The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-07-19

The collapse of half dozen faro
banks, the bankruptcy of as many Ii
quor shops, the lowering of prices at
the hotels and boarding houses, and the
amending procession now vending its
way out Of this snow bound and torrent
swept camp, all indicate that the great
boom has collapsed at Eagle City, Idaho.
Gamblers, thieves, adventures and hard
men generally from all the mining
camps and frontier settlements in the
country congregated here, expecting to
reap rich harvest, in such numbers
that 1t occurred to them all at once that
they had oyerdone the business. They
pitched their tents and opened up their
banks. saloons and deadfalls, but they
soon discovered that the great majority
of the stampeders were without money
to spare, and that as no gold was being
taken from the placers there was pre-
cious little Of it in circulation Under
such circumstances trade was far from
brisk in any direction, and, having
looked the ground over pretty thorough
ly, the sports concluded that the longer
they stayed here. the poorer they would
be.
"You can't run a gane without
money any more'n you can keep up a
mining fever without DUST" said one of
the toughs this morning as he set tou
for the railroad.
The dog-eat-dog process has been
going on here in all branches Of indus.
try, and the problem of how four or five
thousand men, mostly poor and for the
most part idle, can live off each other,
IS no nearer settlement to-day than it
was before the Pritehard Creek claims
were located. Mad as was the haste of
these men to get here, their anxiety to
get away is almost as great. In some
respects the journey out is worse than
was the trip in, for now all the noun.
tain water courses are open, and it is as
much as mans life is worth to attempt
to cross them. The men now turn
ing their backs on the far-famed Cour
d'Alene district were only few weeks
ago facing what they believed to be for
tune. Bitter experience has shown
them that they are now leaving starva-
ton behind.
"Good-by, boys,n said ''busted''
gambler yesterday morning, as he swung
his kit done up in bag over his
shoulders. "Arizona is good enough fol-
me after this. My health demands that
live in country where you can see
the earth that you're walking OH.
There'll be enough heat IN tins place
before long to melt the snow, and don't
you forget it's
Scores of deluded fellows with scarce
ly grub enough to last them until they
reach the railroad are keeping the dis
appointed gamblers company in their
hegira. While feeling is spreading
generally through the camp that the
whole thing is a swindle, a good many
prospectors and business men with
means sufficient to sustain life unit
summer are determined, now that they
are here, to stay and see the thing out
The hegira of the impecunious classes
will prove g0dsend to the camp. fol
there have been more men here thar
could make living unless the placer,
proved much richer than any disinter
ested people now believe to be possible
Nearly all the celebrated desperadoes
of the far West are now or have beer
here. Every camp from the Black Hills
to the Pacific coast has had representa-
tives here, and the stranger coming into
Eagle City is invited to look upon these
worthless by the lot owner who may
have him in tow as proof positive that
the new diggings are all that has beer
claimed for them. The man-killer from
Deadwood, Tombstone orthe Comstocl
is pointed ont very much as either
further East singles out the buildings o.
public Institutions of the town of hi.
residence in which he takes a loca
pride.
Of the many rough and even desper
ate characters whom one may see on al
sides. 1t has been noticeable for som,
time that comparatively few of then
are altogether cruel and heartless. L
there had not been good deal of laten
kindnest beneath these uninviting ex
teriors, there would have been untolC
suffering in this camp. Hundreds o.
fellows, with just money enough to ge
here, have been sustained by their NOR,
fortunate brethren fof weeks. No broker
man hesitates TO ask for food, although
many one shows that begging IS not Il
his liking. Some of these lunchers are
tolerated for time, and then r0ughl,
refused, when they are compelled t,
look up another place.
Flows grul ?" asked one emaciatet
fellow of man who had plenty, sucl
as it was.
"Grub's scarce, and you want to be
too" was the reply of the indivldua
addressed, in whose eye was savag
glitter.
"l'm powerful hungry, boss" sal,
the man, as lie moved off a few steps.
We'll, come and eat, then," ex
claimed the owner of the victuais.
This thing is an Internal nuisanc,
and an awful tax, but I'm blessed if
can refuse a beggar who looks as thin a
you do. Now fill your sack, and b
lively about 1t before any more ge
around.