The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-03
GOT A PASS AFTERWARDS.
James Wardner Tells How Big a
Cockroach Looked on
the Wall.
Cleaned Up Just Eighty Thousand
Dollars In the Occur
d'Alene.
He Interviewed Ex-Gov. Hauser and Was
Suited to r About Colossal
= Mine.


Suited to . r About Colossal
Mine.
A deeply interesting story it was that
James Wardner told at the Hotel Spokane
last night of the opening of mining in the
Occur d'Alene, coupled with the beginning
of Spokane's great prosperity, says the
Spokesman.
"It was 1872 in Utah." Mr.. Wardnsr be-
gan, when first met Johnny Flaherty
and was interested with him in various
deals. We met again in the Black Hills IN
1876. He was then an owner in the Father
de Smit and the Homestake. He sold ont
to Senator Hearst. who was then in the
Black Hills, fo- $4,000. Flaherty staid
there, and Hearst and his friends took him
in on the Gopher with three or four assess
ments, and Flaherty ended by landing on
his uppera. In the fall of 1886 pulled a
toboRean into Eagle, and soon had freight
line established into the new mining region
of Occur d'Alene, hauling freight at
twenty-five cents pound. FlahertDI
encountered again, trying to find bed rock
on Pritchard creek. Flaherty next went on
the South Fork prospecting and went to
Murray. He located the Phil Sheridan,
while Phil O'Rourke and Kellogg located
the Bunker Hill. One evening about five
O'Clock in October, 1886, Flaherty came into
my place at Murray, and told me that he
would put me on to great discovery. 1t
was out on the ia ckass trail, and / was to
find the place by blazed trees. rode all
night, and when came to where Flaherty
Kellogg and Sullivan had located. l saw
what never saw before. It was solid
vein of galena between two walls Of rock.
I took some pieces and put them in Sulli-
vans overalls to carry back to Murray. I
gave the pair some money to last them
while sent the specimens to San Fran
cisco.
when the report came back from Frisco
We found out for the first time the value of
the Cceur d'Alene mines. made contract
with the owners of the claim to take out
$1,000 tons at SIS ton, and a share of the
before the ore changed, and it wouldn't pay
IS ton to take it out. had to do some
thing. took some of the ore and started
ont. All there WAS on the Occur d'Alene
steamer that trip WAS q grindstone and
passenger with pass. l found the ore to
be fine concentrating ore. went to Hell
ena. Hauser was away. Esler was away.
The assayer told me had better 90 to Gus
ter, seventy miles below, and see man
there. went. found the man went to
see, and he told me he had done better than
the other FELLOWSHIP had learned how to
smelt the ore, but not at a profit and the
company would have to bust. He thought
the ore a good thing, and referred me to D.
r. Thompson, of the Commercial National
bank at Portland went to see
Thompson. He looked up TO the ceiling
could do nothing until the next July. He
had been disappointed in some Colville
mines, had big estate to settle up and
could do nothing before that time. I told
him by next July 1t would be all over with
me. then had forty men at work for So
back to Spokane Falls with an even $50 in
cash and owed $1,000 at the mines. People
here smiled when told them l wanted
money for a concentration. Drumhellar
said sheep were good enough for him.
got letter from the Northern Pacific re-
fusinR to give me pass and telling me
they. could fill up their trains with such
people as I was. l got pass after
wards, though. I was pretty we'll
down. Walter I. Beam came to
me one day and said there was
was signed A. NJ. Esler. Il said had bet
ter come to Helena immediately, bor-
rowed a fifty and started. Sam Hauser, l
heard, when reached Helena. wanted to
see me. He told me the orc was fine con-
centrating ore, and there was something in
We
."As sat there knew I had fortune if
could get any one to believe the truth.
II told HAuser all about the mine the
quantity OF ore in sight, and the contract
had.
"'I came here in 1862 and have seen manv
big liars.' he replied, but you are the most
colossal liar ever saw
THAT suits me to a t. replied, and
that 10 the biggest colossal mine ever
saw
back with me, and If the mine bore out my
statement to have aid in building a CON
centrator. He asked on what terms. and I
told him was not making terms: he was
doing that. also told him wanted a man
who could put up $4,000 and loan me g..
600. he agreed to that and Esler and
started back. II took us two weeks to 20
into the Cnur d'Alene from Spokane Falls.
Mr.. Wardner then told how the concen-
traitor was in operation by July l, 1887, and
how it paid from the start The Bunker
Hill and Sullivan mines passed into the
possession Of Sim Reed, of Portland. April
q. 1888. for 81, O00, 900.
"Over table at the Arlington he con
tinued, 1871 900 in cash Of the purchas,
money passed. That began the boom Of
Spokane Falls, whom people realized that
mine in her tributary district would bring
clean million.
Governor Hauser made $l55,0OO ON hi,
contract. I remember that I cleaned VI
just $4,000 good American dollars. l re-
member that went into iewelry store to
buy diamond and found four OF the Other
fellows there ahead of me buying diamonds
We had been drinking beer in the Cnul
d'Alene, but now We took to the fines,
wines, finding fault with all the brands.
when l awoke the next morning I sale
to myself, is this a dream. Can It DO tina
after being broke for fifteen years l an
loaded up?" / saw a cock-roach on tn,
wall. It looked awful big. just then say
the corner of bank book sticking out o
my. coat pocket. l jumped out of bed
and there saw on the credit side $4,000
was the happiest fellow you ever saw
Mr.. Wardner related how the now pros
porous Idaho town of that name came /,
be called after him in gratitude for VIVA
he had done in opening the great mine. H
ia at present located in Fairhaven, wher
he is heavily interested in real estate an
coal mining.
MONTANA MINES.
Changes In the Granite Mountain-A Sta.
In COpperopolis.
At the regular monthly meeting of th