The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-08-16
Original Story.
Rom liter SKETCHES
NUMBER TWENTY-THREE
BY JOHN j. HEALY.

Hhe discovery Of the Florence gold
Hes led to the discovery ofthe gold Gelds
Montana, but in manner somewhat
Brent from the way in which such dis
Eeries are usually brought about. ]
ke shown that Mendenhall's party had
be from Utah to Lemhi in search
5he Florence mines, aud their inability
4each the desired point by way of the
Ae chosen finally brought them to Gold
blk, in what is now called Montana. III
&c manner various other parties seek
l the Salmon river mines were either
ented b, the difficulties Of the road or
acted by the first discovery at Gold
sk from continuing their journey an5
tented themselves With prospecting in
galcbes and rivers of Montana. The
ia of the discovery on Salmon river had
#ad far and wide, and every known
+ to the new diggings was crow led
II immigrants and their travelling out
+ Many Of those who came from the
ii side of the mountains reached the
Hnon, after more or less difficulty, and
81 some Of those who came by NY Of the
souri, river finally contryed to struggle
d the almo t impossible range of noun.
Es and reach the camps en- the tur-
sent river which | have Sc frequently
Rrred TO IN the course of these sketches
1 all the disappointed gold seekers Of
Frenee and others camps on the Salmon,
Eether with many oftAe most successful
Hers, eventually Joined the ever increas
Sthrong that poured into Montana frop
States aud other points only to find
H further progress stopped BY the
Rntain barriers, and as discovery
p discovery was made on this side OF
hnoontain5 the new foand gold fields
B began to eclipse those of the Salmon
Enot alone TO prevent further emigra,
Ito the latter point, but even to attract
It large portion Of its population.
The causes which led to the settle
OF Montana are not so well known
se events which hare trauspired since
discovery OF gold within the present
Ks OF the Territory, ! have been more
ocular in noting my own adventures on
BaImon and Snake rivers than the
hr may have deemed necessary f,r The |
& narration of historical events. Nv
FTlth the emigrant train on Landsr's I
H)H will serve to show the difficulties
with which the early settlers
y Territory had to contan before even
2lns the ground upon which they were
#'ed to suffer still greater hardship
PERL. The stampede from Portland
Fhe Dalles to the Salm Dill and subse-
B adventures on that river will explain
banner - which the famous discover
ere brought about and how the peas
R'r wealth, always more or less cxag.
8ed, attracted thousands of people
HaII parts OF the Union, aud thus. ia
*aner already shown, caused tie
very ofthe gold beds Of Montana. |
pave seemed to be unnecessarily min
I describing some IF the scenes ana ia
n q the Journey taken by myself and
Ades, but could GIT volumes with ac-
e Of similar alventures, all of which :
Heye would be read with keen interest
Hore generations il not bY 5he present !
ms If Montana.
En- short stay in the vicinity Of RI. j
Fl circumstances compelled u to b
'aeh. on returning ii Gold creek, /
ma Sam Hauser, Jerry sullivan, i
NICK Wall, representing tle 81. /
mining and exploring Company a
arty had come up the Missouri river I.
amer, expecting to find The Salmon i
si'hp easy reach from the head Of 4.
4loa. they afterwards located al Il