Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-02-24
For the Ellsworth American
A Trip to the North West Coast.
wALLA WALLA, WASH. TER I
Jan, 2Sth, 1870,

No doubt both yourself and the
readers of the American will be sur.
prised to hear from me at point sc
remote from Gotham, but since most
of YOU know me as one Of the drifting
sort, and may feel little curious to
learn how FcAme TO 'lrift' here, will
tell YOU. and also tell you something
Of this strange and beautiful country
THE GOLD BUBBLE.
A year ago I became acquainted
with Charles A. Robeson a returned
Californian who represented that he
had discovered in Idaho Ter. q ledges
Of gold-bearing quartz. each 4 niles
long. averaging ST. in width AMI en-.
in highth above the surface. He had
specimens Of quartz which he said he
broke from the leiges, and an assayer
in Philadelphia certified that the differ
ent specimens yielded from $3.50 to
$4,000 per ton. Robeson had writ
ten to Mr. Seward, then Sec. Of State.
Offering TO transfer to Government. for
$4,000 900 his entire interest in this
gigantic discovery, which was to yield
gold sufficient to pay OFT the National
Debt. saw Mr.. Stewards polite re-
PLY. saying that Government could
not become miner, and thanking
Roheson for hts generous offer, which
he was obliged to decline.
Several wealthy and influential gen.
tlemen Of Philadelphia and New York
had heard this much, and having full
confidence in Robeson's assurances,
formed a company of 20, paying about
81 900 for each Of the % shares, each b
To go, or send representative with
Rubeson. in the summer OF 1869, TO
locate and have recorded their several
claims. Parties in New York offered
me l-9 OF one Of the 20 shares, and TO
pay all the expenses of my trip, if !
would 20 and take possession of l
share and deed to each his proportion
a part. This just suited my advent
ous nature, anl OF course accepted
with glainess.
sr,RrI\G FOR TIE COZ ID NINE
May 10Th, We rendcsvouzci at the
sherman llo use. Chicago. Next day
len for Sioux City, Iowa, and on the
oath en- barked on board the steamer
Tacony. u go 1000 miles up the
Missouri River. \ whole volume
would be needed b give the details Of
this infant voyage. Therefore please
imagine period Of IS days. during
every one Of which we were delayed Ivy
sand bars or threatened hv '.the noble
red man" in war paint. and often both
at the same time, and with the loss OF
only two lives-one captured BY the
Indians and burned alive. the other
diving n natural death-you have us at
Cow Island, l40 miles below DIR point
ofd.stina.ion on the Missouri, namely.
Ft. Benton. The boat could get no
higher. and 50 we took land convey
ance across the country where no
white man lived. and the entire dis
tance bcset BY hostile Indians.
From Ft Benton we, took stage to
Helena, $50 miles, hostile Indians all
the way. Here ID Of our party stop
ped to buy horses and outfit for pack
ing. camping and travelling in the
mountains. while Robson and his
wifc's brother, and the remaining five
of our party. took stage across the
r ,cky Mountains to Missoula, distant
l4O miles. was one Of the fifteen.
When we arrived at Missoula, we found
the five all ready with outfits, but Rob-
eson and his brother-in-law were non
est inuentus.
THE GOLD BUBBLE CRACKS.
We offered reward Of $500 for the
arrest Of Robeson, sent out scouts to
hunt for him, and finally, dividing into
three parties, VIC agreed to meet on
Hangman's Creek, point between two
and three hundred miles West Of Mis-
soula and $50 miles east Of this city.
| All kept the lryst save two, who turf
cd back. and we met Sept. 18th.
THE GOLD BUBBLE BURSTS.
A portion Of our party had been to
Lewiston, IS miles west Of Hanglnan' 8
| Creek. and there learned that Robson
was an old swiidler in the game of
gold mines, and that ours was the
fourth party he had thus victimized.
They saw seve'a al Of his former VIC
tins. and heard Of his having three or
four wives.
What our party had paid the scamp.
allied to the expenses Of the trip,
made, in the aggregate, about $50, 600
Our career rs gold hunters had teen
brief and not very brilliant, 9" four de.
cided to return directly home. The
remaining thirteen. including myself
concluded to try prospecting on Oh,
own hook, but gave it up after one day.
trial, and bent our steps westward.
WALLA WALLA VALLEY.