, 1884-01-05
FROM THE MINES.

Last Monday we had a call from
Dan. OBrien, who was formerly en-
gagged in business in this city but
who has linked his future with the
/ CPur GAlene mines and has made
the diggings his head quarters for
the past two months. Mr.. OBrien
left Eagle City on Friday of last
week, and as the trail was plOckaded
he made the trip by the way of the
CUur dAlene river, route Of trav-
el that blends picturesque scenery
with the most exciting danger, such
aprepOnderance Of the Latter, indeed,
that the voyager generally loses sight
of the former in his anxiety to escape
the unpleasant prospects of a watery
grave. There is something 50 re-
voting even to miner, who is not
generally given over to any weak
sentimentality, in contributing his
person for the purpose of getting up
cold, moist, disagreelble corpse,
that in m liking the trip that o. Brien
undertook, and others have taken,
the limit Of observation has been
confined to looking out for number
one and the points of beauty in the
nature Of the mountainous formation
have been left for future study when
the'mOde of transit so improves that
one Gun spare a moment to gaze
upon all surrounding objects as well
as those dead ahead. The river for
navigation, as far as we can ascertain
from those who have experienced
the sensation Of skimming over its
treaCherOus bosom, is anything but
enjoyable, and will never become a
popular route for pleasure excursions
until the stream undergOes many I'M
provements. But this is Il digres-
sion. Mr.. O'Brien, with one or two
other residents Of the mines, desired
to come out into the inhabited world
and being debarred from the eques-
trian mode Of transit on account OF
most p.ethoric deposit of snow
were compelled to take to water like
web-fOOted fowl, and after encOun-
tcring many hardships and escaping
numerous duckings, as it were, by
the skin Of their teeth, arrived ut
point on the railroad where they
could move with some degree of
comfort wherever they desired. The
river at the time Of O'Brien's depart
ure was the only means Of egress and
ingress, the trails being plugged up
with snow. SkiffS are taken up to
within short distance of Eagle City.
There are two pOrtages formed by
large drifts, but bOatmen hive but
little difficulty in going around the
distractions as long as the snow re-
mains on the ground. There were
number Of pack trains in camp un-
able to move out. When he left there
were five feet Of snow on u level,
which could hardly be- less now us it
has been showing almost constantly
for Il week. Isaac Mulhercn, who
has been carrying the mails into
camp, came in day or two before
OBrien left with both feet from.
The first death IN the mines occurred
Christmas eve. A man from Butte
City, named VIM. Allen, fell while
carrying a load Of fwOod and died in
stantly, presumably from heart dis
ease. He was high mason and WIS
buried with appropriate ceremonies
on Christmas day. Recently meet
ing Of miners was held for the pur-
pose Of laying out, and establishing
a town. The town was surveyed,
and named Eagle City and the three
principal streets named respectfully
Gold, Silver and Eagle streets. The
cross streets are known by numbers.
An election for Board of supervi-
sors was held with the following re-
suit: Dan O'Brien, Mr.. Ewing and
Mr.. Coy. Recorder of Town Lots,
VIM. Hunt. Our informant states
III It people are constantly arriving
at the mines. Provisions are sufli-
cient to remove any apprehensiuns
Of suffering during the winter. Min
ners have rs much faith in the rich
ness of the diggings as ever. A
number Of claims have been sold at
good round figures lately and capi-
talists have their eyes open for the
best finds. The snow has prevented
any further prospecting, and men
will be compelled to lay idle for
many weeks. The spring will see
wonderful revival of business. Mr..
O'Brien is satisfied from what he has
learned that every gulch is rich in
gold, and that there are plenty of
places where the placers will prove
as rich as those already prospected.