The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-20
interesting Legend from Idaho.


DOwNEY, Idaho, April 1S.-Would it
not surprise people of the mining fra
ternity if in this age OF constant and
varying surprises in the discovery of
fields of mineral wealth, some of which
have for years been beaten hard by
the feet of men in the common pursuits
of life, that here in this valley, sup
posed to be dedicated almost exclusive
ly to the use of stockmen and farmers,
there should suddenly loom above our
pastoral horizon visions of gold-gold
for the pan--gold for the pick?
The Bannock mining district was
formed on the 18th of April, with j.
T. Hunt as recorder.
The district covers what is supposed
to be extensive placer diggings and
gold bearing quartz.
The events which led up to the dis
covery of this supposed rich field,
while they may perhaps SAVIOR too much
OF the romantic for thoroughly practi-
cal minds, may not be uninteresting.
THE LEGEND
runs that in 1851 a party of gold seek
ers en- route for California halted for
rest on a beautiful mountain stream,
the sands of which, on examination,
disclosed to their view evidences of the
wealth they were seeking. Unheeding
the cautions of prudence, which urged
them to hasten through what was
known to be a hostile Indian country,
they pitched their camp and prepared
to rave the dangers for the allure
mentS in sight.
For some time they labored in peace,
digging trenches and preparing for the
systematic prosecution of their work.
This might have continued had not
the Bannock, ever jealous of their I'M
disputed possession of the hills, de-
scended upon the incautious invaders.
The story does not detail the struggle
that Observation-Disclosures long or short
but from the ruins Of burning wagons
and a desolate camp there fed toward
the west two men,
THE SOLE SURVIVORS
of that i'll fated camp. Years after,
when the Indians came under COM
plete subsection and the country was
partially settled, a Californian APP
peared, directed by description of the
place in search of the deserted fields.
Meanwhile the appearance of the coun-
try had changed to some extent, roads
had been moved, and the searcher was
to relate the substance of the above
narrative, which remained fast-fad-
ing myth in the minds of his doubling
hearers.
Here the story would have ended,
hut for the temerity of some who had
the courage to believe the apparent
thread of truth against the laughter
and derision of their friends;
and grasping the facts that
-
remains of a wagon; there a gun
barrel; in another place the evil
dence of labor in trenches partly OBJ
liberated by time-they went resolutely
at work and soon were
REWARDED BY "CoLoRs."
Old placer miners gathered round and
with but few exceptions declared the
shining particles which appeared at the
grass roots and down to be gold
The question as to paying quantities
must be decided by more extensive in
vestigation when bedrock shall have
been reached. but 1t is believed 81 per
day can be made out of what can at
present be seen. Then commenced the
search for the main ledge or body,
which brought forward tie history OF
the Hawkins claim. For years an
old settler named Hawkins. now dead.
had gold in vast quantities; his asser-
tions had been treated as the vagaries
of an intellect impaired by age, but
now his claims of assays of great rich
ness were grasped at eagerly. On his
old prospects was found ore which
withstands all the tests that miners can
apply by means of acids and melting,
showing what apparently is very rich
prospect, at least to the uninitiated.
This rock is now in the hands of
aSsayers. There are now over IL claims
staked off and the mineral can be
traced for a great distance.
MINERS FROM MERCUR
state that one grade of the ore ex-
actly corresponds with mineral from
that district and are enthusiastic in
their belief that the discovery is genu-
ine.
Prospectors are now on the way from
Ogden and altogether there promises
to be an excitement, whether more
than merely local. time only will tell
Bannock district is reached by a
pleasant drive Of ninety minutes from
Downey over good roads and is located
in beautiful and accessible place.
DIXON.
Logan Lines.
LOGAN, April Bon Friday the