Item N-2022-003: 0711 - #17, Bill Clark, Jean Dumont priming pump, Bennett Cr , 1941, Carl Falcon photo

• Graphic material

1 photograph : b&w negative and print ; 100 x 126 mm, 63 x 96 cm

Caption on back of photo: "#17. 1941 Priming the pump for the morning workout in draining hole beneath falls. Took a ½ hour - 3 " outlet. Sluice box built inside flume has a manual opening and closing device. We built it with B. C. fir in 12 foot long sections tapered to fit each other. Bill Clark"

Caption Source: Bill Clark

Photographer: Carl Falcon, print from copy negative

WDA's Comments, 2013 Jul 10: The long arduous work of emptying the pothole beneath the flume began by pumping the water down to a level where they could begin scooping gravel out from between large boulders which occupied much of the hole. Some water constantly seeped in and had to be pumped out so they could continue working. The large boulders could neither be lifted out nor blasted out (wreck the flume), so they had to wedge the boulders in place with logs before wiggling down between them to get lower. Bill Clark's small size was a decided advantage in this dangerous chore. Meanwhile freezing conditions arrived before the hole was completely cleaned out. It must have been wet, very cold, unpleasant work. The first chore each morning was to pump out the water that had accumulated overnight. The hole was completely emptied before Oct 13 when Falcon radioed out, "Completed our big job the result is nil." In his Interview Falcon states that hey did not get even one colour of gold. What a crushing disappointment.