Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-03-29

1t was but little improved when
got there on the 18th day of May
They were some of the first on this
creek. About thirty men wintered
here. They had been about FIVE
months without any news from the
outside world and were greatly re-
joiced to see the new corners.
Who's PRESIDENT was the first
question asked. When told that Lin
coin was elected. one enthusiastic
individual shouter 'Hurrah for Abe
Lincoln!' oh d-n it, says anoth-
er fellow, in a tone of disappoint-
ment, and so they all met the an
nouncement with pleasure or dissat-
lsfaction, according to their peculiar
political views on the subject.
Tobacco Famine.
The tobacco chewers had got out
of the article and were most crazy
for want of it. They had pared the
bark from young cherry trees and
used that as substitute for the
weed.
Il believe told you in my last
letter that this was very heavily
timbered country. The underbrush
is also quite thick all over the
mountains. Now l will try to give
you some idea of the geography of
the country as it was given to me
by mountaineer. The two forks
of the Clearwater head very near to
each other, with a high ridge be-
tween them. 1t is about sixty miles
from here to the pass between the
heads of the streams, SO l was told.
This is a mountain country and
much elevated, which may account
for its being so cold here. The bed
Of the Clearwater is much lower.
My informant told me he could
stand on the pass and look down a
thousand feet (almost perpendicu-
lar) on the headwaters of the north
branch of the Clearwater and facing
to the right about could see Is miles
down the narrow valley by the
southern branch.
Excitement Over War News.
I'VE are about IT'S miles from
Walla Walla by the trail on the
north side of the Clearwater, but not
SO far by the new wagon road on
the south side. About 100 from the
agency in the Bitter Root valley;
ESQ from there to Benton.
II wish one of the boys was out
here with me. We have hired a
| Dutchman to cook for us for SOS a
month. with the privilege of taking
in washing, by which he may make
$25 more.
1T takes over a month for news
to get here from the states. 1 have
often wished myself back there to
help my Uncle Sam under difficulties
l hope you will not be disturbed by
existing difficulties. We are all ex-
cited about the secession news and
get three or four papers week.
But l must bring this to a close
Give my love to all at home and re-
member that l am anxious to hear
from you.
ITO Amanda. EDWIN"
First Gold Discovery in Idaho.
The place where this letter was
written is of great historic interest
to the state of Idaho. 1t is the spot
where gold was first discovered in
the state. The exact date is not
known, but it was in the fall Of
1860. Mr., Crockett speaks of about
80 men having remained in the new
camp during the winter of 1860-61.
He was evidently one of the early
arrivals in the spring and from that
time throughout the year and the
next there was steady stream of
gold hunters headed for Orc Elmo.
The town of Orc Elmo, at the mouth
of Rhodes creek, soon became second
in Importance to Pierce City, about
mile and half below built on a
little bench overlooking the wide
canyon through which flowed Orc
Elmo creek. 1t is estimated that
with the few years following the dis
covery of gold 10000 adventurous
men were swarming along the
stream and it's tributaries and pros
pecting the country for miles in all
directions Mr.. Crocketts estimate
of 100000 from Rhodes creek
proved to be 100000, or more.
and the Orc Elmo diggings produced
not less than $30,O0O,000 in gold
and perhaps much more. In those
days gold dust was the currency of
the country and men were too busy
mining gold and spending it to both
er with records of production. But
Rhodes creek. where Mr.. Crockett
had located his claim, proved to be
wonderfully rich, and the ground
he refers to about a mile and a half
above him proved to be probably the
richest in the Orc Elmo diggings.
The discovery of gold on Orc Elmo
creek was soon followed by the won
derfully rich discovery at Florence
in Idaho county, and a little later
still by the discovery of Boise basin,
inBoise county. 1t was therefore,
gold. first discovered on Orc Elmo
creek, that placed Idaho on the map
and the mining of gold and other
metals is still the basic industry of
the state
In Shoshone County.
This letter written by Mr.. Crock
EFT and the early history Of mining
at Pierce City, and on the tributar-
les OF Orc Elmo creek, are especially
interesting to the people Of Shoshone
county. The rapid influx of popula-
ton due to the discovery Of gold in
various parts of the state was soon
followed by the creation of the ter
ritory Of Idaho, and in establishing
the political subdivisions, vast STREET
ches of UNEMPLOYED wilderness were