This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/7922 Message Board Post: Famous, Old Rand Miner Passes The fast thinning ranks of the desert's old timers lost another member with the death of William Henry (Burro) Schmidt, who died January 27, in the Ridgecrest hospital. Schmidt was renowned for his superhuman feat of digging a tunnel through the solid rock of Black Mountain, a task that used up 32 years. He had a mine on the opposite side of the mountain which would have required 12 miles of road to bring the ore out. So he started digging his tunnel, a task that was to use up half a lifetime. Given the money and modern tools he could have put the tunnel through in a tenth of the time but lacking these he worked on ranches during the summer to obtain powder fuse and supplies. Once started, he never faltered, even carrying the muck out on his back until he was able to put in rails for ore cars. Memorial services were held on Sunday, Jan. 31, at the mouth of the tunnel, officiated over by Judge James B. Wasser of Johannesburg. Pallbearers were all old friends and included Mike Lee, his partner the last few years; Pete Osdick, C. H. Riffle, Morris Edsall, Walter Bickell, and R. L. Pruett. . After cremation his ashes will be placed in the little Rand District cemetery. O'Donnell Funeral Home of Ridgecrest was in charge of arrangements. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 04 Feb 1954