Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-11-30
HOW HE FOUND GOLD
&. W. Davis Tells Of the First Discovery
at RAINY AXE

at Rainy Lake.
The story of the discovery of the new
gold field on the islands in rainy lake in
Minnesota not far from the Canadian
boundary is lacking in many of the
elements which gave the early dis
covcries in California their charm of
romance, but it is nevertheless a tale of
more than ordinary adventurous inter
est, and II the new field develops the
rlchness mat is now anticipated the
narrative VIII one day possess value as
history.
Ever since the days when the first
white man came into the Northwest
there have been stories of rich gold de-
posts III the lake region far up toward
the border, and there have been many
attempts to discover the precious metal
There have been many gold excite
ments as we'll. In 1854 the country
beyond Lake Nermilion was heralded
as the new FL Dorado, but the only gold
was that which came into the pockets of
the Spectator who heeced unwary
victims with salted claims and the ex-
element was short lived.
The honor Of the discovery of gold in
the Rainy Lake region is claimed by c.
tel last week. His story of the trip
which led to the discovery is an inter-
esting one. In substance his story was
as follows
The first discovery was made OH Au
gust IS after an exploring trip which
extended over a period OF SIN months,
when he came finally to a little island
in Rainy Lake about a mile from the
Canadian border, and there with pan
familiar to the miners III the old Cali
fornia days washed ont the first gold
ever found by this process in Minneso
Ia In former cxcitements assays Of al
legged gold rock had shown rich results,
but chemists can be bought. When the
yellow metal shows in the bottom OF the
pan there can he no mistake, and it was
bv this test that Mr.. Davis proved the
value of his find.
Davis is an old explorer-in expert
ence rather than in years however-and
an expert into the value OF certain iron
lands which were on the market. He
came from Denver to Duluth, after an
experience of nearly fifteen years IN the
gold country of Colorado. The close OF
his work in the iron fields came III the
early fall and he decided to spend the
winter in Duluth Already there were
whispers of the gold to be had near the
boundrv and the spring found him at
Rat Portage ready for his long trip
through the country where it was said
gold could be found.
He left Rat Portage on May 20, as
soon as the ice was out of Lake OF the
Woods, and from that time until nearly
the end of August he travelled alone
through the great lake region. For
l.; l, Il no H.
ole human being and when he did come
across his fellow men it was not always
TO his advantage. The country was
much of it unexplored and he was
forced often to trust entirely to the IN
stinct of the explorer to find his way
When he left Rat Portage Davis. took
with him flour, pork, tea ana molasses
enough to last him four months. his
only arms were a heavy revolver and a
hunting knife. His goods were packed
away in a canoe weighing 10 POUNDS
and in this he made his home tor nearly
three months.
In making his start Davis followed
what is known as the canoe route 70
Rainy Lake, following the me OF snt
lake of the Woods up into Whltensn
Raw a distance of about fifty miles, ana
then went on through series OF niue
lales and connecting streams to fort
Eranc;s From the time OF leaving
Whitefish BAY until he arrived at the
canadian town, a distance or elSnty
m;Ins he was compelled to make seven :
teen mortgages and across eacn one ol
those he had to carry unaldeu ms
heavy canoe and his store OF pro-
Rut the portages did not otter the
only difficulties. IN root frint iahe,
While he was still several days Jouiiv NY
from Fort Francis, his canoe WI, Wiz
wrecked OH reef IN suuoeii ~ 49, -
Until morning he was conlpo,,ut bic
stand in the cold water 70 presei,. or rvs
provisions being lost ana M 1;len otehas
thing he had was soaked. li us, ,'i ha VAS
did not escape and for TWO Gays NC Nc. Ma1
unable to build any fire. during lnas
time while he still pressed on, ne iiNeu
on raw salt pork and the raw nes IL :, 10 :"
,,n rt,;dca which ne had shot with MS re
volver. bo nassed into
Leaving Fort Frames ne passe ad the
p,;na iaIa and had he followed TUE
south shore of the lake he mlsn. ,,sa
sovea himself several weeks OF se'F far
90, But he was LOOKING Loi
tha tale slate formation in whlcn ne o ajl
G imo he would find gold, ana Iron. sa "a
49, tio he had heard he expected 70 n
his formation along the noIli ; e shnre
For DAVIS he followed along SI ;olat the
seeking in every little bay anu = while
taIc slate, but never nnai,ns ar =; rock
the islands with THEN, g olu p. 70 the
was left further ana se1 ui RAINY
south and east. lie 1ono .h and then
Lake along its whole ienS END he found
e oerfdtsd in in his ise course following the