James McKinley and the Cobalt Discoverers

Mad Anecdote here: They are the Cobalt Discoverers.
James H. McKinley -- Ernest J. Darragh -- Alfred "Fred" LaRose – Tom Hebert

A bonanza strike. Celebrated 100th anniversary in 2003.
Cobalt called "The Most Historic Town in Ontario"
We HAVE to use Cobalt as one of the sites.
And think about the pictures.

Silver riches: As a source of silver riches, the Cobalt area led the world in yielding a phenomenal 460 million ounces. That is about US$2 billion worth of silver at today's prices. In Cobalt's peak year, 1911, 34 mines produced some 30 million ounces.

Great descriptions here that we can put in the story. Cobalt lead to not just mines--
but helped develop the entire Canadian mining industry in both skills and money
to fund further development.

Threw a hammer? What's the real story there?
August 7--1903 -- they were in the bush. James and Ernest. Getting lumber
for a railway. Found some unusual pink stained rocks: And then had them checked out
in Montreal and Ottawa: Different results -- Montreal said silver!

In September 1903-- Fred La Rose was sharpening steel drills for railway builders.
had worked in a quebec mine. Also noticed pink rocks.

Willett G Miller: he's the ontario provincial geologist--- famous guy--
followed up (Apparently for all of Canada) that this guy followed up with a visit.
Lead to 4 veins being found.

And finally
Tom Herbert: another railroad worker-- pushed Miller to look at a vein he found.
Became the biggest mine in the camp. "Big Nip!" ran for 40 years...