Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-04
Peter b. Thomas.

Peter b. Thomas.
Peter B. Thomas, Familiarity known al
"Scotty," has heen in Montana about
twenty-five years. When o mere boy ht
went from Portland, Ore, to Walla Wa la
Washington, There he joined a mar
named Babcock, who owned q ranch nea
Walla Walla, and together they poocured
a supply Of provisions and pack horses
and started for Idaho on q prospecting
tour. Before they had proceeded far they
we're Joined by q trapper who asked to
share the trials and fortunes OF the trip
His company was accepted and the three
men continued on together. Babcock and
the trapper were dead shots with the re-
volver and were envious OF each other in
consequence. 1t was nothing remarkable
for either Of them to clip of the head of a
grouse or prairie chicken at fifteen OF
twenty PAGES. This feeling OF envy soon
grew into hatred, but each was afraid oil
the other-so afraid in fact that they
would not sleep together.
The first place of note reached on the
trip was Lewiston, where, after a sh ,rt
stop, it was again decided to again take
the trail. The party then proceeded to
Slate creek, neal Florence, Idaho, and
went into camp, for the purpose OF doing a
little prospecting. Babcock was one OF
that clas of dyspetics known as cranks and
would not look for anything exceptquartz.
-. kk4~-- ~
when not otherwise engaged would walk to
planning to the others why rich quartz
should be close to camp. The trapper on
the other hand was not prospecting on the
~oretical principles and wanted nothing ex-
capt placer. He would not have taken any
notice OF a quartz ledge il it had been stick
ing up within ten inches OF his nose. As
Thomas wa only a boy and knew nothing
q bout either kind Of mining he said nothing.
Babcock and the trapper argued the point
at length, but while the conversation was
going On Thomas incidentally remarked
that if be wanted to prospect for quartz he
would 60 over IN the other side OF the
creek, to which remark the others made no
reply. The spot to which "Scotty" un.
consciously pointed afterward turned out
to contain rich quartz and has since that
time yielded up many thousands OF dollars
in gold. T.
The p~rospector finally concluded to pros
pect the bed OF the creek for placer and, ac-
companied by Thomas, DON had q hole
dug to bedrock which was only two or
three feet from the surface. Colors were
found in the gravel but not in large num-
bers. The two kept digging holes until the
bed of the creek looked like a prairie dog
town, but with the same results in each case.
. ~ 800 -1-~hal I>nan
lying around taking things easy while the
others were prospecting. mnde an
ton OF thu ground and declared that in
order to strike rich ciggings it would be
necessary to 60 through the bed o and
sink to a lower stratum OF the hard rock.
This suggestion was kindly received by the
two others, and a shaft was Immediately
commenced. Thomas was allowed to do
the digging and shoveling, while the two ex-
perts r, manned On top an! did the blowing.
After sinking the shaft to a depth OF o
twenty feet it had TO be abandoned on &C.
count of water, although gold had been
found all the way down. The party then
pulled up stakes and went into camp near
Florence, where the trapper left them.
Babcock was wild and wolly and wanted
to clean out the town. He started in by
shooting a gambler just for the fun OF see
ing him fall. After firing the shot he did
not stop to ascertain the result, but
skipped out to camp and stampeded the
horses, after which he went back to the old
camp and waited for Thomas whom he
had informed before leaving where ne
could be found. He had not
been absent from camp a great
while before q gang OF strangers were on
his trail, but he succeeding in eluding them
The next day he was Joined by Thomas,
and together they Travelled in the direction
of Snake river. When they reached the
bank OF that stream Babcock was
G. mpietely s'off." and after abusing
the horses turned his attention to Thorn
az, who during the entire trip had not car
ried even so much as a jack-knife with
which to defend himself. Babcock drew
his pistol and was about to shoot Thorn
as, when the latter looked him straight
in the eye and caused the coward to
lower his aim. After Babcock had put up
his gun Thomas wanted to fight him a
rough and tumble, go-as-you-please fight,
but Babcock would not do so. Soon after
this occurrence the two men sepa-
rated, Babccck going back to his ranch at
Walla Walla, and Thomas going to Bear
Tongue. which is about 200 miles from
Butte. Mr.. Thomas did not remain at
B ar Tongue long, and went to Deer Lodge,
W here he ran the McBurnie house a short
time. He then vent to Helena, and then
came to Butte, where he now is employed
in the capacity of steward at the g.. Mich
olas hotel.
.Scotty" can tell OF many funny incl
dents and hair-breadth escapes which hap
ueued to him while knocking around
through the West. but as is the case with
other old timers, it is necessary to get him
wound up.
"Sim' Hopkins.