William D. "Willey" Cruikshank

William D. “Willey” Cruikshank (c. 1862-1937) was a pioneer miner who discovered the famous Last Chance Mine in the Los Burros Mining District.

EARLY LIFE: Born around 1862 to William Cruikshank Sr., who had kept the first mining records in Los Burros dating from 1875. His father settled at Gorda and was among the earliest miners in the district.

DISCOVERY OF THE LAST CHANCE: In partnership with James M. “Jim” Krenkel, Willey discovered the Last Chance Mine, which became the first truly paying mine in the Los Burros district. The mine proved so valuable that it attracted significant investment interest.

BUCLIMO CORPORATION: In 1887, Cruikshank and Krenkel sold the Last Chance Mine to a group of seven investors who formed the Buclimo Corporation (named from initials: BUrman, ULrich, CLinton, LInderman, Isenman, MOrey, OLsen). The mine continued operating for decades after the sale.

MILL OPERATION: In 1886, a mill was shipped from San Francisco, unloaded at the Old Landing off Point Gorda, and hauled by sled to Los Burros for Cruikshank’s mining operations. This was one of three mills brought in that year, the others going to Sam Pugh and Clay Dodge.

OTHER MINING WORK: After selling the Last Chance, Willey continued mining. He worked the New York Mine and likely other claims in the district. He also worked at the Plaskett Ridge mines alongside Jim Trickle and John Bushnell, mining the Ocean View, Lilac, and Blackberry claims that produced close to $100,000 in gold.

PERSONAL LIFE: Willey never married, though he had two engagements. He was engaged to Alice Dutton of Soledad, but she died before they could marry. Later, he was engaged to Augusta Stringle, who jilted him to marry his cousin John D. Cruikshank instead.

DEATH: In November 1937, shortly after the Coast Highway opened, Willey went missing. His body was not found until 1943, six years after his death, still lying where he had fallen in the rugged mining country he had loved all his life.

The dream started early: as a boy on Villa Creek, Willey watched the Chinese placer miners working Salmon Creek and resolved to find a bonanza of his own — a faith the Last Chance justified. When he was gone, it was Mabel Plaskett who wrote his life for The Land: “Willey Cruikshank — Mining Was His Life.” It was, first to last.