Sweet Vengeance Mine facts for kids
| Location | |
|---|---|
 Sweet Vengeance Mine
|
|
| Location | Browns Valley |
| State | California |
| Coordinates | 39°15′48″N 121°25′8″W / 39.26333°N 121.41889°W |
The Sweet Vengeance Mine was a special gold mine located in Browns Valley, California. It was first found by African American miners during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. Later, a French company took over the mine. They even used one of the very first stamp mills in California there. A stamp mill is a machine that crushes rocks to get gold out.
Contents
African American Miners and the Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in 1848 changed California forever. In 1849, California also decided it wanted to be a "free state." This meant that slavery would not be allowed there. These big changes encouraged many free Black people to move to California. They hoped to find gold and build new lives.
Starting the Sweet Vengeance Mine
After finding gold in Brown's Valley, six African American men decided to work together. They formed the Sweet Vengeance mine company. The partners were Gabriel Simms, Fritz James Vosburg, Abraham Freeman Holland, Edward Duplex, James Cousins, and M. McGowan. Another important partner was Moses Rodgers. He was an African American engineer who was very skilled at working with metals. His help was in high demand.
Challenges and Success
Even though many miners treated each other equally, some white miners tried to push non-white miners away. The Sweet Vengeance miners faced many attempts to make them leave. One time, Fritz Vosburg was attacked by a group of white men trying to steal their claim. He defended himself and wounded their leader. A newspaper called The Liberator reported that he acted in self-defense.
Despite these challenges, the partners successfully ran the mine and made good money until 1854. Fritz Vosburg, Abraham Holland, and Gabriel Simms kept a journal. They wrote that the Sweet Vengeance Mine was especially profitable in April and May of 1852. They noted that they had found "rich dirt," meaning lots of gold!
Miners Become Entrepreneurs
The success at the Sweet Vengeance Mine helped these men start other businesses. Gabriel Simms used his profits to open the Franklin Hotel in Marysville. Edward Duplex opened a barbershop. He later made history by becoming the first African American mayor in California.
The Mine's Later Years
The Sweet Vengeance Mine became known as a "big producer" in the Browns Valley area. It was famous for being one of the first places in California to use a stamp mill. Before the French company, Spanish owners had worked the mine. They used a simpler method called an arrastra. An arrastra is a basic machine that grinds ore using heavy stones.
In 1935, a mining magazine reported that a company called Aladdin Gold Mining started working at the Sweet Vengeance Mine. They began "unwatering operations," which means pumping water out of the mine so they could explore it again.
