The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-11-06
EARLY MINING HISTORY
OF IDAHO.

gins with the discovery Of gold OH
Orc Fino creek in 1860. In that
year Captain Pierce lead a company
Of 40 men from Walla Walla directly
to the Nez Perce country Pierce
city was founded on Orc Fino creek.
and before spring there were 800
men in the district, and 4 month
later more than 1000. The rush Of
gold seekers soon scattered pros
pectors in every direction. New
discoveries were, made and towns
sprung up as ifby magic. Flour
sold for $l6 to $50 a hundred
pounds, and carpenters wages were
from % to $40 day, says recent
writer Of Gem state history in an ex-
change.
In September, on Summit flats.
was made the discovery that led to
the, founding Of Millersburg and
Florence. 1t was an accident, for
after nine days struggle through.
dense underground, band Of pros
pectors camped on the little prairie
and turned their horses out to Craze.
Peter Bablaine, nicknamed Baboon,
was, left to guard the camp. The
prairie. lay near the center Of an i'm
mense snow crested shorseshoe,
opening TO the south, about thirty
miles III diameter No indications
Of gold were there Whatever, but
Baboon, for lack sof other employ
/ ment. went to fallen tasnarack and
filled a par with dirt from the roots
i0f the tree. Marshall, in the mill
race in California, could not have
been more astounded than Baboon
when he washed that pam Of earth
and found,a handful Of gold; rough,
rugged little specimens, about the
size Of wheat grains, and SO the
great gold belt which embraces Sal
mon, ,Warrens,, Boise and Owyhee
!. was found. The mines exceeded in
l,richness the richest districts Of Cali
kfornia in their palmiest days. Many
= pans Of dirt yielded from $50 to $50.
A painful OF dirt from. Baboon gulch
yielded $5l.sO. The sYme claim
yielded $500 in three hours, two
men. working with a rocker. Just
before winter came on the town OF
Florence was founded. thirty miles
north, and many wintered' there,
though the supply Of food was ex-
tremely low. Before the winter was
over -four sold for re a pound, and
many lived for weeks on a few
pounds Of -four and thes.inner bark
of the pine tree, with only snow
water and tea made from.the leaves
Of the fir to drink But in the spring
gold dust was weighed BY the pount
and over 5000 miners ayeraget
4 $4,000 for the seasons product
Hydraulic mining on large scale
practiced now. 30.
There wasya wild rush for thi
country and its easily gained wealth
Easy come, easy 60, ands ami
scenes Of widest 'debauchery gol
and life were freely spent. It is tol
!, thst at one Of the gambling house
of Florence a man, was killed viii
] playing at cards. No one had leisptl
to remove the body, and it was ha
= tily propped up in. a corner. whe'
all night and part Of theenext day
remained, seemingly still intent
= the game ~. ~. = .s,''s
s, ~ >, ~ 80 s'-,.
On all sides new discoveries we
made and new camps started. =, III
Y placers Of Boise basin, induced ov
$32. 900 to settle there, and allpric
went up until they. became alme
. ridiculous in their. exorbidance.
wagon load Of chickens sold at
,t:s for each chicken.
g.. hs.. .In Owyhee was found gold a
ar silver; another rush followed, a
,eur through all the country excitem'
held sway, law was deadand anarc
'alls reigned. The ,principsi other IN
d ing excite,nents Of the state W
has i those Of Wood river in 1879, III
. to many new towns were founded, /
lace Of the Occur d'Alenes. in =
! CONTINUED ON LAST rAeE.A