Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-04
FAIRLY DAYS IN BOISE BASIN.


r. ". Jones, In west Shore.
Gold was first discovered in Boise coun.
" near the head of Grimes creek by Il
party Of sixteen prospectors, healed by
man named Grimes, In whose honor the
creek was named in September, 1862.
day or two after the discovery, while the
men were in camp, a bullet whistled
among them, striking a few inches from
tho face Of Joseph Branstetter, who was
lying near the camp fire. He, with
Grimes and several others, knowing that
the shot had been fired by an Indian, i'm.
nediately started for tho divide between
the head Of the creek and Payette river.
Grimes was ahead, and, when near the
summit, an Indian fred from his place OF
concealment, killing him instantly. The
country was thoroughly searched during
the afternoon, but no signs Of Indians
could be found other than the moccasin
tracks Of tho murderer, who had escaped
down the Payette side of the mountain
The party, after constructing barricade
Ave miles below, which they called Fort
Hog'emu came across the low range of
mountains that passes through the center
of Boise basin from north to south, and
discovered gold on Elk creek, half y mile
above its junction with More creek.
After doing sufficient amount OF pros
pecting TO satisfy themselves that the
places were enormously rich, and making
locations OF ground and water nights, the
party went to Auburn, Oregon, to spend
the winter, pledging their words to each
other 10 keep faithfully within their own
breasts the secret Of the discoveries. Ac
cording to agreement, all were to return
as early as possible the following spring
TO extract the great wealth of the COLDER
sands of Boise Basin, where, apparently
white men had never preceded them.
Boise basin is about eighteen miles II
diameter, surrounded by high mountains
and contains every evidence of once hav
log been covered by q lake hundreds o
feet in depth. No geologist would for !
moHent doubt the correctness Of this the
ory
Shortly after the party arrived at Auburn
the secret leaked out rs such secrets Away
do, and wild rumors OF the fabulous woaltl
ofthe new diggings seemed to pass through
the country with the winds EveIybod
talked OF gold, and all who could secur
pack animals, with many who were coui
ageous enough to carry their "grub" AM
blankets on their backs, were soon off II
search of the new FL Dorado. The di,
coyerers FASTENED back and made tlei
locations OF ground aud water rights st
cure. or that party only two are nov
known to be alive-Oolonel Fogus an
Joseph Branstetter. The later resides q
Idaho City, where no is still successful
engaged in placer mining.
When the TALL SHOWS began to forbode
hard winter many of the iortano seeker
departed for more congenial cline
About $50 men remained and lived |
hastily constructed log cabins on Bannoc
bar, which burg was given the very orig
nal and fitting name of ;" Logtown." Du
ing tie winter but little work was don
as the snow fell to the depth of Ave fee
When spring opened, however, every ma
went to work with q vim under the encou
agement Of such prospects rs he Ind new
seen before The dirt was fabulously rio
the gravel near the bedrock yielding fro
a few cents 10 So and $40 10 the pan.
suon ~ the snow had disappeared, or suf
cieutly so 20 admit OF travel, men ilocke
into The new camp by the thousands, and
CITY Of several thousand inhabitants ra
dis huiltup, receiving the name of Bal
mock" which was discarded in 1865 Il
the present one af Idaho City" TO avoi
confusion of mail matter with Bannoe
In Eastern Idaho now Montana. The ne
town Ia few mouths became one OF Il
fnost characteristic aud wealthy on u
Pacific side OF The Rocky mountain
Stores, saloons, music halls dance houss
theatres, etc, sprang up almost like mus
rooms. Fortune seekers-merchants, q
tors, musicians, proprietors of dan
houses and theatres, Simon SHADES and h
tel men--vied with each other IN securii
the bushels Of gold coming out of Il
ground by the hard work of the har'
miner, while men who had not the coura
10 60 into the mountains in search of NJ
alggings Jumped their neighbol
ground tmany times losing their lives
loing s5), and gamblers and robbers &C
nived to secure the gold without giyi
ANYTHING in return, Those were days
great excitement and, as cut-throats a
toaghs Of every section of the Pacific COZ
fiocked 10 the new camp, great ma
murders aud highway robberies we
committed.
On the roads leading 10 0wyhee, Sou
Boise and otbtr mining districts disc,
cred In 1868. Indians were very troub
some, rs well as along the emigrant 70
Ia Boise valley, across Camas prairie a
along the Malsd. On the receipt of /
news Of masscres of emigfants and tray
ers between the different camps volunt,
companies were hastily organized n
equipped and sent 10 deal out retaliati
on the troublesome tribes, the Snakes a
Shoshoues JEFF StaDdifer, who died
the Black Hills few years age, head
several such expeditions.
Besides the gold bars sent out throu
the express companies during the first {
or three years Of placer mining, milli'
in dust were taksn on pack ANIMALS, c
cealed among blankets and camping {
fits, and on the persons of miners who
become satisfied 10 leave for their
homes in every part OF the world with
searching after more when their clai
were worked out.
Wages were 81 per day and IS
night Tor laborers, while skilled mech
les received SO and sl2, and the nece,
-ies and luxurics of lite were proporti
;.;ely high. Flour ranged flom S10to
yer sack of fifty pounds; eggs, from S