Argonaut Mine Tragedy of 1922 – Jackson, California

Argonaut Mine Tragedy of 1922 – Jackson, California

Jeff and Sarah visit the location of the famous Argonaut Mine in Amador County, scene of a tragedy in August, 1922 where miners were trapped. They will also visit the mass graves of the victims.

#argonautmine #minedisasters #jacksoncalifornia #historyhunters

Check out our two other videos on Jackson, California!

Stage Coach Driver Mike Tovey was Ambushed Here in 1893

Gold Rush Era Buildings of Jackson, Calif.
https://youtu.be/_b7L4z5DRiE

50 Comments

  1. Robert Wolfe on August 18, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    These mines made New York city.what a shame that the only thing I don’t like about them.

  2. Bubbles on August 18, 2022 at 10:45 pm

    My hometown ; )

  3. Derek Colvin on August 18, 2022 at 10:47 pm

    Perhaps they should unblock the mine opening and let the new transient residents explore it further

  4. Tom Brown on August 18, 2022 at 10:47 pm

    Thanks for sharing your visit to the mines. Tragic story for sure. Who owns the property nowadays?

  5. riverraisin1 on August 18, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    The building @ 14:10 may have just been an electric power generation building for mining operations. Judging by the 3 huge insulators outside of the upper floor. It possibly housed a large generator. Look how much thicker the concrete is under the building as opposed to the platform next to it. It definitely had heavy equipment inside.

  6. Wanda Mata on August 18, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Thank you for making these videos of history of our State if it wasn’t for you and others that does this we wouldn’t have any knowledge of these stories. So thank you and keep giving us this valuable information.

  7. Lindsay MacPherson on August 18, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    Sad but really great bit of history there Was amazed how much is still standing and Sarah was right the homeless are people just sad they left such a mess Great video Jeff and Sarah Thankyou

  8. Desert Fox Exploring on August 18, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Another spectacular video….

  9. PatsPaperCrafts on August 18, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Thank you for sharing, I was not aware of this tragedy. We will definitely stop by in a future visit soon. Horrified with all the litter šŸ˜•

  10. Dane Martin on August 18, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Aye i caught up with the 6months i missedā€¦.Man forgot how many gems you drop on meā€¦Fukk with the knowledge you kick much Luv šŸ’ÆšŸ’ÆšŸ–¤šŸ–¤

  11. Jessie Altamirano on August 18, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    Great job!

  12. Gianna Vlogs on August 18, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    I have been binge watching your and Sarahā€™s videos and enjoying them so much. I donā€™t think I have visited the Argonaut Mine Site since the early 90s. Itā€™s a shame to see that homeless encampment scattered across such a historic area. Sadly, weā€™re seeing a lot of that in Nevada now too. Thank you so much for your thorough narration and history of this site, as well as your focus on Italian immigrants in the area. As I mentioned before, the Gold Country holds a special place in my heart. Your videos, narration, drone footage, and historical storytelling are top notch.

  13. Phil M on August 18, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    I’m thankful for Noce starting Columbus Day! he did it because we Italians were so thankful to the United States to let us in and make our lives so much better. Most of us believe in hard work and love this country so.

  14. Craig Browning on August 18, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    My parents had friends that had a private campsite outside of the town of Volcano

  15. rayworx on August 18, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    I live in Jackson and read a question below ‘I can’t believe there isn’t still gold there’….. the fact is that there’s a LOT of gold still there. Problem is that the gold that has already
    been mined has been the ‘easy to get to’ gold. The rest of the gold (estimates say there’s 80-90% still there) would be too expensive to mine so it’s not economically possible.

  16. Matt Hart on August 18, 2022 at 10:59 pm

    California politics are ruining your state.

  17. April McClain on August 18, 2022 at 10:59 pm

    Love your channel, itā€™s so interesting! We live in the valley also and Iā€™m so interested in all of your research.

  18. IDNHANTU2day on August 18, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    Ever notice how colorful homeless camps are?

  19. Rick Findley on August 18, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    I have a suggestion for a video. On May 2, 1972, 91 miners were killed in a mine fire at the Sunshine Silver Mine near Kellogg, Idaho. My dad was one of the 91. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fire. Every May 2nd a memorial service is held at the Miners Memorial Statue to commemorate the miners. If you want to find out more about this event, a book titled "The Deep Dark" by Gregg Olsen is the most comprehensive account. Thought I would offer.

  20. TerriĀ­Beth Reed on August 18, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    A lot of people don’t realise that messes like that usually come about due to police raids to get the homeless out of the areas they’re being evicted from.
    The authorities come in after they’ve been evicted & usually clean out the sites & throw out their belongings as well as trash left behind after the raids.
    Maybe if people cared more about our mental health, drug & alcohol abuse & our homeless populations across America there wouldn’t be sites looking like that.
    Like here in Merced County we have the old Castle Base apartments that could have been revitalized decades ago & used for housing & programs for the homeless instead of just letting them sit there still standing & rot away.
    I’ve been saying that since Castle was closed but no one wants to spend the money to refurbish them & make them a solution.
    They took base housing & refurbished them for an investment profit of rentals.
    Like they say it’s all about making money over humanity towards our fellow man.
    Just saying what a waste it’s been!

  21. shigella63 on August 18, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    Another great video!

  22. Melinda & Gordon Beck on August 18, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    Really miss Gold Country! The trash and homeless encampment was truly disheartening and disgustingā€¦ itā€™s so very sad what our beautiful home has becomeā€¦ Thank you Jeff & Sarah!
    Your biggest Tennessee fans!ā™„ļø

  23. Gerry Maitland on August 18, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    It’s hard to imagine the vast impact this tragedy had on the families of these men. So sad…

  24. Bay Area Bleepers on August 18, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    So this is privately owned property. Did you gain permission to explore the property before going there?

  25. Christine Fernandes on August 18, 2022 at 11:06 pm

    I wonder how many of the old miner’s were my brothers

  26. Wanda Mata on August 18, 2022 at 11:07 pm

    This is so sad to hear how these men died in the last hours of their l lives.

  27. Elaine Gottwald on August 18, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Great video very well done.

  28. Brenda Shaw on August 18, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Awesome video. Thank you

  29. Jim Berry on August 18, 2022 at 11:11 pm

    Investigate the Port Chicago tragedy. Very sad. Check out Carquinez a great little town on the Sacramento River Delta.

  30. Demtix on August 18, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    Is the mile deep down hole still there?

  31. Jeffrey Luna on August 18, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    It was a sad one this episode, but you did share the history of Jackson and the mine tragedy. Were the mines closed because WW2? Is there gold still being mined?

  32. Patricia Schindler on August 18, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    What a fantastic episode. Long time viewers. Loved your informative program. Bravo

  33. Bob Deckwa on August 18, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    When you were in Virginia City, Nv., did you look at the Yellow Jacket Mine? There was a fire on the 800′ level that killed more than 35 miners. 11 of them were never retrieved. The fire also caught other mines on fire.

  34. Maureen Gill on August 18, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    Nice tribute to the victims of the Argonaut Mine Tragedy. The graves are so unique and so old! Thereā€™s so much history to be gleaned from them. Thank you for walking through the graves for us. Iā€™m a bit wary of walking through cemeteries by myself. Thanks to you and Sarah, I donā€™t have to. Take care. šŸ™

  35. Keith Streeter on August 18, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    Thank you for doing what you do..šŸ˜ŠšŸ˜Š

  36. Brian McGinty on August 18, 2022 at 11:17 pm

    I love California history, having been born there and spent many years living there. Your insights into interesting events and places in California history are fascinating, and every well presented.

  37. Michael G Moore on August 18, 2022 at 11:20 pm

    The history never taught in schools Is what we live in. History Hunters is one of the best programs ever. Grave history programs like this one should replace all the trash that people waste on to learn nothing. Keep it up and maybe a lot of people will realize how lucky they are to be living today without such hardship.

  38. Star Gater on August 18, 2022 at 11:21 pm

    The hardship people faced were multiple family members dying in one accident. There weren’t a lot of options. Just imagine the faces that would flash in a wife or mother’s brain at the call of a fire, etc.

    As far as the homeless camps, I find most grievous is the mess they leave behind. If they are told to move, the camps signify how they are living not where. Is it going to get worse before it gets better?

    Thanks for the episide. Glad Sarah was okay.

  39. nomesaneman on August 18, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    Hi Jeff and Sarah. Thank you very much for your work. Your angles are always thoughtful, well-researched and incredibly entertaining when you juxtapose stories and personalities while visiting the historic locations. Do you have an e-mail or messaging account (e.g. fb, insta or twitter) where I can send you a couple of ideas you might be interested in? I know you are probably inundated with these kinds of things, and it can be frustrating when you get suggestions for shows you’ve already done. Ever thought about a Patreon account? Wishing you good health and happiness! – mark f (your fan who also struggles with eyebrow hair – along with ear hair, nose hair, etc.–our creator’s somewhat cruel prank on the aging …)

  40. AH Benjamin on August 18, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    Jeff and Sarah thank you so much for a well presented documentary.
    As soon as I make it down to Modesto, I am cataloging all the places I will want to visit on day trips.
    Thank you so much for doing the research for me.

  41. Revelation 13_9 on August 18, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    I have a suggestion for a future video. There is an old ghost town up north of North San Juan called Forest, not to be confused with Forest Hill. It has a very interesting history and cemetery dating to the 1840’s. It is said to have had a population of, if memory serves, 60,000 during the gold rush era.

  42. Sam O on August 18, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    Another great episode! As a born and raised Californian (now living in FL) I really appreciate the history. It makes me sad when I see what the homeless are doing to the state. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers.

  43. Bradford Barrett on August 18, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    Another sad tale of such a dangerous job. Well done vlog covering that tragedy.

  44. FetchTheSled on August 18, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    Reminded me of the Belmont mine fire in 1911, Tonopah NV.

  45. Norm Sweet on August 18, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    Iā€™m familiar with the ā€œgold rushā€ story, but not with shaft mining for gold. I Learned something new this go round with you folks. Thank you

  46. Homero Garcoa on August 18, 2022 at 11:31 pm

    She is right they are people, but they donā€™t need to leave a mess. They are not respecting the earth.

  47. Jeb Stuart on August 18, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    How about doing a video on the Los Feliz murder house?

  48. Rusty Russ on August 18, 2022 at 11:34 pm

    I feel sorry for those people I have childhood friend lives in CALI he says homelessness is bad yā€™all be careful Jeff

  49. aliveat55 on August 18, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    What a horrible way for these men to go. I can’t imagine how their women and children felt and then how hard it was for them to have survived without them. Very sad indeed!

  50. John Williams on August 18, 2022 at 11:40 pm

    I enjoy this channel for itā€™s look at California history. A few days after watching this episode I am still bothered by the comment when coming upon the remains of a homeless encampment. The real disrespect was those campers toward the land. They donā€™t own or have a right to destroy. The hard working men and women of 1920s Jackson, those poor mining families of that era would not understand people who squat on someone elseā€™s land and leave such a mess.

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