Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-01
AK OUTING IN IDAHO.
DESOLATiON OF WHAT WAS ONCE
 A RICH GOLD FIELD.

A RICH GOLD FIELD.
 Camping Oat in tie Depths of Forest.
 Interview with Old Prospector-A
 Dream of n.iliions-An Unwelcome visi-
 tor-A Shot.
 A journey of about thirty-five miles brought us to Boise Basin, a trough like val ley. that was at one time the richest gold field in the world. The small forest set cave gave up g GOO of the precious dust in a single year Where the throng of miners battle1 in the strife in those palrny days is now silent shaded waste, reminding one of an ancient catacomb. The trunks of giant trees are rotting where they were uprooted by the hydraulic force that removed noun tains. The creek that furnished the water to work the desolation and wash out the gold still grumblcs and sighs and splashes in it's mad rush. It winds among the limbs of trees forty feet above it's old bed where it has been raised by the debris. We jolted along over road bed of rock washed bare by the stream that had been drawn from it's channel hundred times by the changing sands, till cooler breath warned us night was coming on and that we must choose a camp ground, We passed beyond the most desolate part of the abandoned gold field. There was evidence of later work in all the gulches leading up the hill side, where water could not be conducted from the large creeks
 We came to green plat near an old cabin and decided to camp for the night We were so deep in the heavy forest that no wind famed us It came to LIS ill a murnur that added to the solitude The signing of a waterfall came up from Morre's creek ill sweils that mingled with the music of the trees We wondere.i who could be the occu- pant of the tumble down log cabin-who could have buried himself in such living tomb We soon learned that it was the home of MT. B., we'll known prospector, who had lived in those mountains since 62. He came out and introduced himself. A gray, unkempt beard and long hair seemed to crowd upward to the sIo,lched hat that held them ill bounds as the binders hold loose hay. He was dressed in soiled canvas clothes, but he acted the host with the air of one who knew his importance in his element. The rude struct- ure he called home pile of round logs, and so low was the door that we had to stoop to pass through. We could not resist his invitation, however, and soon were be- tween the rough sooty walls A broad fire place, built of stones and dirt, set off from one end of the single room. A mattress of pine H,tlSHS cOV0Iou WILL lul Sn1-1S e1Ai'A OAO blankets was held in framework to the logs and was his bed. A side of bacon hung from the low rafters His chair was a block sawed from round log; and it stood on end by shelf that was used for table, cupboard and pantry.
 He told us his claim yielded gold dust enough in two or three weeks, while the snow was melting rapidly, to supply his wants for year. The balance of his time he spent ill making prospecting tours far into the most rugged mountain regions. lie searched for quartz mines exclusively. Every inch. of the old house was cabinet of mineral specimens. He conversed wisely of sulphurets, copper stains, galena and lodges with walls and dips, of assays and of various grades of ore. He told us of pros poets on 1000 hills that by any process of reasoning would have made him ten times millionaire He was so absorbed in his sub
 ject-his dream of millions-that we re- treated through the doorway before he be- came aware of our intentions.
 The first night out in lonely woods, one cannot sleep soundly. That night two ladies, three gentlemen and two small children, who constituted our party, were restless even at the still hour of midnight. The ladies and the children were in the tent; the gentlemen l were tossing about on a hard, improvised 1 couch under the wagon. The slightest noise | seemed to be annoying The horses snorted
 restlessly sometimes as though they had | seen some strange object. An owl booted l near by, and his doleful notes awakened l answers that came like strange voices from | the other world. The fire had not burned l out. and it fckered up unsteadily and made weird figures on the tent walls. Our most | timid friends were by that time in a mood to l be easily frightened A stealthy footfall was | heard. Something was sneaking around the | camp It passed between the tent and the | slender shoots of flame. It's shadows came 1 and went on the canvas. It was hideous, it was monster in proportions. So at least
 thought the ladies as they buried their faces
 under the quilts Scratch, scratch, was heard
 on the tent, lightly at first, then it ripped | with loud sound.
 A scream came from the folds Of bed
 clothes The men were reused. They could
 see some animal by the light of the uncertain
 fire, with halt Us tody through hole in the side of the tent. 1t was ravenously devour-
 ing roast chicken, boiled ham and other deli l cacies of the iarder gun was at hand; a l bullet was sent through the intruder. A l scream from the brute followed the report of l the gun. 1t spram2 forward into the te1t l directly upon the bed The occupants were l dumb with fright. In frenzy the animal tore | its woul!e, side tore it's own vitals from 1 the bullet hole and madly shook blood and | filth over the tent, the bed and the clothes l scattered about and then with cries that l rent the air fell dead. It was found to be a | Rocky mountain wolverine 1t was as large as a wolf. = Roxey Newton in Detroit Free Press