its stern completely submerged. It looked like the real thing. From a helicopter the formation in the lake appears as nothing more than a series of rocks laying in the lake on an angle, one on top of the other, but viewed from the ground, it appears as a genuine "shipwreck." It has always been my opinion that the Rhoades Mine on the West Fork of Rock Creek will be found very near that spot.--Lost Gold of the Uintah, pg. 109