Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-02-08

"AA SAliSA la tAC lIAOot VI AlSu3
open-timbered mountains. This was our
rendezvous.
On our arrival, we found that we numbered
a party of fifty resolute men, whose noun
tain experience had begun in the Sierra
Nevadas of California, had extended through
the Cascades of Oregon, to culnlinate in the
wilderness Of Idaho and Montana We were
surprised to find so many men where we ex-
pected to meet SO few; but, being mutual
acquaintance, we did not stop to compare
notes, but went on to the Caur d'Alene Mis-
sion, twenty miles distant, whence we
were to enter the unexplored region lying
between that place and Clark's Fork of the
Columbia.
We camped opposite the Mission, on the
base of the hills which encloses this valley
one of the most beautiful of all this country !;
and, as it is always best to have a town as
the base of supply, we laid over day and
made one. The lots were staked in regular
streets, and recorded as the law required
We drew map of it and posted it on large
pine tree, which threw its leafy branches
over the suburbs, and to-day that tree stands
there, wondering why the inhabitants of that
town never returned to disturb its solitude and
rear their palatial mansions - '''.'' ~ II
Next day we prepared for business, and
made the ascent of steep spur, up whose
side we climbed with our horses long line
of men and, packs looking like serpent
winding to and fro among the trees, finally
disappearing in the evergreen forest. On the
top of this spur we struck blind trail lead
ing along the ridge, which we followed, yell
ing and shouting to guide one another in its
windings, aud toward the close of the day
we descended to wide ravine called Trout
creek, where we tethered our horses and or
ganized for action.
AS it is usual to have toll road to all newly
discovered diggings, we voted our trail be-
hind us toll road, and ahead it was to be
built and not travelled except by those whose
means would permit them to enjoy that lux
ury. AS the labor would be severe, and idlers
were useless in cutting our further progress
through the timber-covered mountains, we
divided our party into two divisions. One of
twenty-five men were to 60 ahead. Of these,
half had axes, and the others led each pack
animal; so that our progress would be only
limited by the amount of labor we could
perform, and when one man became wearied
fresh hand was ready to take his place. L.
The remainder of our original party
camped on Trout creek, hunted and fished,
fn 0I1r toll
and made themselves otherwise useful.
When the advanced party reached the basin,
we were to make the mining laws to govern
the camp, stake out the requisite number of
claims for ourselves and friends, take up all
the water we could find and convert it to run
in bitches to work the mines, and generally
corral all other privileges that we might
find lying around loose. After doing which,
we were to send an express to the rest, and
they and such others as were there congre-
gated were then to come in, share our pros
petity, and, in fine, return envied by all be-
holders, laden with wealth to sit down and
enjoy, our triumph in contentment in the
peaceful valley Of the Walla Walla. 10. i "a
These were the dreams that filed our
thoughts as we, in the bright morning, with
our axes, started up mountain whose height
made the rest seem as hills in comparison.
What poor prospector has not had similar
visions as he toiled over all the inaccessible
places, which have been searched for gold?
This 1t is that nerves their arms, sustains their
hearts, and gives renewed energy when they
are nearly exhausted by fatigue and hard
ships. This sustains them as they go, some
times for months, into wilds where no man
or Indian has ever gone before them, and has
led to the peopling of vast country hereto
fore regarded as an inhospitable desert
This day we climbed, and chopped, and
toiled, and thirsted, until noon, when we
reached the summit of spur, where we
found still unmelted SHOWS, and lunched up
in the thin air, melting out water in gold-pans
for our animals and our party, and rested
ourselves while viewing the peaks which
narrowed our horizon and occupied the field
in all directions.
Passing along this ridge we saw. only a
few miles off, directly on our line of march,
q huge peak streaked with snow and destitute
of timber, which showed that our basin was
still beyond, and that we were but entering
the Threshold of our difficulties.
We cut our way down, down, to the depth
of q gorge, where we found forage for the
horses, and the next morning we climbed up,
up, again to the eternal SHOWS. There,
in the closing days of June, was q scene of
hes,,t,f,,I s.rintar Thu ..,k;. r-.or,rd rriiaAn,,