Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-08-23
Version of the Early
Day Pipe Dream of The
Immigrants

and are now being worked, while
Others, are as firm in the belief that
they are yet to be re-discovered. The
following account of the Blue
Bucket" Is taken from the Prairie
City Miner, and the Mr.. Marlin men
toned was formerly a citizen of The
Dalles, and is the father of Mrs. j..
B. Crossen:
at seems that a party left the
middle west for Oregon. There
were wagon loads In the outfit,
most of them coming from the states
of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. I'M
migrant trains were compelled to
move in large parties, owing to the
hostility of the Indians, and this
large train stayed together until 1t
reached Oregon, and it was prob
ably because of the split that so
many different stories regarding the
Blue Basket are current.
"In August, 1S45, the party start
ed. The trip across the plains was
uneventful-that is, nothing hap
pened OF sufficient Importance to
make 1t interesting to readers. The
real story OF their wanderings start
ed after they left Fort Boise, and
here 1t was that Steve Meek, brother
OF Joe Meek, identified with the
early history of Oregon, made his
appearance.
Meek represented to the party
that he was familiar with the coun-
try across Oregon and that he could
lead the party to their destination,
which was the Willamette valley,
near Eugene. lie was engaged as
guide. They had not, however, been
on the road but a short time after
leaving Fort Boise when they saw
that Meek was ignorant of the coun-
try and unfamiliar with the route
across the various mountains. For
his duplicity he nearly lost his life
and only saved himself by making
his escape by night. From that time
on the trouble started and shortly
after crossing the Malheur the par
~ scattered, some going by way of
The Dalles and some going on In the
vicinity OF Canyon creek. The main
party continued on into what is now
Harney county. Wagon Tire noun
tain, Harney county, was one Of the
points that marked their trial they
having deposited several articles at
that point.
1T is believed that while in the
vicinity OF the north fork of the
Malheur the gold was discovered.
While oncamped on or near north
fork some stock strayed. Il was
thought that the Indians had driven
them on and cautiously several went
In search OF the stock. Henry Mar
lin returned with IA quantity OF what
he supposed was gold. He submitted
his find to Sol Tethrow. an old North
Carolina miner, who pronounced Il
gold. He inquired OF Marlin how
much there was. who pointing TO
blue bucket, replied enough 10 MI II.
and Il was that incident that gave
the tabled mine It's name.
The party was lost, having been
mislead by Meek. In strange coun.
try with hostile Indians. and so no
further Investigation was made at
that time OF the find. After leaving
the Malheur the party worried along.
now and then a few of them break.
Ing away and going In different dl.
.reetions. They reached the Cas-.
eades and crossed the mountain az
Pensra pass, just south of Mckenzie
river.
After reaching the Willamette
valley, Henry Marlin went TO the
vicinity OF Albany. He enlisted the
interest OF number who expressed
a Willingness To return in search of
the lost mine. Sixty started with
Marlin the expedition being fruitless
owing to the Indians. who disputed
their progress. So far as known
this Was the only attempt by the
oFlslnsl party TO return to where the
sold was discovered.
Mrs Mary Ann Smith. OF Harris.
ourg' wife of Hiram Smith, who Is
now probably dead. was one OF the
Blue Bucket people. and for many
YEARS had some of the sold and never |
'ired telling Just where she thought |
they were when the sold was found +" |