Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1883-05-08
REMINisCENCEs
or the first settlement Of Boise Ceun-
ty, Idaho Territory, and more par
ticularly Of Boise Basin.
BY FRANK MILLER.
CHAPTER TX.

nails Of the experiences, hardships, suf-
fcrings, miseries, calamities and pri.
vations Of the founders and pioneer
residents Of Bannack, or Idaho City,
that Of the first great fire occurring
before midnight on the 18th of May,
1865, was incomparably the greatest.
The previous winter had been one
Of unusual severity for the depth of
the snow which had fallen from time
to time; and for the rigor and intensi-
ty of the cold The total depth Of the
snowfall during the winter and early
spring was fourteen feet upon the lev
ell on Bannack and on Bueua Vista
Bars by actual measurements made
and dates kept by many different par
ties from time to time during the win
ter and early spring.
Several times during the winter, on
Main, Wall, Wallula, Commercial and
Montgomery streets tunnels were shov-
eled out through the over-arching
snow, walled in by snow on either
side, high enough for any man in the
city to walk through without steop-
hing and wide enough for two or three
to walk abreast from one street side
walk and place of business to another
on the opposite side Of the same street.
Large and wide and high and deep
banks and masses of snow and ice
were in every street and alley and in
every narrow space between all the
buildings in the city on the 18th day
of May. No mining had been done
except very little with water heat
ed artifcialIy and used in few short
toms and rockers. The supply of pro-
visions of all kinds had completely
given out save small stocks kept by q
few for their own personal use, anc
none could be obtained for love no
money. The supply of fuel was als'
about all consumed TIE winter o
1864 had set in unusually early ant
unusually severe.
All highways leading into ldah'
City from every direction were eithe
completely impossible or very dan
gerous for packtrains with supplies G
provisions to get into Boise BASIN any
where. Multitudes were literall
starving. The 18th of May, 1865
was a most beautiful one, clear, brigh
sunny, still, warm and genial. Ey
erybody seemed to think spring ha
at last come to stay. Many were tn
Il iubilations and libations to Bacchu
,r in consequence. A theatrical comps
nv from San Francisco which had PEI
20 formed very successfully and satisfa'
~ torily during the entire summer pr
vious, had just returned, and on tt
evening of the 18th of May, 1865, vii
Julia Dean Hayne as the leading st;
le actress of the troupe were that nigl
ut billed extensively throughout Boii
~ Basin, to commence another series
On plays for the then opening season
is 1865 at the Jenny Lind Theatre in Id
N. no City, owned by S. G. Rosenbaur
re The play selected for that night WI
IL the Shaksperean comedy of Romeo al
ng Juliet. The theatre was thronge
is The streets of the city. saloons al
I'D places of business were also well Fl
an ed with gay, happy and sangul
OK people. Like a clap of thunder on
clear sky, unheralded by flash
lightning about 10 O'Clock, while t
air was as balmy and warm as in mi
summer, the startling and shrill c
az of FIRE! FIRE.! FIRE!l! was heard, al
VS. in less than one short hour Ida
No. City, which then had population
over I 900 people. was a bed of mo