The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-11-10
fLEBRATED
GOLD ROBBERY
M Of an Exciting Tragedy Marking
u Early History OF Mining In
the Northwest

- Early History OF Mining In
the Northwest
The following story OF a bullion rob
w In early days that appeared In
~ Grand Forks Gazette Will be read
,ith much interest especially by the
sder residents OF the northern part Ol
- county, many OF whom were living
d the county at the time Of the rob.
~. some OF them knew the man ac-
esDed Of the robbery, and who suffered
- his crime, il he committed the
aime. and were acquainted with Jas
vaughan, one OF the owners of the
0np Mckinley mine. Indeed ON one
wtWo occasions Mr.. Monaghan passed
Arough Loomis on his way to Spokane
~ gold bullion from the mine, TAX
~ this roundabout route in order to
drcumvent highwaymen II any such
M watching out for gold shipments.
Activities Of two strangers in the
ykinity Of Camp Mckinney during the
1T few months have caused con-
d1srable comment. They were thought
y h prospect0rs but their persistence
around an area south of the camp and
II particularly noted for mineral
lnSs led to rumors of various kinds
sting aflOat and oldtimers in the
Gtrict are freely venturing the opin-
= taat the strangers have been
ooorching for "clean up" of gold
hom the old Cariboo mine. said to
me been casl1ed there a quarter of a
aotuIy ago. Whether or not the
st1Nngers have been in quest Of the
~ treasure. the story of this incident
dearly Boundary mining Is one OF en-
Gossing interest.
Camp Mckinney Is only few niles
loth from Bridesville, the scene Of
~ weeks tragedy. That part Of the
lotdsrland between British Columbia
| ~ Warrington won the name Of
A1nrchist mountain as a result Of the
wDarfes of Its inhabitants. Camp Nc
k4ney was the mining talk Of the
Mf0west in 1896. An increasing
uount Of gold bullion awarded each
uookly cleanup and the consequent
~ excitement was drawing fortune
fooesfs from all parts OF the eontin-
~ The camp included the Cariboo
me, Of which James Monaghan, a
9okane pioneer, was general man
~.
One Saturday night in August the
~ Of the Cariboo were coming off
MT 1t was the hot and sweaty seas
~ specially so for men who worked
ohard In cramped quarters as miners
= Men coming out Of the shaft hur-
ia down to the bunkhouse to get rid
1.-THE dirt and CRIME of the days work
" Preparation for supper. Their
vosk's work had turned out the richest
Goan-up in the mines history. And the
Goan-up was the only theme OF talk
|yAen the men came together for the
|Nsning after supper.
Dmly seen through haze Of tobacco
moke the miners rested In careless
GBorder about the bunkhouse. Some
Dhying cards at t1e long, rough table
NJ ran down the center of the room,
uAile others reclined easily on hunks
~ benches. The talk was general and
tlNays of the big clean-up-the danger
4 carrying it out to the nearest rail-
nd station, of other noted clean-ups
~ kindred matters Of interest to
hers. Finally the shift boss dropped
= After an exchange Of remarks con-
oEniug the weeks output Of yellow
raj. somebody asked when the
inf" was going out. The shift boss
ri not know. Only the general man
~, Monaghan, and the new super
Glgndent. J. P. Keene, knew.
Mnaghan had carried out the bull
~ heretofore. 1t was long trip
0ough a wild country and across the
lan reservation, but the Spokane
neer had made 1t often without mo-
lation. He travelled at night with
~ nephew or trusted friends as COM
| llons. At suspected points the 9TH
a. took up the bullion and made a
ID detour with 1t on horseback
U1e Monaghan drove on.
Nhile the talk went round on this
ust evening one of the miners,
~ Roderick, lay in his bunk listen
TO every word. He handn't been
Ae mine very long and was com
atively unknown to the men, which
= nothing unusual or questionable
0at stffne. And as Matt Roderich
here and listened to remarks on
bjg cleanup he could feel a rifle
tevolver concealed in his blank
~ next day Roderick was unable
~ up. He groaned and cursed Will
natism, the disease that evel
naunts the men wno work II
underground quarters. Severa
Il passed without bringing notice
. rslief to Roderick. OCCASIONAL.
vas able to drag himself to tn
Tor the benefit of what warmth
eenumbed and aching limbs coul'
p. The big hearted miners di
- mey could for him and anothe
vent on shift in his place.
uerick was moved into the great
mlorts Of a cabin on the hi
- the bunkhonse He seldom an
~ IN camp and then only cam
< s aid Of crutch and a cane.
@ much the camp saw and ar
go 1t did not note that nigh
nsnt skulking figure keI
Il over the mine office. Naturall
not know that one eveninI
usorse B. McAuley was confel