The Whirlwind Mine, Wheaton Valley, Yukon Territory

Owned by Howard Cochran and Theodore Becker.

March 29, 1912:
    WHIRLWIND GROUP
    "Whirlwind," "Mountain Sheep," "Hailstorm," "Rip," "Lake," and "Mountain View."
    On this group two men, the owners, Messrs. Becker and Cochran, worked continuously since last June, and in that time they have tunnelled about 100 feet to cross-cut the vein at a depth of 160 feet. They also put up buildings, enlarged their living house, laid in a supply of wood, timbers, etc., all under the hardest kind of conditions. Although no ore has been shipped from this property, still the assays made show that, under ordinary favorable conditions, the property would become a paying one, especially should the owners strike it in depth when their present tunnel is completed. (The Weekly Star)

May 29, 1914:
    Cochran and Becker have had the following claims, located about 25 miles southwest of Robinson, surveyed: "Rip," "Mavis," "Maid Marion," "Mountain Sheep," "Ptarmigan," "Wheaton," "Whirlwind," and "Idelle." The Idelle was named after Cochran's late wife, the Mavis and Maid Marion after two of his surviving daughters.

August 14, 1914:
    Wheaton District
    Auto Party Visits Camp of Which Little is Known.
    Two weeks ago Howard Cochran, desirous of having the Whirlwind group of claims owned by himself and Theodore Becker in the Wheaton district, visited by Territorial Assayer W. C. Sime and Photographer E. J. Hamacher, the former secured the services of Cam Smith and his Ford automobile and the four made the trip which, in an interview with a representative of this paper, Mr. Sime described as follows:
    "The trip to the Wheaton district was made by automobile as far as Tally Ho gulch 18 miles from Robinson. Farther than that it was impossible to go with the machine owing to a slide of gravel which occurred two years ago, covering the road.
    "Up to this point the road was very good, and but for this one obstruction, the round trip could easily have been made in one day. From the Tally Ho to the Whirlwind Group, the journey was finished on foot. The Watson and Wheaton rivers were very high. Both are well bridged, the Wheaton bridge being about the best built bridge in the Southern end of the Territory. This part of the country is alive with game of all kinds, fresh tracks of moose and bear very evident, and ptarmigan and grouse very plentiful in the valleys. After leaving the Wheaton valley, a branch road goes up Becker creek which is a swift running stream, throwing a volume of water which could generate sufficient power for any practical purpose. After staying over night in the Whirlwind cabin, the next morning was spent in visiting the Whirlwind Group, which consists of eight claims, situated on the south west slope of Mount Anderson.
    "On the Rip claim a long tunnel driven on the croppings of the south vein cuts two shoots of ore of good dimensions. In a tunnel directly below this, and on the same vein, the ore shows up in good workable quantities, and is apparently the same shoot as the ore at the portal of the tunnel above. Although this pay shoot is not as wide, it is much longer and better mineralized, which would tend to show an improvement with depth.
    "A tunnel driven on the north vein, which I should judge to be something over 100 feet in length, exposes ore all the way. It is evidently the same character of ore as the other vein. Although not as much work has been done on this vein as the other, still I consider its possibilities to be just as good. On the Wheaton claim, about 2000 feet easterly from those tunnels, the south ledge is exposed by a cross-cut, and is eight or nine feet wide at this place. A peculiar feature about this part is the ore being split longitudinally by a basalt dike about two feet thick.
    "On the Mountain Sheep claim, about 1000 feet east of the Wheaton working, quite a quantity of almost solid Galena has been found. While it is apparently float, this Galena has very likely come from the ledge in that end of the property, and would tend to show that with diligent prospecting the ledge would eventually be uncovered with profitable results. Evidently this good ore must have come from one of the two ledges, and when taken into consideration that this is at least 3000 feet from the tunnels, it will give one a good idea of the extent of the ore bearing zone. The ore wherever exposed on this group of claims is of the same character, being quartz, strongly impregnated with Galena, and carrying good values in gold and silver, and according to tests made in the assay office, is an ideal concentating ore.
    "The natural advantages for this group are very evident. A south exposure lengthens the season by a month or six weeks; the perpendicular nature of the ledge and abundance of timber, the friability of the ore and abundance of the water power, the easy handling of the ore by gravity, all these will make cheap mining and milling possible. From these observations I would consider this a very promising property, and I have no doubt that it will become a good producer in the near future." (The Weekly Star)

June 18, 1915:
    Howard Cochran came down from the Wheaton the latter part of last week and has taken the job as blacksmith at the Grafter mine. (The Weekly Star)

August 6, 1915:
    Howard Cochran returned Tuesday from his home in the Wheaton. He was accompanied back by his daughters, Misses Marion and Mavis who will stop with him at the Anaconda mine where he has a contract for 100 feet of shafting and tunneling. (The Weekly Star)

August 20, 1915:
    Antimony Claims
    Vancouver Capitalists Reported to Have Made Deal
    It is reported that a deal for the antimony claims in the Wheaton district owned by Duncan Berback, Howard Cochran and Theo. Becker has been put through by which the property passes into the hands of a Vancouver syndicate which was represented by Mr. Whitfield of the latter place, formerly an oldtime Yukoner, who has been at Carcross for the past several weeks.
    According to all reports the property in question is rich in antimony and at the present time the demand for that metal is greater than for many years, owing to the necessity for it in the manufacture of war munitions, principally steel and bullets.
    The new owners of the property, it is said, will go to work at once mining antimony which will be hauled to the railroad at Robinson station in motor trucks which have already been ordered and are now probably on the steamer enroute from Victoria, It is the intention of the new owners to put from fifteen to twenty miners at work as it is desired to get as much of the metal possible on the market before winter sets in.
    The price paid for the property is said to be $20,000. There are other antimony holdings in the same district and further sales will likely be reported. (The Weekly Star)

February 4, 1916:
    To Ship Antimony
    James Powell Starts Something In the Wheaton
    A letter to the editor of the Star from Robinson Station, twenty two miles south of Whitehorse, tells of considerable activity there in mining circles. James Powell, formerly of San Diego, Cal., has bonded for $20,000 six antimony claims from Cochran & Becker and two antimony claims from Becker & Patterson, the consideration in the latter deal being $16,000. These two claims are on what is known as Chieftain Hill. From Adam Birnie, Powell purchased one claim outright for $5,000. This is known as the View Mineral claim.
    On the various properties above mentioned work will begin about the first of March, from 18 to 25 men being employed. The editor's informant says Powell is ready to bond any antimony claim that shows merit and located in a radius of forty miles of Robinson Station.
    Powell left for the outside last week but will return within six weeks prepared to start active operations at once.

June 7, 1918:
    To Install Mill
    Daily Alaskan: A consignment of machinery consisting of a small stamp mill arrived up on the Jefferson yesterday and will be shipped into the Wheaton river district for the Whirlwind Mining company, which has good looking property there.
    It is the intention of the company which is composed of prominent mining men of Carcross and Whitehorse to set up the mill and make a thorough test of the ore, and if it proves as rich and as extensive as it is believed to be, the mill will be increased in size and a larger force of men put to work.
    The property now controlled by the Whirlwind Gold Mining company is that which Howard Cochran has been working for several years, and has always showed rich values. Mr. Cochran is president of the new company, and Mathew Watson is secretary. (The Weekly Star)

April 23, 1920:
    The Whirlwind group, 18 miles southwest of Robinson, owned by Becker & Cochran, is a promising proposition on which some work is being done. (The Weekly Star)