The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-12

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In the fall Of 1890 a prospecting party, headed by n
gentleman named Pierce left walla walla with the in
tenon OF exploring that portion OF the western slope or
the Bitter Root Mountains which stretches from the Pa
louise river at the north to Salmon river at the south
Inc party nrst started up the dividing ridge the
southern tributaries of the Palouse aud the northern tr
sbtaries or Clear Water river As have before stated
when certain elevation reached in this country tho
growth Of Inber commences and on the line of march
adopted by what shall cali Captain Pierce's party''
tn srowth Of timber is 70 great thrown down
very SLOW trail had to be the passage OF pack
animals, and the usual days march less than ten
| miles. Captain Pierce after ascending pretty well TO-
wards the Of the streams turned SOUTH getting
poets ofgod, which promised fair wages many
creeks and gull hes and after crossing the north fork
the Clearwater struck ridge to crock running
south into the south fork Of Clearwater
.Oath,s stream, now known Us Orc Elmo creek,
found prospects which ryalled In richness those Of Cali
forna The pamy days OF that country The of dis
coverys about eight miles north OF the mountain meadow
lands, called 0uepe pronounced eepe) Root Grounds
which the spot where lewis and Clarke first met tho
Nez ferces Indians, after their passage OF the mighty
barrier OF the 3uer Root Mountains. Three months
the writer of this letter passed the trail by
Lewis and Clark and was eleven days in the awful soi
man being and from tn experience form idea
vi ieJoy lelt ny thus hrt pioneers OF the Columbia ba
sin when, IN iS0o they were met ut this spot by the
Nez Perces with the welcome word 'Sex-to wah''-
| friend ----------
The discoveries of the new mines returned to wain
quarters VI Orc mo- Not until the next spring did the,
report OF the mines reach the willamette valley
Frequent disappontmenIs had made the people in
crcdulous AT first the gold treated with
contempt, then hope succeeded unbeel, and by tho
middle OF April the victims OF hall dozen gold hum
bugs were rushing in mad haste to tho Nez Perces
try Here let me pause to give you idea of the,
means navigating the Columbia river at that time
From the salt TO the Cascades the navigation 10
fitted for steamers large slze Here there portage
of live miles; comes section of fory.lye,
miles to The bales then portage Of fourteen niles TO-
the mouth OF the Des Chutes river, and from thence
Snake river, one hundred and twenty miles and.
up that Str am to The mouth Of The Clearwater,
one hundred and seventy miles, total of two
hin n m no fran hos Ebutae
was in the last week April, 1861, that tho steam
whistle Of the Col. Wright a steamer named in.
drowned in the dreadful shipsreck OF the brother
Jonathan last fall first walked the echoes amid the hills
OF snake river, above the Palolse rapids. BEFORE
tGe eghi for Colvlle had been carried to the rapids
but at the time mentioned steamer had assembled
them. The steamer proceeded the river TO tho mouth
of Clearwater and from thence attempted to ascend that
stream. Al forty miles up II the project Of carrying
freight by steamer was abandoned and but one other
steamer has made similar trial This In the
Lass week Of May following, when the writer pas
senger aboard u the Okanaeon, new steamer which Is
was hoped would answer the purpose hut did not do IT.
Having given account OF The elimination OF
OF trial in the complete success Of the gold
hunters, shall proceed briefly state the time and
manner scovery, location and pecularities Of the
several gold discoveries in the Columbia basin.
TIE MINES ELK CITY on IHE HEAD WATERS s0UrE
FORK CLEARWATER.
The mines ut Elk City were discovered in May 1861,
but was as late the middle of June before any con.
siderable lumber vi had collected there Gold in
creeks, guches, als and bars found country
more than twenty miles square In July following tho
country Parties prospecting oil SOUTH towards salmon
river in August 1sdl, discovered tho Flonce mines
the creeks runnn; from the north into Salmon. The
opening Of this field of mining enterprise produced
an excisement quite unparalleled in tho history Of god
mining On q small area, not more than two mleS
90 are, found the richest placers which have
existed. Before winter closed IN many men had made
ten thousand dollars from their unassised labor. Tho
spring 1862 opened with q wild rush these mines
town had sprung into existence Mt the mouth Of Clear
water, N Jun, 1851, which was called Lewiston, in
honor Clarke darin ny companion Major Lewis Under
the Stimulus Of great mining excitement, this town
grew apacc and the most dazzling anlicpaons were in
dulscd In BY The property. But let me
turn To discoveries In another quarter
me Mines at AUBUaS AND RIVER.
have spoken OF the great and range Of tho
Blue Mountains which divides the upper trbuaries OF
snak, from those of the Columbia river. en- the sour
OF these, emptying into SNAKE just above the gorge
which It's waters have poGghed through Blue Noun
tain barrier the side of the receiving channel
Powder river On the south branch Of this GOLD
was discovered in paying quantities, and town Of three
hundred no ses sprung up there IN months after dis
About the time rich mnas were found on the
waters OF John Day river, sream which flows out Of
Columbia about half way from The Dalles tho mouth
o Snake river These mines have proven among the
excitement has been able materially dcpeto popu
laon Of that section.
discovery wAKRis's pcoScs
In August, 1862, prospecting party, led by james
Warren found the dsgngs which &, by his name The,
are across Salmon river, forty miles southeast
Florence, and have proven moro lasting and nearly
rich as those at the last named place
DISCOVERY of LIE nAsy ADJACENT msrncTe
Grimes, ieit Aub and started a southcastcry direc
ton up snake river, to explore the country draine'
the mouth Of that stream a creek come
In from the north, called Grimes creek
Following up this some thirty miles they TO wber
the tributaries OF tho creek reach out into the hills k
the ribs OF unfoded fan. The country here Is broke
into low rases Win sIaaaa! .lopes partially :mbere
considerable eie alton In this depression, less tina
uileee miles square, are The mines Of Boise Basin, th
most extensive o, any TN paccrs) which have yet bee
discovered. Grimes party consisted OF dozen mcr
and on tie llth of August, 1852 was attacked by II
dams, and Grimes was killed. Hastily throwing h
dead Body in prospect hole, his companions starte
back to Auburn one hundred and sixty miles dissan
Snake lad be crossed, and a country swarnir
with savages was traversed The Insignificant numbe
Of the party proved It's projection They slipped throue
news Of their discovery few like lightning along "a
coast and six months later nflecn thousand men
mining In that district with surpass d.
In the spring Of 1868 the population Of the BOISE Das
ovcrowed, aud strong parties ascendcd the waters Of
Bose river the paycth, which beside the
NE Owyhu and all along the tributaries u sna
river The South Boise nsiucs found early In u
spring the owyhu placer MINIS were found in juno,
The fall Of the year crowned by the discovery OF
quartz lodcs Of tho War Eagle Mountain that district
An occurrence which brough to light mines Of sivs
rifle J
since then many immensely rich lodes have be
ound In other districts, which only require dew.
,pncnt rival the riches OF 0syhu now Just bespni
70 be appreciated at the East
1rsfSo DELIVERIES ON riE NORTH AND EAST ssos
COLUMBIA
Aseary as the spring II 1862 gold Was found on the be
waters OF the heHgue nver 1.-THE northern branch NJ
Bitter Root rIver but the ggings limited cxte
md never had population of than two hundr,I
These digginss are located ON tributary OF Helga 4
allied Gold creek, about forty miles Of the sumr "A
" the Rocky Mountains, and ten males below the foot
beer Lodge Valley. They still worked by . dos
mem
The dscovcry Of gold ut the head waters of tho N
our nv In ls62-63 brought a large population
hat section OF country, and eventually led 10 tho
overy OF the mines Of Silver Bow city, at the extrc
'cad waters OF the Hllgate river, the upper end
beer Lodge Valley
Al the foot of Deer Lodge Valley, ten miles Cd
'old creek, on the north suc OF Hegate, comes IN
sitte Blackioot river. On the northern creeks q "
ulches putting into this stream immensely rich . M
rety extensive placer mines discovered In y
uary 1865. They already have population &C Nd W.
We Thousand men. These mines In Montana Te 49,
Try; but being inside OF the COLUMBIA basin they X
1hin the scope of this attsr Close IVY them, NJ
ast side OF lie Rocky Mountains. are equally
nd extensive nes. but they outside OF the CT ~
assn, and consequently u Is not german 10 the sub
Ddcr cOnsi icrltlon. I'm