The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-09-12
Historical Notes
Some Mining History.

year Captain Pierce lead company of forty men
from Walla Walla directly to the Nez Perez
country. Pierce City was founded on Orc Elmo
creek, and before spring there were 800 men in
the district, and month later more than 1000
The rush of gold seekers scattered proSpectors
in every direction New discoveries were made
and towns sprung UP if by magic. Flour sold for
SIG to $40 hundred pounds and carpenters wages
from SO to $40 day.
In September, Summit Flats, was made the
discovery which led to the founding of Milersburg
and Florence 1t was an accident, for after nine
days struggle through dense underground, band of
prospectors camped the little prairie, and turned
their horses out to Craze Peter Babaine nicknamed
Baboon was left to guard the camp The prairie
lay near the center of immense snow-crested horse
shoe opening to the south, ABOUT thirty miles in
diameter. No indications of gold were there what
ever but Baboon for lack of other employment went
to fallen tamaracl1 and filled pan with the dirt
from the roots of the tree Marshall, in the mill
in California could not have been astound-
ed than Baboon when he washed that pan of earth
and found a handful of gold rough rugged little
specimens about the size of wheat grains, and
the great gold belt which embraces Salmon, War
rens Boise and Owyhee found. The mines
exceeded in richness the richest districts of Calfor
mia in their panliest days Many pans of dirt
yielded from $50 to $50. A painful of dirt from
Baboon Guch yielded $3.50. The same claim yield
ed $1,000 in three hours, two working with
rocker Just before winter the town of Flor
ence was founded thirty miles north and many
"wintered" there, though the supply of food
tremely low. Before the winter flour sold
for So pound and many lived for weeks few
pounds of flour and the inner bark of the pine tree,
with only water and tea made from the leaves
of the fir to drink. But in the spring gold dust
b1r+ md
$4,000 for the seasons product. Hydraulic mining
large scale is practiced now.
There was a wild rush for this country and its
easi1y-gained wealth Easy come, easy go, and amid
scenes of widest debauchery gold and life
freely spent 1t is told that at of the gambling
houses of Florence a killed while playing
at cards. No had leisure to remove the body
and it was hastily propped up in corner, where all
night and part of the next day it remained seem
ingy still intent the game
On all sides new discoveries we're made and
camps started The pacers of Boise Basin induced
$4,000 to settle there, and all prices went up
until they became almost ridiculous in their exorbi
ance. wagon load of chickens sold at S. for each
chicken
In Owyhee was found gold and silver; another
rush followed and through all the country excite
ment held sway, law was dead and anarchy reigned.
The principal other mining excitements of the state
were those of Wood River In 1872 when many
new towns founded and of the Ceur d Alene, in
1884. This last of the most remarkable
mining stampedes in the history of mining. Into
country without trails roads the old Mullan
military road, covered with dense growth of CEDAR
pine and fir, in the dead of winter through
snow twenty feet Deep went 5000 during the
months of January February and March, 1884, With
them scores of women of certain class, dressed in