Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-04-19
An Early Pioneer Banquet's Host.


 colt few weeks since to look up some mining claims that he and his partner located thirty years ago gave a banquet to a party of his friends last night prior to his departure for his home in Montana.
 When Johnson and his partner Gus Boline struck this section more than thirty years ago placer mining was the exciting employ that furnished golden dreams and promises of wealth to the lucky prospector. The gravel beds of the Hassayampa were found to be rich in gold and this stream was tbronged with excited hunters after the pre- cious metal.
 In those days ledge mining was giv- en little consideration as it was prac- ticalIy impossible to get any kind of machinery into this section. It had to be conveyed by teams and pack ami maIs either from the coast or the Mis- souri river. The expense of getting in grub was of enough considera- ion for the man of small means, and millionaires were as scarce in this section as railroads at that time.
 Johnson and BoIine joined the gold washers on the Hassayampa and pan ned for the yellow dust until they vera bare footed and almost without clothing. While prospecting along the creek some very rich float rock was found, some of it literally filled with gold. This created great excite ment and the miners tried industri- ously to find the ledge from which this rich rock came.
 Johnson and Boline discovered a large blind lead which they traced some distance from the creek and up the mountain side, finding the same character of rich quartz which had been discovered along the stream be- low. They located the ground and did sufficient work to satisfy then that it was very valuable but being out of supplies and clothing and without fla cilities for developing the ground they were forced to seek employment.
 The partners drifted to other points, Johnson engaged in the freighting business, subsequently, going to Cali furnia and thence to Montana where he has for many years engaged in freighting, cattle raising and farm ing. By locating and purchasing lands in that state twenty years ago, these holdings have appreciated until Johnson is now in independent cir cumstances.
 Johnson succeeded in arranging his affairs for prolonged absence and he has followed back the trail of thirty years ago, visiting first in California thence on to Prescott. After arriving here, he first tried to get trace of his old partner, whom he believes to be in the Harqua Hala district, but not finding Boline, he arranged for trip down the Hassayampa and recalling the Ian marks went directly to the ground located so many years ago and located it for himself and Boline. The memories of that long past come fresh to Johnson and he recalls and pictures clearly the incidents of his placering experience along the Hasa yampa.
 To picture only one apparently tri vial incident, he said: "How we'll remember the big rock that stands across the creek from where our rock cabin was built, the cabin is now fal len down, and how vividly do 1 recall one Sunday morning while lounging in the warm sunshine in front of the cabin seeing a pretty little squirrel over on the big rock, and he was greatly excited, evidently trying to escape some foe. By close observation I noted that big rattle snake was trying to reach the squirrel and seiZ- ing my rifle 1 shot the rattler. "
 Johnson has arranged to start develop ment work on his ground and will re- turn to his home at Bozeman, Mon tans, in few days, he promises how ever to be back in Prescott shortly