Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-11-21
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE SALM-
On RIVER EXPEDITION OF '62.
News Miner.

News Miner
The only survivors now known OF the
expedition to and navigation of Salmon
river, in '62, are Matt Graham and G. w.
Suits, now in this city. The names of the
parties who embarked on that memorable
expedition, were, besides the two gentle
men above mentioned, u Mr.. Pinkham,
who was killed by Furg Patterson at
Warm Springs, near Idaho City, in 65;
Walter Davis, Beaver Dick. William Cot
ney, Bostlck, shot in go by the Sioux In
dams shortly after the expedition. Bos-
tick met his death in company with four
comrades near the head of the Missouri
river. Seeing he was fatally wounded, he
asked his parlner for pistol, which re-
quest was granted. He said good bye"
ed into the hands Of the enemy. His part
ner sprang into the boat with another man
ard both pushed off, leaving three dead
comrades in the camp. John Keenan,, an
other member of the expedition, died in
Oneida county, in this Territory Jeff
Stamford died while scout with Custer
In the b ack Hills.
The object of the expedition was to find
u mountain of silver, reported to have been
previously discovered by Beaver Dick. A
party was organized and left Lewiston in
the spring of '62 The boats were built
on Meadow creek, a short distance below
Florence The material was whip-sawed
at the mouth OF the creek.
After being out three weeks JEFF Standi-
ford broke up the party by letting one of
the boats take u sheer on him. 1t got away
and went down the river with all the pro
visions and arms Lots were drawn to Sc
lect man to go after the boat. 1t Tell to
George Stills, with four others, to search
for it, lie ran past it, on account Of its
being capszed III an eddy
Other arties found the missing craft
with the arms aud provisions, they having
been securely tied to the boat. One of the
part, by the name of Rice, d blacksmith
X from SCOTS Bar, California, overloaded
himself with the blankets and other plum
der. He fast ned them on his back with
long.handled shovel stuck through tn"
pack He missed his footing and fell. lie
could not recover, and in attempting to
save himsefthe handle OF the shovel struck
the ground and pushed him over preci-
pice IS feet high He fell upon mass OF
ragged rocks below, and was torn to pie
ces. lie was hurled by his companions as
Blankets were thrown over him, and these
coverel with stones and rocks to keep
away the COY otes and other animals. L ,us
rested the remains of Rice, under this
monument, of stone, which to-day marks
his last resting place.
Shortly afterwards, Stilts and his com
panions came across the parties who had
found the boat. They at first denied hay
ing found it, bui the eagle-eye of George
discovered his rusty rifle leaning against
tree. He iold one of the men namea
Shearley that The gun belonged to him
Sheariey soon mate clear confession OF
the finding If the boat, and told OF The un
fortunate end of hice. Pinkham ant the
rest OF stills party, who were yet up the
river, came down IL few days later, and the
members Of The entire expedition were
once more lnited.
The expedition proved entirely fruitless
and the men returned to the haunts OF civ
ilization nearly iamished and destitute O
clothing. So far MS known at the presen
time, none of these old pioneers are alive
except Stills and Graham; although it il
surmised that Beaver Dick and Walter Da
Wis may yet be alive, Il though nothing re
liable has ever been heard from thom.
Beaver Dick was never blamed for hi
representation concerning the silver ledge
which was the object of pursuit. II seem
that he had been prospecting up the river
and came to Walla Walla with some fin
specimens, which were secretly changed
upon him for Virginia rock. In having
an assay m de, he concluded he had strucl
II rich, and in order to make the most 0
his supposed discovery, he told OF hi
prospects, which eliminated in the forma
ton of the above. stated expedition