Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-18
RICH PLACERs IN MONTANA.
A Rush of Gold-seekers 20 the Sweet
Grass Hills, Near the Boundary.

MINNEAroIIs. MINI. March ls-A special to
the Trij1oae from Big Sandy, Mont, saws: THIS
little town is full of excitement over the devel-
opment of gold mines in the Sweet Grass Hills.
IS miles northwest of here. People have just
arrived from the Hills reporting that miners IN
Eclipse gulch are making from so 90 $50
day. Most Of the gold Is taken out in the
placer diggIngs. Blue ore has been struck by
several parties in the Hills. and the country n
full OF prospectors from Helena and other
mining districts. II the present rush contin-
ues straitened times must inevitably result
as men from all parts Of Montana and Dakota
are Hooking here in great numbers without
making adequate provision for subsistence.
Frank STILES, of Chamberlain. South Dakota,
heads party of go!d-seekers who arrived from
81 Paul yesterday. They will open a mine
owned by Stiles in East Butte. and are all pre-
pared 20 locate claims. Beside the gold depos-
its. which are the center of interest. the amount
of silver IN the rock at the Hills has led 20 the
organization OF three companies. the Brown.
Reid X Belle. the Detroit and the Hazel
which are now opening mines at East Butte. in
the Hills. Other parties prospecting for
this ore. which exists in well-dcfined leads all
through this region.
TEMPORARY FAMINE FEARED.
Actual work at the mines has. as yet only
fairly begun. but the results are very satisfac-
tory TO the parties working claims. To Alfred
Hilles, a Butte miner. is probably due the
creult OF the discovery OF gold an paving quanti-
ties in the Hills. He has been working quietly
at Middle Butte for nearly a year. and shows
about $4,000 for his labors. About week ago,
however. general rush commenced and nov
the country As overrun with prOspectors, some
of whom have absolutely nothing. and
supplies cannot be brought in fast
enough to feed everybody IL looks
ds II temporary famine WAS eminent
SCENE or THE DISCOVERIES.
The Sweet Grass Hills. in which the gold has
been discovered. are 50 miles 10y wagon road
northwest of Big Sandy. and just south Of the
international boundary. The Hills comprise
three buttes. varying in elevation from 800 10
s.iOO feet. Water and timber are abundant in
East Butte. no timber and water scarce in
Middle Butte. Between and around the buttes
are broad bottom lands with small creeks The
richest placer digglngs are at Eclipse gulch in
Middle Butte. and and Hazletine's gulch IN the
East Butte. Silver, copper. iron and a fine
quantity of marble have been found. while
coal Is abundant On Milk river and
Sage rock to the east IL the present
immigration continues. these mines will be
developed in short time and prices of food.
now AT the top notch. will go up out of sight.
Scarcely a man at the mines is getting less than
~ day. that being the wages paid but nearly
every one Is prospecting for himself. The ono
great obstacle here Is the distance from mar
ket There are but two lines of railroad here.
DIR. Barker. of Helena. and party of Ohio cap
ltalists control a valuable property here and
have decided to develop these mines next
month, taking the products 20 Benton or Great
Falls. Like every one else here. they are en-
thusiastic on gold finding. and nothing else can
be heard around here but the strike in the
Sweet Grass Hills and the development of the
mines.