Eberhardt was known for it's exceptionally fine silver mines, some of which Paher reports could be "hammered into sheets without milling." After the area boom, British interests came in in 1871 and began operations. There were some ups and downs, and finally in 1885 the British left. 200 people lived here at one time .
As with most newspaper articles of the day, this one describes the Eberhardt mine in calm, measured tones. Not.
THE EBERHARDT MINE at White Pine is thus described by a correspondent of the San Francisco Alta:
So rich is this mine that its name has become almost synonymous with that of the cave entered by Aladdin. The location was made in December, 1867, and covers eight hundred feet, north and south. The present owners Captain Frank Drake, E. R. Sproule, Lavern Barris, J. W. Crawford and Edward Applegate. At a depth of twenty or thirty feet from the surface drifts have been run in several directions through solid masses of chlorides, bromides, sulphides and ruby and horn silver for 20 to 30 feet, and the end is not yet reached. The entrance of the tunnel has been closed, and admission to the mine can now only be gained by descending the vertical shaft in that company's building. Mr. Crawford, to whom we have letters of introduction, took us from the office in Treasure Hill to the mine in his carriage, in company with M. Upton, of the First National Bank of Nevada; Joseph Gordon, of the banking house of John A. Paxton ; A. F. White, the geologist, and others, who volunteered to show us the wonders of the place. Descending the shaft on a rope, we found ourselves among men engaged in breaking down silver by the ton. The light of our candles disclosed great black sparkling masses of silver on every side. The walls were silver, the roof over our heads silver, the very dust which filled our lungs and covered our boots and clothing with a gray coating was fine silver. We are told that in this chamber a million dollars worth of silver lies exposed to the eve, and our observation confirms the statement. How much may be back of it, Heaven only knows. Astounded, bewildered and confounded, we picked up a handful of the precious metal and returned to the light of day. But for the bars of solid silver since shown us, we should be inclined to doubt the evidence of our senses, and look upon the whole scene in the chambers of the Eberhardt mine as the work of a disordered fancy, the baseless fabric of a vision. We had seen enough of the mines on this wonderful lode or line of deposits, and did not care to go lower down the hill to examine the Silver Glance and other less noted mines.
-Carson Daily Appeal, November 29, 1868
"Eberhardt" almost became an adjective it was so famous locally.
The famous Eberhardt mine, White Pine District, was discovered and located on the 3d of January, 1868, by F. E. Eberhardt, whose share of its untold wealth consists mainly, if not wholly, in its bearing his name.
-Gold Hill Daily News, December 4, 1868
Things were busy here and elsewhere in the District.
THE EBERHARDT MINE
The Inland Empire of January 9th gives us the following statement of the progress of affairs at the Eberhardt mine:
This company put on 17 new men on Friday, this swelling the active force to 37. There is to be a still further increase, until the old standard is reached. Both of the mills of the company are running up to their full capacity and will be kept in motion during the winter. All in all, matters wear a livelier appearance about the celebrated Eberhardt now than they have for some months past.
-Carson Daily Appeal, January 12, 1870
It got the attention of capitalists from England, who decided they wanted to buy it.
CONSUMATED
The sale of the Eberhardt and other mines, we are assured by private and good authority, has been fully consummated. The English company who have bought the properties will doubtless take possession in a few days, when we may look for an active and extensive working of these first class mines.
-White Pine News, June 8, 1870
Pay those taxes, people!
DELINQUENT TAX LIST
WARDWELL, house and lot East of Main street and stable in South end of Eberhardt, tax and percentage, $26.40
WILLIAMS & STRAUSS, 25 feet and house West side of Main St, next to post office, in Eberhardt, tax and percentage, 20.62 1/2
-White Pine News, January 11, 1873
We're so civilized we even have a church.
RELIGIOUS SERVICE
There will be service at St. Luke's Parish at 11 A. M. and the Easter Anniversary of the Sabbath School, at Trinity Chapel, Eberhardt, at 3 1/4 P.M. - John Cornell, Rector.
-White Pine News, April 12, 1873
Well, this can't be good.
BURNING OF THE EBERHARDT MILL
The White Pine News of Saturday gives the following details of the important item already given in our telegraphic dispatches of Saturday : Quite an excitement was created in town this morning upon receipt of the news that the International mill, at Eberhardt, was burned down. We learned the following particulars in regard to the tire : The whistle of the mill was blown, as usual, five minutes of six o'clock this morning, when it was discovered that the mill was on tire in the southeast end. The fire spread rapidly. The mill was laid in ashes a short time. The retort-house and carpenter shop were also destroyed. The fire communicated to the tramway, but was at once put out, and no serious damage was done. The mill was a 60-stamp mill, owned by the Eberhardt & Aurora Co. (limited), and was built two years ago, at a cost of $250,000. It was as fine and complete a mill as there were in the State. The tire is supposed to have originated from the dry kiln. Loss about $250,000. We were unable to ascertain whether there was an insurance on the mill or not.
-Gold Hill Daily News, September 8, 1872
We will rebuild!
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
INTERNATIONAL MILL. During the week, while at Eberhardt, we looked in on James Montgomery, the engineer in charge of construction, and found matters about the mill in a forward state of preparation. The half-burnt and badly twisted machinery has been collected, and men are busily at work scraping off iron rust, stacking up bolts, nuts, screws, etc., ready for use in the various places they may be needed. We found Montgomery at work, as usual, directing, supervising, and, at the time of our visit, busily engaged " rigging" an ingenious machine to be used in straightening the heavy shafting, saved from the old mill, ready for service in the new. From him and Pearly Rowell, we gather that the mill building proper is to be 154 feet long, with machine shop and outbuildings additional. There are to be 30 stamps, with 16 pans, eight settlers and four agitators, making a crushing capacity of 40 tons of ore per day. Much of the heavy timber, not destroyed by the fire, will be used in construction, and but little new machinery, if any, will be required ; in fact, from the appearance of things, the energetic engineering seems to be making arrangements to manufacture all missing portions on the spot. We congratulate Captain Drake on his selection of Mr. Montgomery to conduct the work of construction, feeling assured that he will have as good a job performed, at less expense, by him than any one else in the country. We shall watch the building of the International with much anxiety, and hail it as a bright day for this section on which it commences work in earnest.
-White Pine News, July 26, 1873
Eberhardt is pretty much a wide spot in the road now, although there are some extensive mill ruins. I tried to locate the graveyard but was unsuccessful. Eberhardt is located in the Cathedral Canyon, which get's pretty spectacular as you approach Green Springs to the west.