The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-23
DEATH OF. DAVID CROMIE
CAME TO DISTRICT 1883
ONE OF OWNERS WIDOW CLAIM
NEAR MURRAY-PLACER EN-
TERPRlSE NEAR DEBORGIA.


Another real pioneer Oh the COeuI
dAlene district responded to the INA
summons last Monday when Davic
Cromie age IS. passed away at his
home in OsDurn. Mr.. CromIe suffered
a stroke Of paralysis about three and a
half years ago while engaged in min
ing near BebOrgia, from which he soon
recovered only to be stricken again
about year later. from which he new
er fully rallied. Later other complica-
tons appeared which rapidly reduced
his strength and finally caused his
death The burial took place yesterday
afternoon in Greenmount cemetery, the
remains OF this widely known and re-
spected pioneer being followed to the
grave by many old time friends and
associates. lie is survived by a daugh-
ter who lives in Michigan; a brother,
John Cromie, also a widely known pi-
oneer of this district, who cared for
him during his last illness, and two
brothers in Michigan; two sisters Mrs
Margaret Beadle. of Osbun. and Mrs,
Elizabeth Wadsworth, of Latah. Wash.
A Notable Career.
Mr.. Cromie was born in Belfast, Ire
land. and while still a boy came to
America with his parents who settled
in Michigan. In 1873, accompanied by |
his brother John, he went to San Fran
cisco and after brief stay in that city |
and other parts of California, lie pro-
ceeded to Oregon, and a year of two
later continued to Pierce City, Idaho.
attracted by the placer mines of Orc
fino creek There he engeged in placer
mining a few miles below Pierce City
with fair success and remained until
the fall of 1888. having in the mean
time been joined by his brother John
1t was in that year that gold was dis
covered on Prichard creek the news
of which attracted thousands of men
from all over the west, among them
David and John Cromie. They arrived
at Eagle in the fall of 1883
Famous Widow Claim.
The death of Mr.. Cromie recalls that
he had part in the first litigation in
the district which involved the owner
ship of the famous Widow claim, COW
ering ground that was afterwards the ,
upper end of the town of Murray. at
the mouth of Gold Run gulch and ex-
tending on both sides of Prichard
creek. 1t was located by A. J. Prich-
ard, the discOverer of gold on the creek ,
that bears his name, under a power of ,
attorney for a widow somebody whose Z
name is not now recalled, but who :
came out during the litigation TO as .
sert her rights. The claim was relo- ,
Gated by Mr.. Cromie and associates, ,
and Mr.. Prichard brought suit in the ,
district court, presided over by the
ate Judge Norman Buck, to establish r
his title, being represented by the late g
Senator w. b. Hepburn. Cromie and =
associates were represented by the late
Judge W. II. Clagett and the late AL
bert Allen. The latter won in the trial
,ourt but lost on appeal They again
Won on retrial. and there the case "
nded. The Widow claim was one of
he richest on Prichard creek John
'romie, one of the men who worked it, L
avs it must have produced nearly u
1ee,oee and said IL was not uncommon II
o clean up $1,000 a day g
Goes to Deborgia. 81
In 1886 or 1887 Mr.. Cromie and John e
'oumerilh, now deceased, located a n
lrge tract of placer ground on Deer 1
reek, near Deborgia, Montana, and to 81
he developmentof this Mr. Cromie az
ave his attention up to the time he 1
as stricken. Philadelphia capitalists Ut
ere back of the enterprise, which was IN
} put in bedrock flume. but it was y"
'und that the ground was too flat to III
andle the gravel successfully. other III
ans We're taken up for developing
9TH the placer and quartz ground. le
ut the death of the original eastern eu
lckers of the project was followed by co
sagreements in the company which ans
nally resulted in its abandonment Du
lille the Deer creek enterprise was me
1t profitable, the work accomplished WI
volving a large expenditure was car me-
ed out Systematically and efficiently lh'
lder the direction of Mr.. CrOmie Be Is
ies the Deer creek property, Mr. iu'
'omie was interested in other mining INC
operty near Deborgia and was asso-
ated with A. L. Thurston. another
oneer miner who died only a few
seks ago. He and Mr.. Thurston were Or
arm friends and it is peculiarly fit
lg that at the end Of life's span they I
ould rest beside each other de'
pei
the