Hayes shaft

 

Little is known about this early mine. By 1903, the Hayes was a small shaft 391ft. deep with four levels. It was located ½ way between the Holbrook mine and the Spray Mine. This mine was also was connected to the Copper Queen Incline on “B” level and to the Czar Mine on the 200 level. The Hayes eventually, became part of the Holbrook Mine. On February 1st 1904 Michael O’Neil was killed in the Hayes workings when a boulder fell and crushed him against the edge of a mine car. Even at the time of the accident the Hayes was considered part of the Holbrook mine. Although, the Hayes shaft was mined out by the Holbrook Extension of the Lavender pit, in the 1990’s  a section of the “B” level of the Hayes was accessible from workings of the Copper Queen Incline. The connection was between the mines was distinctive.  The drift had been driven from both mines and the Hayes drift was about four feet lower than the Copper Queen and there was as a result a four foot drop at the connection. This drift could only have been made for ventilation purposes as mine cars could not pass through the area, even though rails had reached the connection from both sides.