Many a challenges posed by nature to man trying his destiny could not retard the courage of men like Roger. There was a feeling among technical giants on the field that, the ore deposits were all exhausted in the Maarikuppam pit, Taylor’s, Blair’s and Fitzmaurice shafts of Mysore mine. John Taylor Esq. sadly returned England after visiting K.G.F with a sense of uncertainty; he tried to appraise his share-holders of the facts on the field. All the share holders of the company at London thought, their venture was a failure and planned for winding up of their operations. At an important meeting held at London on 5th October 1883, many of the share holders debated on paying away of the balance of £13000 left with the Mysore Gold Mining Co. At a time when the morale of the companies on the field started dwindling and many of them going on liquidation, a strenuous Capt. B.D. Plummer who was a close friend, a trusted lieutenant and a great encouragement to John Taylor turned his angry face on his friend. “Did you enjoy sight seeing of Mysore my dear friend?”—Plummer shouted at Taylor to go back to the field and try further the luck. The boss hit back instantly; his reply came swiftly: “Why don’t you go and try my luck!” The able backing of Capt. Plummer and Mr. Bell Davies made John Taylor change his mind. He encouraged the share holders not to lose heart, but to make further trials which counsel prevailed. Plummer himself sailed to India and took charge of operations of Mysore mine in 1884; this was a defining moment in the history of modern India.
Mysore Mine—The Mother of Gold-mines in India
Capt. Plummer landed on Mysore mine field in February 1884 and commenced sinking a shaft a few feet in between Taylor’s shaft and Maarikuppam pit (just 120 ft east of the later day Mysore mine mill complex) This shaft was sunk on an extensive old working which was more than 2000 years old. Plummer disregarded the advice of others and drove a tunnel in a direction which he thought would yield result. At a depth of 173 feet, he struck a reef below the old workings. To the good luck of India and Great Britain, a large quartz remained unmined which was worth 4 ounces of gold a tonne (124 gms per tonne. 1 Ounce =31.104 Gms)
A jubilant Plummer attempted to go below this old working. The result was the discovery of a large reef of increasing richness. The Champion Quartz lode system—the main Gold-vein in K.G.F was re-discovered, thus opening up the modern gate-ways to the entire Goldmines in India! (The ancients had already discovered this reef and explored it to their fullest capacity). The Cable-gram at John Taylor’s Head quarter, Queens Street Place, London vibrated informing its master of the happy news! The magnanimous John Taylor richly complimented his friend; he named the new sinking ‘The Plummer shaft’.
Birth of the Golden Era
“The industry subsequently ran through the phases that seem incidental to the establishment of mining in any new field. It had a period of insane speculation and absurd mania, followed by inevitable crash of ruin and disappointment”
—G.H.P.Plummer s/o Capt.B.D.Plummer —in Hexham Courant—1928
KGF ARCHIVES 