The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-09-10
FULLY CONFIR MED.
No Longer Any Doubt About the
Richness Of the Little
Rocky Mines.
The Evidence of an Eye Witness as to the
R1chnes of the Mines-The Excite
ment Increasing, and a Big
Stampede Certain.
From Wednesdays Daily.

Fort ASSlnaDOlne coach last evening a
letter from Frank Aldrich, one of the
lucky prospectors in the Little Rockies,
by which the Importance of the gold
discovery in these mountains is fully
confirmed and the most reckless reports
shown to be frozen facts. The letter was
written in the camp on the 25th, while
there were but four OR five men there,
and before the advance guard of the
stampede arrived. Frank says they
have
STRUCK IT BIG
without any doubt. Not knowing it
would be out so soon, he enjoins secrecy,
promising in a short time to let his cor
respondent know all about it. He says
he and his partner were then making
sluice boxes, and that the indications
were they would get from
$50 TO 500 A DAY
to the man. The gulch is an extensive
one, and for miles above and below dis
covery good prospects are found. The
quartz finds, however, are as wonderful
as the placer. In one day, he says, his
partner pounded and washed out
$40 IN DUST
from rock found in that vicinity, which
must have been tremendously rich
quartz. Frank does not write this to
get up an excitement, but simply states
the facts to let his friend know the situa-
ton. He is a pretty level-headed young
man, and has no interest whatever in
getting up an excitement-in fact, his
true interest lies in keeping the matter
as quiet as possible, which was his de-
sire at the time the letter was written.
This information, with that already
received, ought to leave nc room to
doubt the value of the discoveries in
the Little Rockies.
EXCITEMENT AT A~ssINABOINE.
From Clark, the Fort Assinaboine
driver, we learn that the excitement is
at fever heat at the post. Nearly all
the civilians have gone to the mines.
On Monday four teamsters quit and
went to the %diggings. On the same day
two soldiers deserted, and it is supposed
they have taken the same direction.
Four soldiers received a four months
furlough and left for the mines yester- /
day morning. 1t is stated that Indian
couriers have been sent to the post with !
information that has added to the ex-
element, by confirming the first rumors
of rich diggings. A report has also got
circulation that a man was killed in the
Rockies and robbed Of 5000 in gold dust,
but it seems to be without foundation in
fact.
THE ROCKIES OR BUST.
Clark met Perry Aspiring and Denis
Halpin at the Coal Banks at noon yes
terday. They expected to reach the
head of. Birch creek last night, and will
get to the mines to-day. Day after to-
morrow we may expect to get their re-
port. About five miles beyond the Ma
rias he met a solitary horseman with a
pack animal, destined for the glittering
fold poto Macdonald T. Patterson
C. S. Brown and Tucker were met about
five miles from town.
From Thursdays Daily.
yesterday were of a most favorable char
acter, confirming what had been
already received. Advices by telegraph
from Fort Assipaboine are to the effect
that about sixty-ive men have left the
post for the mines, and that the excite
ment there is intense. Even the SOL
diers can hardly restrain themselves,
and numerous assertions are probable.
Yesterday Mr.. Groesbeck of the Teton
returned from the mines and was in
town a short time. He left for the dig
gings last Saturday, upon the first re-
ceipt of the news, and was the first from
this place to show up there. Being
without grub or tools he only remained
AOh0 Nhoh5A w oNSACA LIS lAOU OlICAO
is gold in abundance to be had and then
returned for supplies. He expects to
start for the Rockies again Tomorrow,
this time with an outfit that will enable
him to remain some time.
Groesbeck remained in the city but an
hour-seeming inclined to talk but little
about the mines. He said there were
over one hundred men in the camp,
many of them at work and taking out
gold. Most of the men went in with
out preparation, only taking a few days
grub, and as a consequence, supplies
were scarce in the gulch. Groesbeck
talked of taking in a load of vegetables
from his ranch and will probably do so.
He says the gulch'is al extensive one, !
n is undoubtedly rich. He saw plenty
one of the richest the territory has ever
known. That his faith in the dig
gings is strong is proved by the fact that
he loses 40 time in getting haok-leav-
ing his ranch and crops to take care of
themselves.
This is lie most direct evidence we
have had Of the importance of the dis
covery. Taken in connection with the
letter from Frank Aldrich, and the re-
ports from other quarters-all agreeing
in essentials-is there any longer reason
to doubt it is q rich find, with the pro-
mise Of being the most important gold
discovery in Montana in the last fifteen
years!
From Fridays Daily.
The only information from the Little
Rocky geld fields received yesterday
driver, and some soldiers who came in
y fhn noaoh r. 10 nf tho CANA hcnnoinu