Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1907-08-29
HEARST WAS HERE
Famous Old Miner In Elk City
in the Late Sixties.
PROSPECTED WITH O|LL|NGER
His Old Partner Tells of Their
Prospecting.

Prospecting.
Sitting in the lobby Of the Ho-
tel Arlington, Sunday evening.
listening to the plans and schemes
Of acquiring wealth of a younger
generation, was an old man who
has outlived his three score years
and ten and for the past fifty years
flirted often with dame fortune in
his quest for gold. Day after day
and year after year the subject Of
our sketch has tramped the bills
and mountains in his attempt to
wiring from nature the secret
hiding place Of her treasure.
Prospected With Hearst.
To the casual observer Sam Dill
linger, owner of the Mckinley
and Republican properties in the
Dixie District, may appear but as
an ordinary old man who has lived
through the bright sunshine OF
life aud is now walking in its sha
dows. This was the writer's first
impression until friend nudged
him aud remarked, 'you want to
talk with that old fellow, he used
to prospect with William Ran
dolph Hearst's father and his ex-
perience is wealth Of interesting
history"
Made and Lost Fortunes.
The interview was arranged but
Mr.. Dillinger is reticent man and
it was thread by thread the facts
were drawn from him of which to
weave this story. His life has been
one Of toll, and where gold has
been found or supposed to exist in
this great west, Sam Dillinger has
been. Fortune has smiled kindly
upon him several times; his labor
has borne fruit. Wealth has slipped
away as often.
Hearst in Elk City.
1t was in 1867 that he met
George Hearst, who was then in
the Elk City district. The story
Of that great miners advent into
central Idaho, as related by Mr..
Dillinger, who oft times cast his
hand to the back of his head and
recalled dates and incidents, was as
follows:
How Great Miner Was Buncoed
1t seems q man by the name Of
Robinson secured a rich piece of
quartz in the mountains in the
vicinity of Elk City in the late
sixties and departed for California
where ne represented to Mr..
Hearst, along with a number of
other mining men, that large
ledge of equal richness existed up
in Idaho and for sum in the
neighborhood of $4,000 he would
direct them to it. The party was
Eorganized and came north and ar
irving at Lewiston left for the sup
posed mineral field which was TO
make each a modern Croesus.
Guide Slips Away.
The first night out of Lewiston
all was merry and it was not until
morning, when the absence of
Robinson and the best horse in the
outfit was discovered, that the
spirit of the party was at low
ebb and riding on a receding tide
A careful comparison of notes
brought to light the fact of Robin
son having worked the outfit for
$4,000 and disappeared in the
darkness.
Was Partner of Hearst.
Hearst plodded on and finally
arrived at Elk City. Here he met
Di.linger and together they pros
pected, sleeping side by side at
night and taking turns at frying
he morning bacon or fresh veni
son, whichever it might be. Hearst
stated he was broke but if they
could only find good property he
could raise money among his
friends. After tramping the noun
tains for some time he urged Dill.
linger to give up the district and
go with him to California but when
the day OF leaving arrived, Hearst
went alone. The story of Hearst's
success is history and well xnown.
The few remaining chapters Of his
old partner are yet to be written.
He has two Of the best properties
in the district, a district that is
rapidly coming to the front. Who
knows?-he may have useh the
best judgment. Dillinger is happy
and contented-and after all, that's
a fortune.
viii Move to Lewiston.
H. G. Jackson and family will
move to Lewiston this week where