The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-10-23

+
were passengers on the Murray train
from Wallace The writer was on his
way home aud Mr., McKisslck was
bound for Nelson Siding on the North
Fork In quest of poles 1t was Mr Me
5kissick's first visit to The North Fork
since the pioneer days Of Sl--29 years
ago, and all he could remember about
the beautiful stream was Dead Mans
eddy" This was, and still is, a land
and water mark for the pioneers ana
! those who have come later IT Is le-
Gated about midway between Enaville
and Prlchard, and derived its prom
inence during The first boating up the
river in the absence of trails ana
1 wagon roads, by the gold seekers who
were rushing tn the placer fields OF
Prchard creek The boating then, a.
nov. was done. with 10 or l3-foot poles
having long spike at one end These
poles were thrust into the water ana
gravel and gave propulsion TO the
boat As one of these early boats was
entering into the pool, now known a;
Dead Mans eddy" long stretch of
deep smooth water the boatman's
pike was thrust forcibly down to
reach the bottom In attempting to
pull the pike out, the boatman came
near going over but he crouched
down and hung on to the pike, which
iJ,i, l,nt
had become fastened, and to lose .
pike in those days was a loss Of +ho
motive power in navigation Gradual
~ the weight lessened and in a few
to view, face upward. 1t was a most
grewsome catch and all hands in the
boat now gave help to float the body
to the shore. where it was decently
inferred Nothing was found on ;hc
body to identify the corpse, OF the
cause of death. IT had lain in tho
water some time. and probably came
from up the river The pool there
upon became known as Dead Mans
eddy" railroad station now marks
-
spans the river. and on the opposite
(west side is located the Haight saw
mill and ranch For years the Haight
ranch was the stopping place for river
linen, up and DOWN, and nowhere oul D.
side of a regular city hostelry We're
the accommodations and food better.
This was due to Mrs. Haight, Il
southern lady, who prded herself on
her hospitality
AT this point Mr. McKssck's Is
knowledge of surroundings ceased,
but he had been interested all the way
from Enavlle in the progress of cul-
tivation, and the neat farm houses,
cottages and barns following each
other along the valley and running
back into every depression Of the
mountains that wall in the river He
, said it was an agreeable revelation to
him to see the vast acreage of the
great valley being brought from the
wilderness he had seen 1t In 1884 to
!, its present condition of cheerful and
happy homes. shouting children in
nearly every dooryard, bands of cat
tie roaming and grazing in the stump
:. pastures and fowl Of all kinds about
the barns There is wealth for Sho-
shone county in this broad valley,
said Mr.. MeKissick IF these farms
are properly cultivated and the vast
tracts cleared of stumps, they ought
to produce enough vegetables and hay
to supply the county markets, just 3
the Osburn gardens are doing with
cabbages. celery, etc. This keeps .
large amount of money at home each
: year and viii gradually add materially
to our population
. But Mr. McKissick only got a
glimpse Of the North Fork valley Had
he gone the full length he would have
y found conditions the same for SO miles
Every acre of the valley for that dis
> tance is now said to be claimed for
bomesteads where cultivation Is pos
sble and the timber removed. AT the
mouth of independence creek, 22 miles
: above the mouth of Prichard creek. -
rancher named Britt has farmed
enough spuds this year to supply the
timber CAMPS and prospectors
g Ark Person. another homeste3der a.
+ the west fork of the North Fork. has
: about five acres under cultivation. W
y has recently proved UP on. his tract
K having occupied 1t since 1901. Al IN
IS dependence creek. the present year
d the timber cutting amounts to ovei
100, 900 900 feet, all from burnt over
land, and most of this Is now in tht
stream awaiting the first rush of wa
4 ter for floating purposes. The fores
= service has now two telephone sta
If tions above Prichard creek, one at th'
u mouth Of Big creek and the othel
some distance up Independence creek
d stream that is liable to become fam
10 Gus in the near future If reports fron
,e that region may be relied upon. An
!, this, In truth. may be said Of the en-
tire North Fork valley and its bound