Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-01

named in honor Of the latter. When
gold was first discovered Kelly's gulch
was named Summit, by which it was
known until 1864. Immediately af-
ter the finding of gold the discover
ers departed for other sections of Ida
no in which to spend the winter.
In April, 1864, party consisting
of about twenty-five men, left for
Stanley. Among them were Richard
Douglass, Norwegian Billy John
Barracks, Donald Grant, George
Fairbanks, Duncan Ferguson, now of
Idaho City, and Thos. Conroy, well
known citizen of Idaho's beautiful
capital. The party went down to
Boise City, where provisions and 9th
er necessary supplies were purchased.
Then they hastily proceeded on their
journey, going by way of Little Cam
as Prairie to South Boise river, which
they followed up to the extreme head
waters and passed over the Sawtooth
range near the present town Of Saw
tooth. On the journey they followed
the old Indian trail to the Salmon,
and in reaching the summit of the
Sawtooth, the Hottest and grandest
range OF mountains in Idaho, much
difficulty was experienced in getting
through the deep snow. AT times it
was necessary for both man and
beast to wade down the cold stream
of Bear creek, which was much swol-
len from the melting SHOWS.
When the Warm Springs, on the Salmon,
forty miles above Stanley, were reached a
band of Indians made their appearance on
a mountain near by. The prospectors
were very anxious 70 find Kelly, who had
) preceded them, and called and beckoned
to the natives of the mountain forest to
. come down and talk with them; but they
could not be induced 10 come, fearing that
the prospectors intended to murder them.
1 Failing to get any Information from the
( Indians the men FASTENED on and camped
a at the mouth of Waller creek that evening
A short time after going into camp the
little band OF gold seekers commenced
rapidly increasing in numbers
/. They had been followed nv men
. who did not know the location Of Stanley
basin, but had heard reports of the grea
: richness of the diggings. In few hour.
J two hundred men were at the camp, only
a three or four mics from the mines. Wher
o daylight dawned the following morning
4 there was u grand rush, Many leaving
their provisions and blankets at camp
mounted their horses and galloped ahead
v while those who had not provided them
z selves with ANIMALS went with all possible
a haste on foot. All, however, were doomed
q TO disappointment as they had been pre-
. coded by others, who had located all o
% the ground in the gulches and on the bars
l. James Buckley, formerly sheriff of Walli
l. Walla county, Washington, Was the luck
n possessor of good ground on Buckley
= bar, which still bears the name it wa
. given In his honor.
r In few days, finding that all the goo'
Ia ground had been located, the stampeder
m dispersed, some of the men returning t.
n the camps from which they departed
-, while many scattered through the noun
vi tains In search of other placers, whic
a was usual after all the famous stampede!
re One party, consisting of several men, wen
n through the Lost and Wood river country
= but were unsuccessful. They found som
u copper and galena ore, but considere
IN ii worthless. Very rich cinnabar float
,ir is still found in the placer claims in Ike
ar ly's gulch. Many men have prospecte
lbl years ioi tnC WIN llltl tiliOWS IL gu
,o but none have succeeded in finding /
" The placer claims in the district are sti
d. successfully worked.
to A few miles above Stanley basin, on til
he side of II hill one or two hundred yard
a. from Valley creek, are three forts in ROY
and few feet distant from each othe
u They are builtof unhewn granite bowlder
n and have an ancient look, being almo
rs, filled with debris. When the first whit
DIS man visited them, In 1868, they appeare
= rs old as they do at the present day. b
= whom they were constructed, or for VIII
u purpose, no one knows.
Is In July, 1865, n party OF men from FL
Tn creek, Montana, struck placer mines on
gs stream that was given the name Of Rapi,
.ss creek, which empties into the SALINE
below the mouth of the Lemhi. The me
who composed this party are well know
les in Montana and Idaho. Their names al
us "Lyge" Mulky, Jos, Rapp, Barney Sha
on key and VIM. Smith. They went back
"a Elk City aud returned with others in A
~ gust. when town was laid out The III
p jority of the prospectors being Souther
"a sympathizers, gave II the name of Lee
ed burg. The Unionists laid out anoth,
al town, which they called Grantsvill
Leesburg being the most favorable locatic
'P' for a town. Grantsville did not tlouris
no and soon afser all of the business WI
mo- done la Leesburg The name Leesbul
s, was proposed by Benjamin Heath, al
:" seconded by Martinelly. who are no
ne prominent citizens of Lemhi count
in When the name was adopted the propose
rs; suggested that everybody take drink
he aud, as there was not a drop OF liquor
- the place, all repaired to spring Of God
'a only beverage, pure. sparkling watt
os- which they drank from tin cups. Tn
&C. the name Lcesburg was christened.
we But little, II anything, was known
do. Leesburg or her mines elsewhere un
o., 1897, when her existence became know
III through the adjoining country. So,
men hocked in by hundreds from Boi
al basin, Idaho, and Montana. The plsc
ras mines were rich, but not extensive, al
~ hundreds were of course disappointed, 81
'iS soon left for greener fields and pastuI
%, new, TO use figurative expression,
I'm, The first term OF district court held
of what is now Lemhi county was by He
i'm Milton Kelly, chief justice. and late PIT
Nc Usher of the Boise Statesman. John I
mey, deputy sheriff being called away
vas business, George Stuck, now Of Ida