The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-11-10

covery of gold in California in 1847, an
event that has affected the destinles of all
the nations Of the earth. But for this our
western Territory might to-day afford an
unmolested haunt for the buffalo and the
Indian, and the Spanish padre be now re-
posing in luxuriant Incidence under dreamy
skies in the valleys of the Pacific.
Nearly half century had elapsed since
Lewis and Clarke, in exploring the Province
of Louisiana, first saw the mountains and
valleys of the now Montana, and through
out those years no part of it had been
claimed by civilized man for permanent
abode, The occasional voyage of the trap
per, the Jesuit and the adventurer alone
had disturbed its primitive wilderness
Little known, valued or cared for, it had
been carved and sliced, divided and redivid-
ed as suited the whims of ambitious State
makers. Then arose the fortuitous circum-
stances which led to the discovery of gold
and the consequent influx of population
and distinct Territorial organization. AS
early as 1852 Benetsee, French half-breed
who had lived in California, found small
quantities of gold on Gold Creek in West
ern Montana, then in Oregon Territory.
Six years later the Stuart Brothers verified
the existence of gold at the same place, and
in 1861 began mining operations there.
About this time the discovery Of gold in
paying quantities on Salmon River and its
tributaries in Idaho attracted an immigra-
tion thither from Colorado and other Terri
tories. Some of these found their way
into the Gold Creek country in the summer
of 1862, and others going up the Missouri
River en- route for the Salmon River and
Florence diggings stopped there to pros
pect in the adjacent gulches. During this
summer a small party discovered some
mines on Big Hole River of limited extent.
A party of Coloradians, among them DR..
Leavitt, of Bannack, had attempted the
route to the Florence mines by way of
Lemhi valley and were forced to abandon it
by reason of precipitous mountains, andwere
by favorable reports led to the Deer Lodge
valley as desirable wintering place. This
point they reached in July, '62. While there
two horsemen came in from Lemhi and re-
ported the existence of favorable indica-
tions for gold on Grasshopper Creek, near
where Bannack now stands. They were
provided with supplies and urged to return
and prospect the gulch and report. This
the news met the impatient party moving
prospectors joining them they proceeded to
the discovery which had been made by
John White on the 10Th day of August,
1862, and in honor of the discoverer named
Whites Bar. Soon afterwards other bars
were found which were exceedingly rich.
The gulch itself was then opened and min
ing began in good earnest. In the autumn
n train was dispatched to Salt Lake City
for provisions, the town of BanDack was
laid out, and by the first of January, 1863,
a population of five hundred souls had
gathered there and among them some of
the widest and most reckless adventurers
whose names and misdeeds figure conspic-
uously in the early history of the Territory.
Thus began the first important min
ing operations in this Territory.
The fame of these diggings soon spread
with almost electric rapidity through the
Territories and Pacific States and occasion
ed large immigration the ensuing spring
and summer. Grasshopper Gulch and bars
have since yielded continuously and added
to the worlds wealth several millions of
gold. In May, 1868, mines of considerable
extent were discovered on Horse Prairie
Creek thirty miles southwest from Bannack.
On the 1st of February of that year VIM.
Fairweather and others left Bannack to
prospect the Big Horn mountains. They
were driven back by the Crow Indians on
GQ6 OdlldIlu Ilttis AOlHCNttiu
the party camped at noon on Alder Creek
eighty miles east from Bannaek, and while
the midday meal as preparing Fairweath-
er washed few pansful of gravel near the
camp and to his great surprise obtained 80
cents in the first and as much as two dol
lars in subsequent pans. One of the
party was sent to Bannack to carry the
news to friends and return with supplies.
Such intelligence could with difficulty be
confined to few, and became generally
circulated. A great many rushed to the
scene of the discovery and on the 9th day
of June Fairweather district was organized
and mining began in this famous gulch,
which, it is estimated, has yielded since its
discovery sixty millions of gold, and half of
this amount in the first three years of its
working. It was industriously worked for
a distance of fifteen miles. Virginia City
was built in this gulch. 1t was for several
years the commercial and political capital
of the Territory and in it's palmiest days of
'64 and '65 had population of ten thous-
and people, and although the seat Of gov
ernment has since been transferred to He
lena it yet commands a large trade from
Southern Montana and is an active and
prosperous city. At this place in August,
1875, near the wild spot where twelve years
before the hidden treasure was first re-
vealed by him, William Fairweather was
laid down to his rest. Like the unfortu-
nate discoverer of the Comstock lode, whose
bones also repose in Montana, this cratic
soul stranded on the shoals of dissipation,
although each in his day had turned key,
the one silver, the other golden, which un-
locked millions to others.
The next important discoveries of gold
- .3o I,xy Toby, Hnu-an in 40 fall of
1854 at Last Chance Gulch where Helena
now stands, and 1876 miles north of Virginia
and by other parties at Silver Bow and Ger
man gulches, west of the Rocky Mountains
at the head Of Deer Lodge valley. Last
Chance gulch and its tributaries sprang at
once into notoriety on account of their rich
ness. Helena grew rapidly in population
and became the chief city in commercial
importance, position which it has since
pre-eminently maintained. TO this place
the Territorial seat of government was re-
moved in 1874. A government Assay office
and many handsome public and private
buildings have been erected there. The
distance from this point to the head OF nav
igation at Benton on the Missouri River is
only 140 miles over an easy road and by
this route a great part of the merchandise
is transported to the Territory.
The winter and spring succeeding the
discoveries last named were noted for the
finding of other auriferous gnlches, notably
the following Confederate, eastwardly
from Helena and beyond the Missouri
River; Ophir gulch, west of the range and
80 miles from Helena, and likewise numer-
GUS small gulches, contiguous TO those
named, some of which were marvelousiy
rich. In the fall of 1865 a four mule team
hauled to Benton for transportation down
the river two and one-half tons of gold
worth one and one-half millions of dollars,
nearly all of which was taken out at Mon
tana Bar and vicinity near Confederate
Gulch.
The spring of 1866 opened propitiously.
Mines Of great richness had been found ex-
tending throughout region 15O miles in
length and about 100 miles in width, and
immigration came pouring in from all di-