The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-06-24

of, and the imaginary town christene,
'Oro Grande." The choicest claim
and town lots were soon located and re
corded by those on the ground, and thei
they we're ready for the rush and boon
that were sure to follow.
Runners were sent out, to carry tn,
news of tho wonderful discovery, tc
Idaho City, Salmon City and Leesbnrg
taking few nuggets of gold with them
by way Of positive proof The new,
spread like wild FIRE, and within few
weeks the population of Orc Grande
had increased to several hundred
Where undisturbed quiet had reigned
before, all was now noise, rush and
rustic. Scores of houses were hastily
constructed of brush, poles and logs
some frail, temporary sffairs. and Others
quite substantial. Adams & Knapp too
in, as partner, one of the new corners
from Idaho City, by the name of M. A.
Wentworth. Wentworth and Adams
remained in camp and built three log
houses Zone to be used as store), " lille
Knapp went out to Idaho City and
bought aud shipped, by pack train, a
small cargo Of merchandise upon the
arrival of which the store was opened,
and our friends were soon doing vely
business. Two or three other stores
stores we're opened about the same time;
also hotel, restaurants, various sa-
looms, etc. etc. Gamblers, desperadoes,
adventures, business men, miners,
prospectors, honest men and rascals, all
classes, were fully TT presented and bust
ness was lively. But winter was now
near at hand. No work could be done
in the mines until the next spring. PIo-
visions were scarce and dear. Flour $40
per sack; and, at one time, it sold as
high as fifty cents pound, and no one
man was allowed to buy more than FIVE
pounds at any one time. About this
time hundreds of men saw tbe.necessiry
of falling back, for the winter, to where
the cost of living was cheaper, and soon
the population of Orc Grand was re-
duced to about -four hundred men, four
married and two single ladies', and few
children.
The deep snow on the mountains had
now stopped all travel, except on snow
shoes, and not relishing the idea of be-
ing shut off from communication with |
civilization, and the outside world, for
several months, our friends resolved to
start an express line on their own hook.
Mr.. Wentworth, being an. expert on
snow shoes, undertook to make the trip
semi-monthly between Orc Grand and
Idaho City, distance of one hundred
and forty miles through the wild rugged
carrying the mail on his
back. Regular and profitable trips
we're successfully made by this daring
nan. The charge for taking out or
bringing in letters weae fifty cents each;
newspapers, fifty to seventy-fve cents
magazines, one dollar each, and small
packages in proportion. Soon he en-
'loyed another man, Frank Smith, of
Boise Basin, to assist him. The seccess ,
nd profit of the venture soon infne need ,
mother party to engage in the same
usiness. This party was Judge Shep-
ard, afterwards of the "Bedrock Dem
GRAFT" of Baker City, Oregon. Charley 7
asset did the snowshoe act in this in
lance.
That fall two young men, Eph Mat a
hews and John Connors, bad built a a
abin on the trail between Idaho City f
nd Orc Grande, al point about thirty v
lilies from The latter place, hich they a
ailsd Cape Horn Station, and whore 8
ley spent the long, cold winter trap o
ing. This was an oasis in the desert q
'r our mail carriers. v
Al went we'll until about the goth of h
ecember, when Wentworth failed to s,
'me in on time. A terrible storm was .,
-evaliing at the time the snow had tt
tanned depth of from six to ten or "
'elve feet all over that section of the :
nntry,a and the thermometer indicated d,
temperature far below zero. The nom ST
rival of Wentworth and Smith did moi &C
first create much anxiety, as % their nj
fety, in the minds of the snow bound tn
nizens of our isolated burg, as it was h.
ought very probable that they had
l started out from Idaho City during at
e prevalence of such . storm as had WI
en- raging for several days But when, fa
out week afterwards, Charley Tassel wi
rived, more dead than alive. and re- To-
rted having had fearful trip, and be
At Wentworth and Smith had started tn
from Idaho City five days ahead of co
N, but that he had seen no sign of in,
sm anywhere on the route, it was arr
certain that No. |