The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-01-08

gold was first discovered in the state
This was memorable event in the
history Of the northwest, and the fol-
lowing graphic account of the dis
covery Is taken from a late issue of
the Helena Independent:
This historic spot is located on the
banks of Gold creek, five miles above
point, just west of Gold Creek sta
ton on the line of the Northern Pa
cific railroad, where the company has
placed board, where it can be seen
by passengers aboard trains, stating
that this Is the spot where gold was
first discovered In the state.
Granville Stuart's position on the
wheel Of fate was similar to that Of
many other prospectors and discover
ers of bonanzas. BY freak Of fortune
1t was this noted pioneers lot to To-
cate and expend his energies upon a
strip Of placer ground so abundant
with large-sized boulders as to render
his operations Improbable Stuart's
neighbours, called to the locality by tn ?
81 Stiih't- p A+1oiit w HAVE HIS
share in his discovery, were the ones
upon whom the fair goddess Of good
luck beamed.
Letter Starts Stampede.
It was Granville Stuarts letter to his
brother in Colorado, telling Of the tiny
fleaks of yellow metal which were to
be had by simply removing the sur
face soil, that started the most his
west, crowd of Coloradoans, needing
the call Of Granville Stuart to come
where 1.-THE gold could be picked up"
brought to light the great Bannock
gold fields in 1863, and year later
the discovery Of the famous Alder
gulch "diggns," the latter the richest
the world has ever known, yielding
.s140,ooo,ooo, and the gulch Is still pro-
ducing, the largest gold dredges ever
constructed being in operation there
Sickness Cause Of Discovery.
1T was a wish to visit their old homes
in the east that prompted Stuart, his
brother James, and nine companions t.,
leave Yreka Cal, in the summer Of
1857 on horseback and with pack
horses bound for "the states" The
party was planning horseback ride
Of 1900 miles through a country in
habted only by Indians who were al
ways trying to steal horses, and 1t was
necessary for the Stuart party to stand
@uard day and night to protect their
lives and save their horses. All wen,
vol unt'l Malad creek in Utah was
~oe"Nea Malad is French word
~ II was ho~-
which nearly cost him his life, but
which illness indirectly was the means
Of bringing to the knowledge Of the
world the fabulous gold deposits of
Montana.
Bottled Up in Utah.
Il was thought that Stuart would die
and eight of the party pushed on,
leaving Stuart with his brother James
and Rein ArdersonN Stuart recovered
slowly and to add to their troubles,
Brigham youngs opera bouffe" war
. with the United States broke out: The
Term npera bouffe" Is. Mr. Stuarts
,wn description Of this bloodless con-
flict. Up to this time Brigham Young
ruled Salt Lake City with dictatorial
power, and he had seeded from the
S sf.in tire spring of 1851. AS
measure of bringing the Mormon leader
to time and teaching him the power OF
the federal government, 5000. troops,
commanded by Albert Sidney johnson,
u who was later killed in the battle OF
Shiloh in the :eivil. war; started west
. Brigham Young learning of the move
ment OF the troops, put Utah under
martial law, guarding all approaches
to prevent any information from reach
ing the troops, prohibiting anyone from
entering or leaving the territory
Stuart found himself bottled up. If he
attempted to leave the country, he was
in grave danger of being arrested, and
the feelings were such that If he were
suspected Of being a spy he would have
been killed -.
eribsd Mormon for Food.
The Stuart party was in dire straits.
Their food supply had become ex-
hausted and there appeared no way
of securing further supplies. as Brig
ham Young had given orders that all
stocks Of food should be commandment
for the use Of the Mormons in the ,
expected campaign with the federal
troops Brigham Young further had
directed that no food supplies shoul1
be sold except to his own agents, and !:
his rule throughout was that Of a
car. Jacob Meek, red-haired Indian
trader came to the relief of the Stuart
party Meek was a close friend of
Bishop Barnard. The Mormon bishops
were dictators In their own dioceses,
subject only to Young's orders. Meek
proposed bribing the bishop to secure
food, as Young's order made 1t high
crime and mlsdemeanor to sell food {
to any except Mormons. Bishop Bar <
nard at first refused food and am G
munttion, and he strutted up and down 8
Inc adobe structure, spouting his great q
fidelity to Brigham Young and the {
Latter-Day Saints Meek finally go, i
the old bishop off in a corner and his |,