Daily Yellowstone journal., 1884-03-22
4 Wild stampede.

"a e'htSiah lurt oa'N iI'ili ihe
gold fields of the Cnur a. Alcne says
there are now about 1000 men in the
mines and they are pouring in in n
perfect stream, not only by day time,
but up to L. and O'Clock at night.
Many Of them are 80 weak and tired
on reaching camp that they are bare
ly able to walk. Ii will not Ice more
than a few weeks until the population
Of the gulch will be fully twenty
thousand. Ii is the widest stampede.
he says, that he ever saw. This was
especially the case ut the time when
he went into the camp. Many Of the
stampeders were so anxious to get to
the gulch that they would not take
time 10 lay In sufficient amount of
grub to carry them over the trail.
taking it for granted that plenty could
be bought along the way. Thus il
was that many were compelled to go
all the way from Trout creek to the
mines-a distance of about thirty-ive
without bite to eat and load
ed down with their blankets and pros
pecting outfit. This was several weeks
ago, but more recently lunch stations
have been opened along the way. The
most interesting feature Of the stam-
pede at the time he went into the
mines was the wild excitement which
prevailed among the majority of the
men. Many Of them were of the pill
grim class, and couldn't tell a placer
mine from u cabbage patch. Conse-
quently they were easily imposed
upon by the old-time stampeders, who
told them the most glowing tales in
regard to the richness Of the mines
ahead of them. They were also in
formed that hundreds of men were
pouring into the gulch daily, and mat
according to all reports the rich mines
would soon be all taken. There was
q perceptible quickening of speed on
the part of the eastern element every
time these or similar stories were cir
culated. For the first third Of the way
from the railroad the pilgrims would
pack their outfit intact. Then they
would hear land swallow some of the
exciting tales, and might be seen TO
secretly throw away part Of their
load. by the time they reached the
summit they would not have any
thing but their blankets and little
grub left. Then they would pull out
for the gold fields with renewed vigor.
But when they got half way down the
slope the actual stampede would be-
gin. Grub aud blankets would he
tossed to enc side, and the hurrying
throng would press onward like u lot
OF wild men, each striving to reach
the golden goal first. Great must
have been the disappointment on
reaching Eagle City to find that no
mining was being done, that none had
been done since winter set In, and that
the shining treasure, fit existed at
all. was buried beneath deep banks OF
snow, which would not disappear un.
I'll summer time. This wild stampede
left the trail In the condition In many
respects Of the line Of retreat of de-
feated army: blankets, provisions
tools, slsds, and almost everything OF
a portable nature required in 3 new
camp, were strewed along heller
skelter on both sides Of the trail. The
late comers, however, profited by 1t
and were enabled to 1t themselves
out with almost anything they wantet
while going into the mines, without
the expense Of buying or the labor OF
carrying. Our informant Is Of In,
opinion that the mines will pay well
although 1t Is impossible to tell much
about them lnder present circum
stances, for no actual mining II rs YET
In progress. But from the examina
tions which he made while Ia tn,
camp he believes there II gold there
and plenty Of 1t. = Helena Inde