The Mineral County area started being developed following the building of the Mullan Trail in 1859. Extremely dense forests made traveling through the area undesirable previously.
Sketchy records fail to indicate whether either claim was worked.
As winter was setting in, the men opted to keep their discovery quiet until spring. Unfortunately, they sent Adolph Lozeau, a trapper in the area, into Frenchtown for supplies. Lozeau, with the help of liquor, failed to keep the secret, and the news got out. By daylight the next morning at least 100 prospectors were scrambling along the creek. It was decided, in order to keep peace, to survey and record 200 foot claims and assign them to the men, who were mostly businessmen from Hell Gate and Frenchtown, rather than drifting prospectors.