UNIONVILLE, Nev. - This is one of the rare photos in the Humboldt Museum that shows how something was done prior to our mechanized age.
This piece of heavy equipment was on its way to one of the mines at Unionville, the Arizona Mine. Just getting there was an amazing effort. Another photo shows that to be a 14-horse hitch. Even with that amount of actual horsepower, the weight on that wagon, the steep slope, and gravity threatened a roll-back as the horses strained forward. They cleverly prevented that disaster using three strong men and a timber.
The three men to the right of the photo are keeping the timber in place between the wagon wheel spokes. If the wagon started to roll back, they'd push it in the ground making a crude emergency brake. Not a job I'd want! I expect injuries were fairly common.
My grandmother, Mary Stakel, who took this picture, told me that horses, driver, helpers, and the equipment all made it to the top of that hill safely. They then negotiated it downhill just as carefully and made their delivery. A good day at the Arizona Mine!
- Compiled by Barbara Powell
nevadasdesertlegends.com.
[[In-content Ad]]
