The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-06-07

manner for uo other purpose than to cause
trouble and to get up a fight. The Indian
scare was probably beneficial, to some ex-
tent, as it rather cowed the most belliger-
ent spirits and caused feeling Of de-
pendence among the most quarrelsome.
The excitement too, helped to make the
long winter season less dreary than it
would otherwise have been. But Florence
was anything but an agreeable camp, in
those days, even for the oldest and mt st
experienced miners, and certainly the
pilgrims" could not have derived great
amount of pleasure from the peculiar life
it afforded.
There was mail delivery at Florence,
but it was costly and not well.conduct-
ed institution. Once week, sometimes
not more than once in two weeks, Wells,
Fargo & Co. delivered and received letters
to and from the camp. John Galbraith
and Arthur Chapman were the mail car
riers, and they demanded the modest sum
Of Scots each for carrying letters. Sacra-
mento Unions commanded $3.50 each, and
were probably the best read papers ever
published.
Pony Parks, well-known character
had the good fortune to fall in with a band
Of cattle somewhere, and sold every hoof
at the most extravagant prices. The
camp had been living upon scanty supplies
of salt meats for some time previous to
this, and tie fresh beef was wel1timed
luxury; but soon after the cattle had been
disposed Of the trails closed up with snow,
and became impossible for animals and
difficult even for foot travellers. Quite a
number of men, however, reaped rich
harvests by packing provisions and whisky
: upon their backs, from the mouth Of Slate
creek, at The price of40 cts per pound. 1t
) was no uncommon thing for men to carry
$50 pound load in this manner, but
after receiving pay for the same at the
diggings they would gamble away their
earnings at the faro, table and then start
off again for another load.
The Indian scare was afterwards dis
covered to have been hoax got up to
: frighten away the timid ones from rich
claims. 1t stirred up the entire camp,
however, and even caused some of the
oldest and most experienced hands to sus
pend work upon their mines in order to
r BULL brca tyorks. Many claims were de-
serted altogether. The owners focked to
E the town and built fortifcations around
the settlement. Our party remained with
their claims, but worked with loaded rifles
within easy reach.
. This state of affairs, made still more IN
: pleasant BY the scarcity Of provisions,
J continued until half the camp be
e came disgusted with the place and
stampede out Of the diggings
q commenced, and it looked for while as
though Florence would soon become de
serted camp. Aboat the tlst Of May ia
: fored few received information that par
ty Of miners consisting Of Jeff Standifer
} Jim Glasscock, Tom Reilly, Pinkam, Kee
) nan and others were fitting up feet O
!. boats for the purpose ascending the Sal
I mon river to quartz lead discovered BY
George Orr, Captain DeLacy, Beaver
Dick and other men whose names I have
: now forgotten.
. Bostwick was among the first to ge
J. wind of this, and as he was always ready
= for stampede, he determined at once tt
start for the new mines. He insisted tha
: should accompany him, and after con-
sidering the matter well ! concluded i
: would not take more than twenty days te
make the trip and return, and as the snow
n around Florence had become
so deep that work had to be
: suspended, | thought perhaps il would be
}. as well to make the journey as to remain
: ldling away the time in camp. Bostwicl
knew of skiff that could be bought or
i Salmon river, and having this in view
= there vas nothing else required for tht
journey but provisions, ammunition anc
$ our guns.
b 70 pack our outfits did not require mucf
d time, and provided with snow shoes VIZ
= struck out for the Salmon riuer, via Lardo
$ i distance of not more than twelve O.
trtean Ii $.
| little thought at the time that I wa
9 leaving Florence forever. Ny intentio'
: was to return within three weeks. whethe
. the trip proved successful or not, but
! never saw the spot again ard probably
J never will return to that part Of the coun
$ try. The most triaing circumstance vii
e sometimes change the whole course of
: mans life and believe the disastrous trir
!. up the Salmon river altered the current oi
i 4 r T3I