The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-20
THIRTY MILLIONS OF GOLD.
The Wealth That Has Been Extracted From
Alder Gulch, Montana.

Alder Gulch, Montana.
In the spring of 1868 party Of five
miners from Bannock took the trail for
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
driven 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
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 dissi-
patton and lawlessness that could be
found.
The Fairweather party, the dicoverers,
Immediately located and staked out the
richest ground they could find, and
began washing, meeting with unprece-
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 tremendous rush to
Alder. The gulch was invaded by
thousands of the widest and most nm
tanned of the pioneers of those days.
Prospecting disclosed the fact that it
was rich from end to end, from the base
of old Badly at its head far down into
the valley of the Sinking Water. Every
foot of the ground was taken up, and
much was claimed twice and three times,
circumstance which instantly necessi-
tated large graveyard and coroner.
With hardly an exception, every claim
in the canon became almost Immediately
highly profitable. In twelve months
population of $4,000 had congregated
there, and five miniature cities had
sprung to life. During the summer of
1868 over six millions dollars in dust, a
yield almost incredible, had been taken
from the bed of the creek, and in the
spring of the following year the popula-
ton had increased through immigration
from all parts of the United States, both
East and West, to nearly 10000. Many
claims yielded to their owners 800, 900.
and several doubled that amount. 1t
can be easily imagined how wild must
have been the days on that rugged
stream, where fortunes were SO plentiful,
and where every attraction which the
senses could call for was placed within
reach of the miners suddenly raising to
attiuencc. lhc flush times at Washoe
were child's play to these Alder Gulch
days.
OF the five settlements strung along
the narrow seventeen miles of the creek,
Virginia, being the most centrally To-
Gated, was the most prominent, and is
to-day the only one inhabited. 1t is
pleasantly located on the east bank Of
the creek, and for number of years
was the capital of the Territory.
During the four years succeeding its
discovery, this canon yielded the enor-
nous amount of $35, 100000.
The Fairweather party, who discover
ed the gulch, realized immensely from
their claims, and threw away their gold
III all forms of excess and dissipation,
as was customary among the pioneers.
William Fairweather, the leader of the
party, character in our national his
tory, not unlike Comstock, the discover.
cr of the famous mines in Nevada, died
( like the latter in abject poverty with few
friends. and with scarce shelter over his
/ head. In both cases the discoverer was
forgotten or lost in the fame OF his dis.
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