© January 2000 by Donna Frederick
Duck Creek was the scene of an early tragedy described in more detail under Pony Express/Eight-Mile Station. Indians killed the station keeper and a stage driver at Eight-Mile Station and authorities determined it would be best to eliminate the Indians. On May 4, 1863, Colonel S. P. Smith of Fort Ruby led Company K Cavalry into Duck Creek and killed 24 of a group of 26 Goshute Indians. The soldiers, not content with this slaughter, camped at a spot where Duck Valley opens into Steptoe, close to the place now known as Gallagher’s Gap. They waited there for the returning warriors. Pickets posted spotted the Indians approaching in the early afternoon. The soldiers waited until the Indians drew near then attacked, killing five more.
Duck Creek, the location of a sizeable ranch, was formed in the late 1860s. It is located east of McGill and was a designated post office, opening June 10, 1872. By that time, there were ten or more ranches in the little valley. On August 16, 1873 the postmaster’s daughter drowned while playing in Duck Creek. He left the following year, and the post office closed on March 17, 1874.
The Duck Creek Mining District occupies all of the Duck Creek range from Gallagher Gap to Mosier Canyon and, at the south end, a small area on the west slope of the Schell Creek Range near the head of Duck Creek. In 1869, the northern part of the district was called the Enterprise District and the southern part was called the McDougal District. The southeastern part was later known as the Success District. A small area on the west slope of the Duck Creek Range opposite where the Ely airport is now located, is also known as the Peacock District.
Most of the mines in the district were within three miles of McGill on the Nevada Northern Rail Road, but the Success Mine was 18 miles by road from the railroad.
The Success Mine is Located in the southeastern part of the Duck Creek Mining District on the divide at the south end of Duck Valley, and quite a distance from Duck Creek. The section where the Success mine is located is sometimes referred to as the Success Mining District. The first production records for the Success mine are in 1904 and 1905. D. C. McDonald discovered the ore body that was developed by a 325-foot incline that dips (dip is mining terminology for the angle of inclination that the vein makes with a horizontal plane) east, with levels at 110, 200 feet, and some sub-level work
The site of the Success Mine was visited August 15, 1999. Furnace firebrick and foundation for the hoisting works are all that remain near the mine incline shaft. Beer bottles and pop cans have been thrown into the incline shaft making a mockery of the hopes and dreams of hard working miners. The only time this type of desecration would be acceptable would be if the hand were still attached to the bottle it threw!
Rock foundations and the weathered wood of a prospector’s home stand overlooking a modern camping spot. At the time of our visit, a camper, complete with satellite dish, lawn chairs and propane bottle, made quite a contrast to the ruins above. Below the mine, stands a solid concrete building with a steel door, oblivious to the graffiti on the interior walls. Above this concrete building are more foundations and the remains of large timbers. Above this is another waste dump with the mineshaft caved in. The large stacks of wood piled for use in the furnace (that Al remembers from his childhood) have disappeared. Sturdy log walls and rotted tin roofing remain of another old cabin. Near this is a platform wedged into the trees, presumably to keep meat cool and away from varmints.
The Duck Creek District was important during the days the smelter and concentrating plant were working in McGill. High-calcium limestone was mined from a quarry half a mile south of McGill. Some of the stone was used as flux, (in mining, flux is a chemical or mineral added to ore to enable reduction by heat) and some was burned for use as furnace mortar and reagent at the smelter and concentrating plant. After 1953, fire clay was produced from two pits in Mosier Canyon for use as furnace mortar.
Ranching is still important in the Duck Creek area. There are many beautiful homes located in the Duck Creek area. Many are small working ranches, some are retirees, others are persons working in the Ely area while enjoying the beauty and solitude of the Duck Creek area after a day's work.
