The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-05
HAYES CITY.
The Largest Camp In the New
Gold Fields.
Permarency Based Upon the
Quartz Lodges.
A Montanian in Trouble.

The Ceuf d'Alene country is 80
prominently before the public that
the subject can scarcely be exhausted
and thousands of prospective spring
stampeders will continue to seize
with avidity upon every item of in
formation which may come from the
new Ell Dorado until the result of
next springs influx shall have DEM
onstrated the permanency or worth
lessness of the new diggings. Here
tofore the published accounts have
made Eagle City the central figure of
the gold fields, and all reports seem
to have emanated from that center.
The following from the Spokane Re-
view presents a new center of obser-
walton and a rather brighter outlook
for the land of future promise than
the reports heretofore received: Tues
day evening Sam. II. Hayes, of
Rathdrum, who is now located at
Hayes City, in the C9ur d'Alenes,
and from whom, by the way, the new
town takes its name, arrived in this
city direct from the. diggings.
From him we have the latest news
from a section that is now interesting
the entire country. Winter has set
in in the mountains, but in q much
milder form than generally at this
eason of the year. So far there has
been no severe weather. The roads
leading in are now in very fair con
dition. Prospectors are still focking
to the diggings while quite a number
are running out for the winter. He
thinks that between eight hundred
and one thousand men will remain
on the ground through the season.
At present there are foriy-two
buildings in Hayes City, and several
under way. There are seven stores
and ten saloons in full blast. Money
is plentiful, a good sign for the camp.
So far no serious trouble has occurred
among the miners, outside reports to
the contrary Notwithstanding. The
first case of attempted theft and pun
ishment occurred, however, last Fri
day. A party named O'Brien, from
Montana, not the young man from
Spokane, started in on the night
mentioned to rob the sluice boxes on
the McCumber claim, that had not
been cleaned up for several days.
Newt Thomas heard some one at
the boxes, and, stepping out of the
cabin with a shotgun, emptied a
load of shot in the robbers back.
That individual took the reception as
a hint that his presence was obnox-
ious to the owners of the claim, and
lit out. So great was the 'lit" there
of that the punctured prowler ran
against and knocked down about 40
feet of dume, and sprained his ankle
in the struggle. O'Brien was found
by some parties and conveyed to
Hayes City. Thomas heard of the
cripple and reported that if the game
was his the sufferer carried his
(Thomas') trade mark in his back.
On inspection O'Brien's back was
found to be pretty we'll peppered with
small shot. Mining law is memorable.
Theft Is q crime that must be
frowned down. It is a fault that
calls for prompt measures in such a
community. O'Brlen was given a
certain time to vacate the camp, and
the unfortunate fellow struck out on
crutches before the allotted time ex-
however, the punishment was
deserved, and it will prove a salutary
to others.
Very little is being done on the
claims, althoughthose at work
prove that the gold is still there. New
diggings have been discovered
on the North Fork, eight miles from
Hayes City. The find was made by
a party of Frenchmen from Montana,
and the first washings cleaned up $12
of coarse shot gold to nine pans of
dirt. The locators have named the
place Missoula Gulch, and promises
to be as rich as anything heretofore
discovered.
On the 18th and 18th ofthis month
two quartz Lodges we're struck on
Pritch&rd creek, n five and one
half miles and the other seven miles
from the town, both veins showing
rich indications. On the 18th Mr..
Hayes noticed a flock of prairie
chickens fly over the place and light
on the mountain side but a short dis
lance from his house. He took his
gun and started after the birds.
ABOUT two hundred yards from the
house on the hillside, his eye caught
a promising looking outcropping.
He at nee lost all interest in the
game and proceeded to investigate
the rock. The result is that he
struck a fine gold-bearing quartz.
He showed us several specimens.