The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-05-30
THE CGUR D'ALENE STAMPEDE,
A Full and Interesting Account Of TIE
Trials and TfibulatfOns OF the
BOzeman PfOspectOPs.

Trials and TfibulatfOns OF the
Bozeman PROJECTORS.
Through the kindness of Mr.. David
Boerum we are allowed the privilege OF
giving to our readers a full and acclIrate
account of the trip and trials of the Boze-
man boys to the alleged land Of gold.
The party consisted Of Bird Calfee, Will
Dutton, Wait Tate, Jack Patton, VIM.
Frazier, Chas. Clark. Reynold Erwin,
David Boerum, Oliver Holloway, George
Palmer, Andrew Elliott, Jack Harriger
and Mike Knox.
BEGINNING THE ASCENT.
On May 3rd the party arrived ut
Ferry, is miles from Missoula-
The ferry is situated on the Mullan road,
and besides the ferry is house, barn,
saloon and telegraph station. The build
ings are all of the primitive style of
having shack roofs, and the
lumber used in their construction being
whipped sawed, owing to the trouble of
getting sawed lumber overthe mountain.
Chickens were plentiful and the party
enjoyed a good meal on their arrival.
They found that the mountains they
were to cross were heavily coated with
snow, and were informed by the "old in
habitant" that they would have to cross
one creek "a times; that in some places
it was 100 feet wide and very deep,
though the water was clear and the bot
tom could easily be discerned at any
point. They were given great deal OF
similar information, but with commend
able courage they pushed on, after wait
ing three days for the rain and snow
storm to subside. The distance from the
ferry to Crows Nest was twenty miles,
and to 20 that distance they were obliged
to leave their wagons behind, Holloway's
mules being packed. They struck the
first snow at point six miles from the
ferry, at mountain called "The Hump"
A trail had been shovelled about week
before they reached there, and consequ-
emily they found no difficulty in getting
the animals over.
THE crows NEST
was reached about four o'clock in the
evening without seeing anything of i'm
portance except the large trees of cedar,
fir, pine, tamrack and spruce, and sign
which proved to be of some importance,
although at the time the party failed to
see the pith of it. 1t was board on
which was rudely written: "1G Road to
Royal He'll" Crows Nest is situated II
miles south of the summit Of the Ceur
d'Alene mountains. There is one log
house, barn and corral. The occupants
were two telegraph operators, and the
proprietor of the ranch, s. j. Cokely.
One Of the operators acts as repairer of
the line. Oats were nine cents pound,
and the geatiemsely proprietor refused
$l2O per ton for hay:
On Thursday, May 3rd, the party
arose and was on the road at 80 minutes
past 4, with high hopes and brilliant ex-
pectatiops. About two miles nom Crows
Nest they found plenty of deep snow.
They epdeavored to get through on the
trail made by their predecessors; but it
was Of no avail, the mules 4ouadered,
and, in the words Of Mr.. Boerum, raised
"old Harry" generally. A different route
was suggested, but after hard work the
party were obliged to shovel path to the
road from which they had diverged. 1t
was then proposed to shovel trail, but
this was deemed impracticable, as it
would have taken 10 men three weeks to
get oyer the mountain,
COUNCIL HELP;
It was then agreed that the quickest
and easiest manner of reaching their
destination would be to pack the neces-
sary blankets and food and leave the
animals behind. Upon arriving at this
conclusion they retraced their steps to
the Crows Nest.
On the morning of the 4th Dutton and
TAFT were sent to Eight Mile Prairie
with the horses, and as the balance of
the brave band were getting ready to
start six men arrived end aignaiified their
intention to accompany the party. The
packs rode finely and everyone was
jubliant, but upon arriving to deep snow
the major portion oftAe party abandoned
the expedition, leaving only six to pur-
sue their difficult way. At 2s30 p. m: the
little party had only made six miles
very tired and camped for dinner. Bird
Calfee, at q great expense, had secretly
prepared treat for the boys, and with a
smiling countenance reached for his bot
tie, to find that the cork had become ex-
tracted and the valuable fluid gone. The
gloom which settled over the party il
beyond imagination. At supper time
the party had made about eight miles
and eat hupgryly of bacon, bread and
tea. Patton had shot chicken duriilne
the day, and in sitting down to rest had
forgotten it, much u the disgust Of the
party, who accused him of thinking more
of his girl than the comfort Of the party
On the evening of the 9Th they arrived
at the banks of the st. Regis d'Borgia, a
fine stream, clear ~ crystal, very swift
and deep. They were obliged to cross il
SO times during the day, but found nc
difficulty, as trees had been felled al
every crossing. After the tired party
had been in camp about an hour, bull
huge fires and made down their beds
consisting of q blanket, rubber coat and
pine boughs, three parties arrived, swell
ling the number of fires from three to
five.
Saturday, the 9Th, they arose early, but
made slow progress on account Of deer
snow, 1t being from to 10 feet in depth
It was finally determined to make Nor
wegian snow shoes, which delayed the
party until D. m. One of the Gallatin
boys at this point fell into the creek but
was fished out uninjured, but thoroughly
wet. Calfee and Boerum dropped so far
behind that they were obliged to camp
at 9 o'clock without tea or coffee, using
their gold pans to cook bread and bacon
! IL Al !