George Tyng

George Tyng and his two sons, Francis and Charles, looking into Mineral Basin. CH Joy is the photographer looking through binoculars.

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A Legend In American Fork Canyon

George Tyng came to American Fork Canyon in October of 1901 to check out a report of great deposits of precious minerals to be found right on the surface. He and his two sons, Francis and Charles, started prospecting on Miller Hill the next spring. After two years, they had found no significant deposits.

As luck would change, his mine foreman, Jack Howes, made a strike with his pick into a "Mother Load." For the next two years George and his boys mined the Wyoming Tunnel, as it became known, and retrieved a fortune in gold, silver, lead and zinc.

On the fateful snowy day of January 19, 1906 an avalanche swept down the slope above George's office and carried him to his cold death. He is buried on the knoll just below his two story boarding house where he used to sit in the evenings gazing across the scenic mountainous peaks pondering his sweet heart, Elena, still living in Texas with his third son and his potential wealth.

 

George Tyng with his hat on his knee and his two sons sitting beside each other.  CH Joy the photographer is sitting in the middle behind George.  One of George's miners is visible in the background by the candle reflection light.

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George Tyng sitting on top of the rustic log cabin with sons Francis and Charles below including photographer CH Joy sitting on the roof with his legs crossed.

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George Tyng sitting on the wagon at Split Rock, American Fork Canyon, trying to convince photographer CH Joy to get his son down from climbing on the rock.

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