Kern County Obituaries

William Henry (Burro) Schmidt

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 4 Feb 1954

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.