Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-04-07
NUMBER Al.
Verv Recently a business man from

Very recently business man from
the city of Spokane returned from a
trip to Warrens, one of the oldes,
camps in this country. From Florence
to Warrens is As miles. At this time
of the year you make the trip on snow
shoes. This gentleman speaks enter
tainingly and enthusiastically of the
work going on in the different mines
in the camp. and predicts bright fu-
ture for the entire district. There are
more than seventyfive thousand feet
of tunnel work in Warrens. Mr..
| Reibold, one of the pioneer miners.
has worked one mine, the Little Giant,
faithfully for u years: has taken out
over $3.50, 900; has over 5000 feet of
tunnel, and has the oldest quartz mine
in the camp. This mine was discov-
cred while working placer ground.
This placer ground of which | speak
was very rich, also. Mr. Reibold says
he has made So per day in this placer
ground by melting snow in 5 gallon
can and using the water to wash the
gravel with. There are about 1856
men employed In Warrens. Pay roll
each month is about $1,000. The
three principal mines are lighted with
electricity.
Florence is the next Oldest camp,
and at present the most active-more
mills, more money and more money
mployers-hut as there are some gen.
tlemen compiling some old and new
statements regarding the camp and its
history, will for the present defer
| further comment on the Florence
camp and give a brief history of the
camp later.
Some of you may be interested in
the story of the Old Johns diggings.
They are situated 16 miles up the river
above Harpster. At present these
diggiugs are not being worked, for
some reason unknown to most people
| here. AThese mines were once owned
and discovered by man by the name
of Johns several years ago. He came
from Walla Walla, where his family
lives now.
The country being SO rough, his
wife and daughter, who came with him
to this remote place, returned to
Walls Walla the first year. Mr.. Johns
stald with the mine many years. 'Tis
said that he worked many men in the
mine, and took out a great deal Of
gold dust. Everything went we'll un-
til few years ago-I have forgotten
just how long-Mr. Johns with his
crew of men had as was supposed
about Sc, 900 of gold dust in the race
and boxes. Most of the men he had
let go, as they do not require so many
men to clean up as when running gold
| in; consequently there were but two
or three men left at the mine with
him.
One morning one of the men took
his gun and went hunting. Mr.. Johns
took a bride and some salt and went
to hunt his horses. This is the last
time that he was ever seen or heard
Of. Several days after search party
found the bride he went away with
not far from the mine. The search
party found the sluice boxes robbed.
The two men left with the mine when
searched were found with nothing on
them, although everybody believes to
this day that they made away with the
old man and also the money, as it was
not long till one of them disappeared
altogether while the other was last
heard of in the Sandwich Islands. |
have not the space and time to write
all about these mines, neither do
know whether it will be interesting TO
many of your readers or not. How
ever, | will in my next writing repeat
some of the story of the lost mine in
Idaho. Also / will mention some of
the peculiarities of the wild and do
mestic animals of Idaho, as we'll as at
tempt to give you some idea of the
Nezperce Indians. p. L. O'BANNoN.