Last Chance Mine

Also: Last Chance, Buclimo, Buclimo Mine

quartz gold abandoned 1887-1890s

The district's first truly paying mine. Cruikshank's 1887 quartz strike set off the rush that built Manchester a few hundred yards downhill. He and Jim Krenkel worked it, then sold to seven investors who renamed it the Buclimo. Worked until flooding at depth stopped it, lacking pumps. Renamed but NOT relocated — Last Chance and Buclimo are one mine.

Overall confidence Verified Location Approximate

Discovery

By William D. "Willey" Cruikshank · 1887 Verified

HMDB monument: discovered spring 1887 by W. D. Cruikshank. Family narrative gives 'March 24, 1887' (see DISCREPANCIES.md).

Ownership & work

William D. "Willey" Cruikshank discovered 1887 Verified
James M. Krenkel co-owned/worked 1887 Strongly supported
buclimo-corporation owned (renamed Buclimo) 1887 Strongly supported

Organization(s): Buclimo Corporation (Burman, Ulrich, Clinton, Linderman, Isenman, Morey, Olsen)

Production

~$62,000 in gold ore reported shipped (family narrative); 'a fortune' before flooding stopped work Family tradition

People

Location

Mine location · Approximate
35.8830, -121.3900

The circle shows the position’s uncertainty — this is an approximate placeholder, not a surveyed point. Toggle the 1921 USGS map to compare.

Historic map

USGS Los Burros district map, 1921

Opacity

USGS, 1921 (public domain) — via Wikimedia Commons; original from the Los Burros Mining & Historical Society.

Alignment: approximate — single-anchor placement, not yet georeferenced. Use the slider to judge the fit.

Private-property risk — do not enter. Abandoned shaft covered by a corrugated steel shed per family account; DO NOT approach or enter. Hidden shaft hazard.

⚠ Deep shaft. Do not enter abandoned workings.

Research notes

Reconcile the internal 'Buchanan Copper Mines' places row (35.91,-121.43) — likely a mis-seeded label, not a real copper mine.
Confirm the $62,000 figure and the March 24 1887 date against primary records / USGS 735-J.

Sources