The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-05-31
VOL. Ii.


claims for nominal sums, to purchase sup
plies for journey to the new discoveries,
without even knowing where the latter
were located or what chances they would
have for obtaining ground.
Kennedy and purchased 81, 500 worth
Of provisions, on "jawbone," at Baldwin
& Witman's, and, suppose, if we had
wanted $l8, 900 worth we could have had
them. After packing this outfit on all
the mules and cayuses we could get, we
sent them ahead in. charge of a few OF
Kennedy's friends, with instructions to
" follow the crowd" Five days later I
started again for Florence, accompanied
by Leland, orthe Times, who was mount
ed upon d fine mettlesome mare, which he
had considerable trouble ia holding down
to the moderate gate of the easy-going
mule which had the honor Of straddling.
The first day out we passed number
of men on foot, packing all their earthly
possessions on their backs, while others
we're making still slower progress on buck
ing cayuses. Near the crossing of the
Clear Water I was not little surprised
to meet stranger with one Of the pack
animals had sent ahead. The fellow
claimed that he had bought the animal
from an IRdian, and it trequired no little
forceable persuasion to make him give up
the stolen property.
Another little difficulty, Of rather 70
mantle nature, occurred just beyond
White Bird creek. A Nez Perce squaw
named Mollie took fancy to the mule I
was riding, and used all the artfnl non
sense peculiar to hersex 70 make me present
her with the animal but finding nae proof
against her most alluring wiles, she tried
the more effective, bat still unsuccessful,
expedient Of threatening to bring the
whole camp of her relatives to take the
mule from me by force. To avoid an
encounter with the relatives Of the cove
tous squaw we quickened our pace and
succeeded in reaching the mouth Of Slate
creek, where we found hundreds Of gold
seekers with pack trains and complete
outfits. The Indians tried, without avail,
to drive back this multitude from the
Camas Prairie, and when large party
who had followed me to take the mule
saw the crowd, they concluded not
to use Iorce UtneCv uueIE P1rPoso ss'ru
so offered valuable horse in exchange
for the coveted animal. The bargain was
made, and TIE horse proved equal in
value to two mules such as the one I
had given in exchange.
There were twenty-five miles ofwooded
country to travel over after leaving Slate
creek, and this was considered the most
dangerous portion Of the road.
We commenced the ascent Of the noun.
tain in the morning aud by sun-down
were at the junction of Baboon and Mil
ler's creeks. "A noticeable change had
come over the place during my brief alb
sence. Mining had been prosecuted brisk
| ly; houses were going up On Summit Flat
Creighton had arrived with his pack trains
Of merchandise and was putting up {
store; Doc Furber had surveyed and IaiG
out town on the Flat, and the boys ha(
named it Florence, after Docs daughter
Dan Thorn had a building up and q sa
loon in full blast, and McCletchy and San
Baldwin had opened stores. The entir
camp, II fact, hid suddenly assumed the
appearance of prosperous and populou
town.
Burns, Of the Cord Spring ranch, va
the first resident Of Florence to meet us
He came up smiling aud told US that h
had already got al he wanted ont Of tn
camp. Ha had arrived two weeks befor
: we came, paid s., 500 for claim on Sum
nit Flat, and was VOW ready ID leave wit
$4,000. Weisler rad also located on
small tributary oil Baboon Gulch, an
with two rockers was cleaning up $500
] per day.
After learning the news I turned towar
the old discovery camp and found my pa
ty cached in the timber, Snixter aa
Billy Kennedy having struck a rich pro-
pect about one mile above the roots Of th
tree mentioned il . previous sketch. The
had found $8 to tie pan, and we're afrai
i to commence work until returned, $
e that We could locate what ground we wei
d entitled 10.
$ snizter washed the first pan from th.
!, gulch, and the amonnt obtained l$8) W
d 50 far in excess ofhis most extravaga1
d ideas ofwealth that he concluded he mu;
= be dreaming, and proceeded to butt h
head against tree to satisfy himself ths
It he was not asleep.
!, Sni1ter had formerly been . member
# the q. S. Dragons, aad was one Of Il
o rear guard at the SGeDtor defeat. ~