The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1866-05-28
9ailp Wonntaiussr.


OwYHEn NEws.-From the avalanche we
take the following:
In most all the gulches mining has been
vigorously commenced and is remuniativey
carried on, claimholders generally hiring all
the hands they can advantageousy work. In
the main creek, men have rightly got to work,
the stream having been so high as to COM
pletely wash away all dams and fill up claims.
They expect to get at it soon now, and we
may look Tor a few months of lively mining
1t will be necessary to have creek claims rep
resented by the lst of June, as on that day
the time for which they were "aid over'
expires, and every claim nurepresented will
then be subject tojrmpers. All gulch claims
have to be represented on and after the 18th
instant
Rnmor has it that Capt. Collins, with
detachment OF men, have had four days.
fight with the Malheur Indians, and come off
second best The Malheur has always been
u favorite Indian country and we have never
heard of any punishment being inflicted upon
its inhabitants. In 1860, party of one
hundred and forty-three men, from Oregon,
got driven back from there with loss of
their stock; and in l863-64 several parties of
forty aud fifty met with the same treatment,
In 1865 (about one year ago) Lieut., Hobart,
with detachment of Oregon Cavalry, pur-
sued some Indian thieves from Reynolds Greek
overlook them and had spirited fight, but
had to " fall back" &C., and before he could
get ready to 60 at them again was mustered
out It is represented as being fine locality
for Indian life; also, has indications of good
placer mining region. Soldiers or others can
always get fight there, and small squad
will mostly get whipped. 1t is asserted by
many that the Malheur is the retreat of the
Indians who plunder and murder along the
Owyhee river.
The material for the Democratic paper in
Silver arrived last Saturday and Monday
Col. T'Vault says it will be week or ten
days before it will appear, owing to much of
the type being pied in freghting.
We notice number of claims being worked
by hydraulic process. Since our last, two
have been put in operation up in Long Gulch.
Notwithstanding 1t has been reported that
only China placer diggings exist in Owyhee,
there are hundreds of white men working
them very contentedly.
The Cosmos Company are putting one more
pan into their mill. This will make six pans
to ten stamps which is proper proportion
for 0wyhee.
Several weeks ago we announced the ex-
istsnce of immense bodies Of chalk along the
foothills east of here bordering on Snake
Valley. We are informed that for many pur-
poses it is good substitute, though not the
genuine article. 1t is as good for billiard
cues as chalk. 1t is, however, said to have
been proved pure clay by chemical analysis.
1t is white as snow, with less grit than chalk,
and has been used to good advantage in white
washing.
Major Marshall came over to Owyhee few
days ago and took survey of matters and
things. Is disposed to move on the works of
the enemy. Is trying to find out the haunts
and is willing to go after male aud female
Has gone to the 0wyhee via Flint District
Expects to establish station or two in that
direction. Will do all he can to protect tho
workmen while they bridge the 0wyhee and
make the road passabe. We are informed
that with this understanding, Col. FOCUS is
bound to open the route Immediately. 1t
will shorten the road to California by fifty
miles. Have not seen the Major but are told
that he is ION it"-that is, the Indian busi-
ness,