Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-21

WIN, BAS8ETT' THE PIONEER IN
ORC FINO.

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| On Tuesday evening about 8 o'clock
we entered the hardware store Of G. G..
Bunnell, in this city, where there were
teveral gentlemen sitting and in CONVEX
safion. One Of them looked up aud say.:
"thtre is Mr.. Leland, I'll bet he don
know me-" looked at him and had a
dim recollection of having seen his face
before somewhere but could not remem-
Der where nor could recall his name if
| ever knew it, and told him 80. He
asked if / did not recollect man named
Bassett, told him l once knew man
by that name in 1860, who was with
Capt. Pierce at tho time he first went up
the North Fork of Clearwater, and Reed
creek and over into the Orofino basin.
He said he was the identical man. I
then could see the resemblance of Bias
sett, but nearly twenty-five years had
greatly changed his appearance. We
then talked more freely about things and
especially events of early days, till about
IL pm. He was in company with a
party going into the Bitter Root noun
tains and was to have left early the next
morning, but agreed to return this way
and give his adventures. In the fall Of
1860, after his first trip with Captain
Pierce and return he sent letter to the
Portland Times, of which we were then
editor, for publication giving brief ac-
count Of the trip Of the party and what
prospects they had found, and afterwards
we had long interview with him at the
office Of the Times upon the subject Of
this Eastern country generally. From him
| became convinced that the Bitter Root
mountains were prolific in gold and that
lit was grand field for prospecting.
Everything then in Oregon was at low
ebb, comparatively little money in the
country, and great many idle men
throughout, living on the ranches. No
market for products Of ranching and farm
| ing, and business in Portland and other
small towns greatly tagged. | was So
licited to take hold with the other pub
Usher Of the Times to which consented.
# they would start daily paper. To
this they consented and on the 10th day
Of December Of that year we started the
Daily Times, and during that winter
and spring We devoted much Of our space
and time in writing up this Eastern coun-
try giving much attention to the gold
prospects Of this country, taking our
data from information from the statements
of Bassett, who was generally accredited
as mos. reliable man, where known
among friends aud acquaintance in Port
land. So full was the Times with the
gold prospects Of this upper country
when no other newspaper in Oregon nor
Washington hardly made mention, that
many Of our staunchest friends began to
think we were little off aud often told
US 50, and the Oregonian, the Salem
papers and Olympia papers charged that
we were hired by the Oregon Steam
Navigation Company to do this writing
and publishing specially to build up their
business Of navigating the upper Colum-
bia, when IN fact they gave us no counsel
and no money or other consideration
greater than they gave the Oregonian
and other papers within their range Of
business. The prospectors made up |
party and started out again for the Orofino
basin late in the fall from Walla Walla
with supplies for winter encampmeut
IN the mountains. The then Indian
agent, who resided at Walla Walla, post |
cd notices forbidding their going through |
the Nee Perez country, but was advised
by friends to make no demonstration Of i
hostility to those going, SO long as the
Neg Perces were willing, and they left. |
Some returned from the foot Of the
while % Of the men passed on |
TO the Orofno basin, built themselves |
winter quarters and went to prospecting |
Tor gold. Nothing was heard from them |
ill the Sth day Of March, four Of the
men came. out to an Indian encampment
aear the mouth Of Orofpo creek on snow
hoes, 10 half starved condition, and
rought out about $500 in gold dust, the
product Of the labors Of the party during
he time they sspnld work. They pro-
'eeded to Wailsf MALTA. The news was
ent to US at Portland BY special express
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