Blasting the hole proved to be no easy task, but eventually we achieved our goal. This first shaft was sunk in 1903, and it seemed then that the major part of our effort had been completed. Getting to the guano was one thing, and getting it out was another. When we got the shaft sunk we found we would have to build a platform underneath in order to more easily raise the guano from the floor of the cave to the shaft entrance. What appeared to be a simple job at the start proved to be rather difficult and perilous, but under the supervision of Johnny Forehand and Arthur Sinclair the platform was completed and it turned out to be a good job. Once again it seemed that the actual mining of the guano could begin, but again we had miscalculated. Attaching a pulley and a rope to the top of the shaft, we lowered an iron bucket, shoveled it full of guano, and the first load came out. At this rate it would take forever to get a pay load to Carlsbad. We had to find a faster method. [Illustration: Wayne Crowder, Sr.] [Illustration: John Queen] [Illustration: J. F. Forehand] By this time my finances were dwindling fast, and in order to continue I found I was compelled to seek outside assistance. Many people hesitate to have anything to do with a mining operation, figuring there is too much risk to merit any financial backing. But with us the mine wasn't guesswork because we could see the guano and knew there were many tons of it waiting to be brought to the surface and shipped to San Francisco. As a result, I soon made a contract with the Ramsy Brady Company of Carlsbad whereby they would assist financially in the backing of the undertaking in return for a half interest in the profits. With that important detail out of the way I was ready once more to give my full attention to extracting the guano which had so far remained in the big cave in spite of all our endeavor. Now we were ready to complete the final stage of our operation. Since the iron bucket was much too slow, we decided some quicker means must be found. We held a consultation and several ideas were suggested. The best seemed to be to build a track out of 2×4 lumber and construct a small car or wagon to run on this track. Matt Ohnemus of Carlsbad was assigned to this job, and he built us a strong and sturdy car which I was sure would serve us well for a long time. It was similar to the hand cars used on the railroad, except that we were forced to use wooden wheels, the iron variety not being obtainable. Our system was now changed. We would scoop up the guano in shovels and place it in sacks. Eight or ten sacks could be loaded onto the car and hoisted to the surface. The sacks, of course, were sewed across the top before being placed on the car. Johnny Forehand proved to be a master at sewing these sacks. He was fast and accurate, and many of the other fellows learned to speed up their sewing by watching Johnny.