The Montana post., 1868-02-22
The sweetwater Mines.

We clip the following from the cor
respondence of the Chicago Times, in re-
gard to the new Eldorado," SO much
talked of hereabouts:
" Ranger Jack" is frontier character
well known to the miners of Montana,
Idaho and Utah. :" Ranger" whose real
name is Smith, came down from the
mountains few weeks since to visit his
parents, who live IN Iowa Ranger IS
has been in the mountains since he was
q youth and perhaps there is no person
living who has taken a more active part
in exploring or prospecting our vast
mountain domain than this same Smith.
i accidentally met Smith to-day at OF
tumwa, and having been acquainted
with him for two years in Montana, have
implicit confidence in his statement con.
corning the new diggings.
An old California miner, called Doc.
Leonard, was known to haye taken out
several thousand dollars in dust, some
where In the Wind river mountains, in
1862. Leonard went to California in the
fall, and the secret of his lonesome sum-
mer's toll among the Indians would have
died with him had not some miners at
Fort Bridger, en- route for Montana, no
ticed his well filed purse, and while un-
der the influence OF chain1ightning
whisky, heard him say something about
mining in the Wind River mountains.
The miners, Smith being among the
number, went on to Montana, and moth
ing more was thought of the occurrence
until last summer, when a party, con-
sisting OF Eddy Smith, Mai Gallagher,
Tom Rein, Jack Connor, and a few Nor
mons, outfeted at Fort Bridger, and
started to find the old Californian's FL
Dorado. After searching several days
on the tributaries of the Sweetwater,
Lhey came upon mining signs on Straw
berry Creek. An old sod cabin, n dam
i, the creek, an old, broken wheelbar-
row. convinced them that they had
found where Leonard had obtained his
root of all evil. Prospecting soon com :
menced, and in a short time number of
ricl leads and placer mines were discov-
ered. A war party of Sioux appearing
sooL convinced them that they had i'm
portant business back to Fort Bridger,
sud during August the Indians held un
disputed possession. But the news soon
spread. Miners from Utah, Idaho, Ne
vada and Montana began to arrive;
large party was soon organized, and
AGAIN left Bridger for the new diggings.
On the arrival of this party, the Sioux
suddenly found that they had important
affairs TO transact in some other part of
the country. Two towns were irRmedi-
ately laid out-Forest City and Shosho-
nee a district organized laws passed
officers appointed.
The mines were found to extend over
100 sluare miles, or 10 miles in length
and nine in width. Only a small por-
tion Of the surrounding country has yet
been prospected- The quartz is the
same that is found in California. con-
aiming free gold; and if the leads de-
velop as they prospect on the furface, il
will be the richest gold mining camp |
ever discovered. There is quartz enough |
% Tun q hundred mills for the next cen |
tury. Among the richest leads, Smith |
mentions the Ceresa, (supposed to be
worth $4,000 per foot), the Miners De- |
light. Mountain Jack, King Solomon,
Badger, Mahomet, and others But few
miners remained during the winter. |
Nearly all improved q few idle moments
and came to the States. by way of the |
Union Pacific Railroad. The placer
mines. so far as yet discovered, are nei-
ther rich nor extensive. The best dls-
will not exceed $12 per day to
the man Only four paying gulches have
yet been discovered.
THE Stanton affair, in which A. j. so
stoutly persists in keeping the Secretary |
out OF once, ous which ne has Oeen uu-
able to do, brings to mind circumstance
which happened some three years ago |
At that time Secretary Stanton addressed J
a letter tn Andrew johnson, accepting
his resignation as brie~-'ier general and
military Governor of>~GEhnessee. and
him for patriotic and
able services. What grea.changes have
taken place since then, and If " a sor-
rox.,,a r-,xvr, of sorrow is remembering
happier things" how bitter must be the
"a reflections of Andrew Johnson as he
the incidents of those better days
before he repudiated his country and
himself" Some men know not what
r,atitl1de Is E0cLsn N0lrf0in NelrS.