Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-10-17
,,llli- Weekly " orld.
rp1DAY:. .:.:::oCroBER II, 1884


con, in the spring Oh Ioo~, LOT oihk-
sr creek, in Owyhee county. It was
,snorted that emigrants, in fishing
along this creek, used gold nuggets,
nicked up on the creek, for sinkers,
hence the name. Joseph Branstet-
ter. Of this place, was with Turner's
party. Failing to find gold on Sink
:, creek, Branstetter and seven 9TH
ers left the party and met Captain
Grimes party, Of eight men, be-
tween Sinker creek and Owyhee riv-
er. Grimes party, and Branstetter
and three others Of his party, Col.
Dave FOCUS one of the number, max
inc twelve men, all told, concluded
to strike up into the mountains of
this section. They crossed Snake
nver eight miles above the Owyhee
rivers. in skiffs made of willows
Snake river was then at high water
mark. The party struck Grimes
creek near Blacks ranch and follow
ed up said creek, along which they
first discovered gold, near where the
town of Boston stood-two or three
miles below Centerville. They OBJ
tanned good prospects there-about
bit to the pan. The party proceed
ed on up to Grimes Pass, near the
head Of Grimes creek. One day,
while all Of the party were in camp,
shot was fired a short distance
from camp, the bullet passing over
the mems heads. A few moments af-
ter second shot was fred, the bull
let cutting the hair over one of Mr..
Branstetter's ears. Grimes, a Port
ugese named Philip, Nose Splaun,
and Wilson Crimes partner
struck out from camp on the hunt of
the Indian that did the shooting
Grimes got on the track of the Indi-
an, on hill above camp, and was fol-
lowing the tracks, with his shot gun
in his hands, when the fatal shot was
fired. Splaun was about fifty yards
to Grimes lett and the Portuguese
ashort distance behind. Grimes was
within thirty steps of the Indian and
about hundred and fifty yards from
camp when he was shot. The Indian
made his escape. Grimes was shot
near the heart and lived only long
enough to tell Wilson to tell his wife.
who was in Portland, how he came
by his death. Grimes and Wilson
were both from Portland Grimes
frequently made the remark that he
would never reach home that he was
to be killed by Indians. The day be-
fore he was killed he remarked, while
gazing at the picture of his only child
daughter few years of age, that
he would never see her again-that
he had only short time to live. His
daughter, we are informed, is still
living, and visited Boise City veal
ago. Grimes remains were buried
at Grimes Pass, where he was killed
uflmes was young man, twenty.
seven or twenty-eight years of age
The party consisted of four Portu
gese and three other men, in addition
to those mentioned, the names of two
Oh whom Mr.. Branstetter never knew
ana the names of the others he has
forgotten. Grimes was killed in Au
gust, 1862. A short time after hi:
death the party left for Auburn, Or
egon, and returned in October of the
same year. There are only two O
tne Orlmes party now known to be
ilVing, Col. FOCUS and Mr.. Branstet
.er That fall Branstetter and A. ID
Saunders rocked out from $50 to 81;
day, near Pioneerville, and packed
Tue DIRT 100 yards in sacks. A. ID
saunders and Marion Moore ret11rn