The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-12-27
THIRTY MILLIONS OF GOLD.
The Wealth That Has Been Extracted kreu
Alder Gnlch, Montana.

The Wealth That Has Been Extracted Rren
Alder Guich, Montana.
In the spring OF 1853 party OF dve
miners from Bannock took the trail Tor
the Yellowstone and Big Horn country,
which for some time had been supposed
to be rich in gold. Shortly after cross.
ing the Madison on their way eastward
they encountered Indians, and were
driyen back across the spur west OF the
Madison into the valley of the Sinking
Water. Following down this stream to-
ward its junction with the Jefferson,
they camped over night at the mouth Of
q narrow gorge coming In from the east.
AS usual, they prospected its bed, and
to their intense qualification found ex.
ceedingly rich prospects. Stimulated
by success, they pushed explorations
next morning still further, and before
the day was over had satisfied them
selves that the new creek was richer
than any yet found in the Territory.
This was Alder Gulch, which proved the
most productive mountain gorge for its
length that has probably ever been found
in any part of the world, and whose his
tory. if it could be written, would pre-
sent, perhaps, the widest scenes OF disei,
patton and lawlessness that could be
founA ~
The Fairweather party, the dicoyerers,
immediately located and staked out the
richest ground they could find, and,
began washing, meeting with snnprece-
dented success. For time the dis
covery was kept secret, but ultimately
provisions had to be bought, and the
trip made to Bannack for these resulted
in the publication Of the news. In
stantly there was q tremendous rush to
Alder. The gulch was invaded by
thousands of the widest and most un-
tanned of the pioneers OF those days.
Prospecting disclosed the fact that it
was rich from end to end, from the base
of old Baldy at its head far down INTO
the valley of the Sinking Water. Every
foot of the ground was taken up, ana
much was claimed twice and three times,
a circumstance which instantly necessi-
tated a large graveyard and coroner.
With hardly an exception, every claim
in the canon became almost Immediately
highly profitable. In twelve months 9
population of 1900 had c0ngregated
there. and five miniature cities had:
sprung to life. During the summer Of
1863 over six millions dollars in dust =,
Weld almost incredible, bad been taken
from the bed of the creek; and IN the
spring of the following year the popula.
tion had increased through immigrataon
from all parts of the United States, bqfh
East and West, to nearly 20, 0O0. Many
claims Welded to their owners $lO0, wv,
and several doubled that amount. ~
can be easily imagined how Wild mnst
have been the days ON that rngge9
stream, where fortunes wersse plentiisk
and where every attraction which the
senses could call Tor was placed WITHIN
reach of the miners suddenly raising Ito
affiuence. 1he flush times at 'Washoe
were child's play to these Alder Guleli
days. 8,
Of the five settlements strung along
the narrow seventeen miles OF the creek,
Virginia, being the most centrally 10
Gated, was the most proIninent and is
to-day the only one inha5ited. IL ls
pleasantly located on the east bank OF
the creek, and Tor q number OF years
was the capital of the Teultory.
During the four years succeeding it's
discovery, this canon yielded the enor-
nous amount of $50, ,000, COO.
The Fairweather party, who discover
ed the gulch, realized immensely from
their claims, and threw away their geld
in all forms of excess and dissipation,
as was customary among the pioneers.
William Fairweather, the leader OF the
party, a character in our national hs-
tory, not unlike ComstOck, the discover
er OF the famous mines in Nevada, died,
like the latter IN abject poverty with few
friends, and with scarce shelter over Ahis
head. In both cases the discoverer was
forgotten or lost in the fame OF hs dis-
covery. sr7s "a