The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-30

especially almost entirely confined TO the region
now known as Montana, shall of course, DO telling you
from this on more about Montana than OF Idaho Early
In June, 1868, received similar orders from the War
Department 20 those of the previous year. and had my
second expedto ready for the march from Fort Aber
crombe by the 18th July and experience
ney to the mountains, although materially shortened
about the same and Of oniee rra ru as Sas
was season OF relentless hostility of the Ind ans
through whose country had to pass with very small
party.
On this trip, as well on the first, remarkably
places along our route between Lake Jessie and tho
Marias river. may say in this connection that my
third expedition Minnesoa-that of last yearon
line of travel direct from Big Stone lake TO the mouth OF
Big Horn, on the Yellowstone extensive and numerous
VEINS of good coal were found in the bluffs Of the
Missouri and along the way hence tho Yellowstone
Indications OF iron and coal abundant cast
the Missouri had heard before starting on my second
expedition OF tho great success of the party had left
the eastern SLOPE and was course anxious to meet
them, and TO spend more time in the mountains which
| regions l never allowed an opportunity to pass in
meeting an old mountaineer Jesuit father or other
question him particularly as TO the climate soil minerals
| &C. In the vicinity with which they might DO most
familiar On the 9th of September 1858 the came
month ana tho same day Of the month the year be-
fore, we reached Fort Benton the Upper Missouri
| distance from Fort Abercrombie eight hundred and
twenty-five miles. At the government farm the Sun
| river some thirty miles northwest of Benton, saw
splendid crops growing or rather being harvested and
only winter but faen the grasses without shell
Ter From this we must judge that the clmate-as is
stated empnatcay by the American Fur Company men
| Is as mild as could be desired
NHr
One Of the luxuries Of life In the mountains vicinity
Is the abundant supply OF choice fish In all the streams
on either slope Speckled brook trout WEIGHING from
ounce to three pounds may be had sight for the
ply OF a large camp
| PARTY GONE TO RICHER pIoclHos
After nine days march from Benton we came to halt
olntains and opposite the Prckley Pear valley where
had let my party the fall before Twisted the place but
south along the eastern sope rs thew had discovered
richer digg ngs" and had moved up late In tho fall
after ns e them Those who had remained however
and to-day Pr cky Pear is of the most
extensive and best paying mining districts in the terri
tory In continuing journey in search Of tho main
party was obliged with my train to cross the main
range to the west side and dropping down toward tho
famous Deer Lodge valley, found fine prospects
OF gold "A number Of lively streams in the banks
and bars OF the Little Backfoot" where halted
| day and all hands tried our skill we found that
could get from to five the pan of gravel and
earth washed And today am told there in that
valley some forty miles Of very rich mines being worked
behed moro enchanting landscape than this little
Backfoot looking out toward the Deer Lodge and the
mountains across that valley. In this caught
trout weighing from 10 four and half pounds. On
reaching the Deer Lodge found there had sprung up
were number of stores we'll stocked shops meat mar
kcts hotels, &c. Johnny Grant, the old ranchero Of
the valley with his counties herds of cattle and horses
his squaw wi and pappooses still ourished Here as
in all the principal valleys Montana on either slope of
Inc mountains stock winters without shelter cut hay,
ana are seal fat the year round The beeves that
in great numbers in this valley and of which supplied
our larder, were many of them, so fat to appear
actually deiormed more like Berkshire pigs atted for
the fair THIS man Grant has already realized
immense fortune from sales of his cattle beef
his horses for the saddle since his solitude broken in
upon by the ind fatigabe and vcnturesone miner
fhose whom had seen mining along this valley in 80
had ali stampeded to the rich discoveries at Beaver
Head, whittier was steering with nv little party
After thirty miles travel up the valley recrossed
through what is called the Big Hole in the Mountains
N ont intn TIM ahnA
basin Of the Rocky Mountain ran7e where those bravo
old pioneers Lewis and Carktypcs of class now fast
becoming extinct sat down and rested few days after
their long and wearsome marches up the Missouri and
It's sources in 1905 The Beaver Head river the north
fork OF tn three forks of the Missouri drains this i'm
mense basin in which lie the placer and quartz mines Of
Bannack and Virginia cities Rattlcsnakc creek, Rams
Horn creek, Brandon and Boulder creeks, Silver creek
ana many other places Of minor importance There are
this gren Horseshoe Of the range scattered about
many isolated spurs and clusters Of contain
ing god silver, "copper" lead assinnabar and COAL all
or which Is stated upon the data OF actual discovery
CITY.
Bannack City Is nestled between two towering noun
tain spurs but live place when you get to IT, On
my approach fred salute from the howitzcr across
the valley, and as the echos went laundering down
along the valley into the caion, hundreds threw down
their pick and spades and il was general turn out to
welcome the old ag which always carry unfurlcd from
the head wagon Cheer after cheer went up and there
was right hearty welcome. This the first flag they
had since they had left home and mt a meeting Of
the first Union League of Montana few nights after
spread 1t on their altar amidst the widest delight and
enthusiasm OF thos, who were present at that meeting
in the mountains, and who delivered themselves OF
speeches becoming the OCCASION may mention Hon.
dney Edgerton, present Governors United States Mar
shall PAYNE and others Here l met about one-half OF
my original party, and during the days remained
IN this locality devoted myself exclusively to personal
examinations OF the various gulch and quartz mines
that had been opened and worked There then
about eight hundred people In Bannackto-day about
eight thosand and here let suggest that this town
and the Bannack the west SIDE in Idaho are distinct
and different places entire but unfortunately very
much COMPOUNDED and confused by many not posted.
The gulch mines were very busy and were taking oct
average of from eight dollars forty dollars per day 10
the hand BY the permission of a friend having an
| average claim near the city pulled on my coat and
picked tho earth in the shaft tunnel wheeled out and
washed IL under direction OF miner who did not want
to sell his claim, making just clean but hard days
work of it, and summed up the result what weighed
twenty dollars and lfty five cents. Most OF this
was in fine shot or scale pieces although one piece
weighed 80 & another 81 SO and several So cent pieces
My friend very kindly presented me with the fruits OF
my hard days work The miners generally did not hest
tate to show their bckskn sacks containing amounts
they had taken out during the season; and must say
that in very many instances while congratulated them
could scarcely help cnvying them their purses To say
that all who there there had made fortunes
had any show for the same would be insult to the
mining camps as at home in tho staes-there is certain
class Of men who have neither the faculty nor disposto
to secure competency where II requires manual labor
diligence energy % character And wish just hero to
suggest that tho who from having been born tired
otherwise ndposed TO physical cxerion as to have
always failed at home TO obtain an honest living, need
think of succeeding in territory be II rich In
minerals o' otherwise. Again. do not believe Il neces
sary for any man. except for health or other
than gain TO leave comfort plenty and well doing
! to 20 in search of better
| THE QUARTZ LoDEs AT BANSACK CITY.
The quartz discoveries in the immediate vicinity OF
Bannack City the first discoveries in that region
and at the time Twas there merely being prospeccd
while waiting the influx OF capital and machinery But
these lodes evidently very rich To the depth Of
twenty live feet in the rock the Of honeycomb
nature what Il called burnt quartz showing and
threads OF solid gold throu the pieces taken out and in
picking out half bushel OF more myself there was
| not piece of II the size Of egg which
| did show the gold in promising relief
They had constructed rude three stamp waermil with
which they working about So 900 per week from
the Dakota lode Others, prospecting their discoveries
pounding tho rock, which very easily crushed
aud which contained very little IL any of obstinate met
ais, in tubs, and then panning up the pulp. BY this
process high S65 had been worked out day by
During sojourn at Bannack several new lodcs
were discovered by acquaintance OF mine, and there
seemed prevail most substantial GOOD cheer through
out Mr. Murphy the owner Of the Dakota lode and the
discovery claim, who had been nearly three years from
his family, which in this State, II recollect rightly,
| I,acIu fnria In