, 1855-11-09
The COlville Gold Mines.

S"-l feel it my duty to give to the cit
izans OF this Territory, brief statement OF
my trip to the Colvlle mines McSsrS
|, NarbaSS, Chappaler, and myself, arrived at
Fort Colvllle on the 2Sth of Sept, aud we
found out that all of the parties that left
Puget Sound, had returned Mr. WarbaSs
and myself having started for one object
to prospect the mines on the Pen dOricIIe
river. We left Ft. Colville on the ID Of
Oct; and on the 4th, we arrived at the
mouth of the river. Then, | met Mr. An
derson, OF Cathamet, with small com
Ipany of miners, and | returned with him
that evening. On the Sth, crossed the riv-
er in canoe-with the inteaionsof asccr-
tanning what the miners were doing, igher
up. l found that they were making from
So 90 to s. 90 per day, and some as high
as Sl2 % per day. On the evening of the
Sth, | arrived at Cowards bar-some 20
miles from the mouth-there, met Mtssrs.
Th:On and Alexander | am under the i'm
preston that the miners will find diggings
that viii pay from So 90 to S. 90 per day.
TiltoR and Alexander, who are practical
miners, informed me, that with quicksilver
they can make from s. 90 to $50 per day
At the present time, the miners are work
ing with small rockers, and they have OBJ
tained quantity Of fine gold With pro-
per quicksilver machines, the mines can
be worked to great advantage. The miners
at present are living OIL flour and coffee;
the fare being too hard for them to live on,
they will he obliged to return to their
homes. I. aad a. being out of provi-
Sons, determined to return to the Dalles
for supply. Messrs. Bolty and Forest,
OF Bellinghum Bay, have also returned.
We arrived Al Colville on the 18th, where
We met Judge Iants and Mr.. WarLaSs.
Left Colvillc on the 18th, and arrived ut
Mr.. Browns, same day ; remained there
until VIC collected II small party 10 come
through. While remaining there Mr.. b.
/ informed us that the Ceur IL Alinc Indians
had taken Gov. Stevens wagons, and two
of the men prisoners. Antonis Plant, a
halfbrced, stepped in between the two, and
told them to go to his home, and he would
protect them from all harm. The Indians
made for these two, but Antouis told them.
they must kill him first, and then one or two
of the Spokans came to his assisancc-they
made the two prisoners yoke up the cattle,
aud started them for their camp. They
met the Priest of FIT. Colville, going to
their assistance. What they did, was
not able to learn, for we left for Portland
the next day. Judge Yantis, Mr.. W ebster,
and Stevens Travelled with US as far as the
Spokan; they were going to pack grist-
mill, from the Spokan river TO COlvlle val
ley-having disposed Of it, to some persons
there, and as soon as they could deliver
the mill, they would return home.
Left the Spokao on the 18th on the goth,
met the Hudson Bay Company's train and
the gentlemen in charge showed us a letter
from Mr.. Nathan Olney, requesting the
miners to remain at Colville until they heard
from him again, for war was declared and it
would be impossible for them to get through.
This was the first intilnation we had Of the
war we were, also, informed Of the murder
of Mr.. Bolon, the Indian Agent Arrived
at Snake river same day-no Indians to be
seen and no canoes We fell to work and
soon constructed raft sufficient to land US
all on the opposite bank in three times 60
ing. Left the river at sunrise and arrived
at the Tushe river same day. Next day
we reached Fort Walla Wala. We found
the Fort had been deserted by the Hudson's
Bay Company; they had left an Indian in
charge Of the Fort, from whom we purchas-
ed some -four and q few potatoes. Here we
heard of Mai. HalleFs defeat This Indian
told us not to travel the trail, for the Yack-
amas were very bad that we had better 60
across the hills and strike the Umatilla high
er up. We left the Fort at 4 O'Clock, p.
NJ; travelled about two miles and stopped;
remained until between 0 and ii o'clock at
night re-packed our animals and started
over the hills and made dry camp. At
sunrise we left for the Umatlla but took
the wrong trail aud struck the Columbia
about two miles from where we had camped.
Here we found number of Yackama In
dams crossing their horses over to Walla
Walla. l should think there was OF least,
1000 head Of horses in sight, rs far as the
eye could extend, we could see clouds Of dust
made by large bands of horses. That night,
just before day, we took our breakfast on
the Umatila Three days after arrived at
the Dalls.
Oar party consisted Of Messrs. WarSass,
Townsend and Alexander, of this place,
Boty and Forrest of Bellingham Bay,
Barnum of Salem and O'Reagan of Cham.
poeg. Three Of the company, belonging to
Puget Sound, have gone to join Capt. Hays.
command Yours, STUART.
2. S. Sunday morning last, as we passed
by st. Helens, the saw-mill belonging to Mr.
b. NJ. Durell was on fire, and l should say
totally destroyed. There was very heavy
fog at the time and we could not see the cx-
tent of the fire.
Drowned, in the Cowlitz river, William
Tilford, Blacksmith, residing at Monticello.
lie was coming over q rapid place i'll the
river aud bis canoe took shear and he was
thrown overheard and has not becu seen
since He leaves wife.
: