The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-05-24
VOL. III.
Vm ncT ,aTabIin- SniTfeT, Harley, Nc

foot of the mountain, on the BLK City trall,
where we lost our horses in the first snow
form Of the season. We camped at the
Mountain House, kept by the unhospitable.
Townsend did not recognize
me during our second sojourn at his re-
sidance, and kept out Of his sighs as
much as possible. ! frequently had the
pleasure of listening to his abuse Of the
hungry crowd who devoured all his prov
isions few weeks previous. The fellow
said the "crowd" were all hard cases, but
evidently had made discoveries somewhere
as they were well provided with dust. lie
stated that one Of the party had told him
that big diggings had been discovered in
the mountains. His informant was uncle
jimmy Ayers, whose tongue, no doubt,
had been loosened by a few drops of Star S
White Whisky The cabin was
crowded with miners whose pack trains
were camped near BY, and it was with no
little anxiety that listened to Townsend's
recital Of our supposed wealth.
We were not discovered, however, and
after two days search we recovered our
horses ana again took the trail, in.
the face of heavy snow storm, which We
hailed with pleasure rather than with dis
like, as it would cover our tracks and pre-
vent any Of the Mountain House party
from following our trail in case their suspi.
cions had been aroused. Tomake the mat
ter more sure, however, we left the trail,
on reaching the point opposite Pilot Knob,
and camped for two days in the woods
keeping a sharp lookout for intruders.
We again met with trouble in cutting
our way through the timber, but after
eaching the mound IN the basin, which
we named the Buffalo Hump; We learned
that another party was ahead Of US, as we
came upon new and plainly cut trail
leading from the direction Of Elk City.
We Judged from this that Bostwick, Smith
and the rest Of the boys had returned.
While camped at the junction Of the
two trails we were startled by hearing the
veil of an Indian in the mountains, and
forgetting all about tie object Of our jour
ney, we set to work fortiIying and other
wise preparing for a siege, as if we were
to remain encamped for month. But
i next morning foand MS trudging along as
usual, ard the day following We net one 9
the Elk City party coming cut from the
diggings, who gave US. all the news. Joe
Miller had discovered rich pay on little
stream and had called the latter Miller:
creek" while all Of the sixteen men wht
returned from Elk City had taken u
claims and we're doing well.
Our informant returned with us, as h
had been sent out to look for Bostwi ch
VIC had gone to Elk City for supplies
.rbe news qaiekened our movements. anc
before long VIC were at MtlIers camping
l,ground at the mouth Of Baboon's guleh
Here we found Kennebec Joe, John Dyer
!: Sam. Graham, Little Osborn, Charley May
American Bob, Joe ,Klmball and severa
; others who had come from Elk City wit
the above. named.
! We located claims on Miller's creek an
) on Baboon's gulcb. The latter receive
s5its name from the first. person who locate
i claim in #. He was queer, eccentri
: genius, was never known to shave, Wasl
: Of comb, aud resembled a baboon niue
J more than he did a human being. Il
was aspoor, unfortunate Dutchnan whe
be staked out the claim, which. proved rlc
and was easily worked, but. he soon b
came a person Of importance, one OF tn
. best dressed aud most gentlemanly miner
III tie country, and finally returned to II
willamette and married a rosy-cheeke
! Oregon glrl.
: Five days after our. arrival q party ofol
i hnnared /. and tveniy-nine men arrive
= from Elk City, Eph Bostwiek having b
: trayed the secret Of discovery. Amor
them we're many old time miners, alWa
! ready To stampede on the first whisper
, new diggings. John Wren, now at \
j Blac&foot Agency, was one Of them, a.
- Mason, Pat Moran, John Galbraith, Nine
Bridger and his son from Oregon Clt
e &s q
: scotty Hamilton, and many Others W
afterwards became well known in hfoatai
1 were also among the number. The gre'
!. il number Of this party located claims
ii Mason and Baboon gulehes, while ma.
j more made new discoveries on samn
i Flat. It was no uncommon thing for
man to pan out from fifty to one hundr
- dollars from small prospf
i hole. Joe Miller was alo
4 when he located Miller.s creek, q
Il out of II fve foot hole brought IN szo9,
II result of one day IS prospecting
if The b.. laws established by Miller, =
re ham, & Go, were ratifea By the seeo
ia,.at;on. lin Joe Miller as Record