, 1884-02-09
REVIEW OF THE MINES.
What the Original DiscOVerer of
the Ceur d'AIene Diggings
has 10 say.

Just at the present time the public
reads with pleasure any information
I pertaining to the mines. As mu h
has been said regarding the first dis
covery Of these diggings, that prom
ise to rival anything heretofore
known on this coast, the following
narrative by Mr.. Prichard will be
found interesting. We are person
ally acquainted with the writer and
can vOuch for the correctness Of d.
statements:
RATHDRUM, Jan. 3Oth, 1884.
To the Editor of the Spokane RE-
VIEW:
As there has been many letters of
inquiry sent me in regard to the
mines Of the CGur d'Alene and sur
rounding country, and as it would
occupy grelt part Of my time to
answer them, will, with your per-
mission, answer them through the
columns of your paper, hoping there
by to satisfy many of the inquiries
OF those who anticipate coming to
this land Of delight, where the hid
den wealth is awaiting the eager
! searchers to gladden. their hearts
with the prospect Of future happi-
ness. Twill give brief description
Of the country, mineral character,
and a sketch Of the discovery, as
there has been many reports circu-
lated in regard to them. | came to
this country through Montana, over
the old Mullen road, in the fall Of
1873. In crossing the Bitter Root
Range | began to find mineral bear
ing float or blossom, as it is generally
called, along the streams, and pOr-
tiOn Of the way left the road and
followed the ridges looking for
quartz, whilst Girard and another
man that was with me kept the road
with the stock. On my way | found
several ledges, including the EvOlu-
ton ledge, which | afterwards lOCa-
ted, situated % miles east Of the
Mission. 1t being late in the fall
came down to C9ur PAfrne Post to
winter, and to employ myself took
logging contract by which / lost
what means | had, as the most Of the
logs were lost by the breaking Of the
boom. In the fall Of 1879 | built my.
house at Evolution and commenced
work on my ledge. but having no.
means nor tools made but little pro-
grrss. In the spring following COM
menCed prospecting for placer in a
small gulch near Evolution, W ich
| called Prospect Gulch. | put in
sluice boxes and worked while the
water lasted, being the first gold tai
ken out on the Cpur d Alcne waters.
When the water failed began look
ing over the country and examining
the formation. l took a trip in
sOuthcrly course across the waters Of
the st. Joe River, and finding fair
prospects in several places, and
change in the formation that showed
favorable results whenever tested,
| continued tracing up the forma-
tions and geological nature Of the
country. Late in the full | took
trip nOrtncrly, intending tracing the
mineral belt, as 1 termed 1t, to the
waters Of Clark's fork Of the Column
bia river and crossing Prichard creek,
above what is known as Butte creek,
and camping for the night near the
head Of Butte. In the morning
panned out twOOr three pans Of grav-
el getting few cOlors, then crossed
on to'the head of Eagle creek, where
! obtained Il fair prospect; thence to
the west fork Of Eagle creek where
/ obtained favorable results, from
thence on to the tributaries Of the.
C9ur d'Alene near its head, and
becoming interested IN the prospects
| was finding, and not noticing the
time ] was employing in examining
the country, the weather set in bad.
On the morning Of Nov. 18th found
II inches Of snow on the level, and
concluded to turn back, not knowing
the country in advance and being
out Of grub, except what ] killed.
l retraced my steps, arriving at
Prichard creek the second evening,
the weather clearing up in the morn
ing. As | crossed the stream ! no.
ticed the bed rock cropping out just
above the water and stopped and
gave 1t test, getting good prospects.
! remained for two days and n half
getting the best prospects l had OBJ
tained. The first gold taken out Of
Prichard creek, was about One-half
mile above what is now known as
the Widows claim. The next spring,
after doing some work In Prospect
gulch while the water lasted, l went
in company with man by the name
Of Tanning to the head waters Of the
South Ceur d'Alene. The waters
being high we could only give par
tial trial but obtained some fair
prospects. Afterward l continued
inyestigatingas opportunities offered,
as had to get in supplies and do
other work. In September I return
ed to Prichard creek to give that
section a more general prospect and
spenta couple of months prospecting
PEichard and Eagle creeks and their
tributaries. l commenced a drain
ditch near the mouth Of Cement
gulch on Prichard creek. also a ditch
and cut on CemeHt gHlch. finding
gold in paying quantities wherever