Blackjack Mountain, Santa Catalina Island
Blackjack Mountain, Santa Catalina Island [Mount Black Jack], appears as Black Jack on an 1893 topographical map of "The Island of Santa Catalina in part from the U.S. Coast Geodetic Survey."
It is the island’s second highest point at 2006 feet, after Mount Orizaba at 2069 feet. The mountain contained the Blackjack Mine, active under William Wrigley through the 1920s and into the 1930s. Ore containing silver, zinc and lead was shipped from the mine to San Francisco where it was sent to Belgium. At the height of activity, S.S. Cabrillo transported ore to the mainland every two weeks.
In the News~
August 28, 1889 [LAH]: “C. A. Sumner, the popular manager of the Metropole, got up an expedition to the famous Black Jack Peak yesterday. Black Jack is about 2,600 feet high, and in the center of the wildest part of the island, surrounded by a wild jumble of peaks and canyons. The party consisted of Miss Chambers, the Misses Gilbert, Mrs. Dr. Kannon, Miss Agnes Wilson, Robert Vandervoort, John W. Vandervoort, Mr. McGuire, C. F. Holder, Frank Whittley, C. A. Sumner, Dick Sumner, Cecil Sumner and three guides. The Wanda took the party to Gallagher's Landing, where Mt. Whittley met them with horses and accompanied the party throughout the entire trip, adding much to their pleasure by his extreme courtesy and kindness. Mr. Whittley owns all the sheep on the islands. He has lived there for thirty-four years, and has the largest sheep corral in the world. The party rode to Black Jack, made the ascent and returned by Middle Ranch, a most delightful horseback ride of fifteen miles, and one that all who come here should take. The quail shooting was simply the finest I have ever seen...”
November 21, 1901 [LAT]: “The Queen took a picnic party to the Isthmus yesterday… Accompanying the party as far as White’s Landing were four persons, who made the ascent of Mt. Black Jack, and were picked up on the return trip.”
May 4, 1915 [TI/Avalon]: “A party of goat hunters who hiked from the Summit to Black Jack and back last Friday, are willing to make oath that the wind blew at the rate of 500 miles an hour in that vicinity.”
March 12, 1918 [TI/Avalon]: “Mt. Black Jack — 2,000 feet above the sea.”
February 17, 1926 [TI/Avalon]: “E. L. Roberts, aged 50, a miner at the Black Jack Mine, was instantly killed last Thursday afternoon [February 11] when a rock weighing some 300 pounds struck him on the head. Roberts was reinforcing one of the tunnels with heavy timbers, it is understood, and without warning the rock crashed down from the roof of the tunnel. A verdict of accidental death was announced by the Coroner. The deceased leaves a widow and three children. Although Mr. Roberts had only recently been transferred from Pebbly Beach to Black Jack, he was very much liked by the men at both of the camps. The body was taken to Los Angeles for the inquest and for interment.”
