Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1922-03-17
INTERESTING REVIEW Of THE LIFE
AND ACTIVITIES OF JUDGE C0WEN

lead bullion and the residue forms
rich Stag.
The earliest smelling was of this
kind. The first step was to prepare
pit in the open, then lay down a
layer of wood, then one Of ore, and |
so on till all was brought to an
apex, when the wood was set on
fire and the smelling began. Even |
the Indians used this method and |
the whites made constant use of 1T
until improvements followed.
The Drummond smelter, from
what l could CLEAN from Mr.. Cowen,
was similar to the Scottish hearth. |
specially constructed crucible, and
carbon in the form of hard char
coal or coke was mixed with the
ore and fluxes introduced into the
charge, and the reduction was much
more rapid. improvements were
made on this until we have the
present up-to-date smelter of great
capacity.
In 1348 there transpired an event
in the west that set the world on
fire In a frezy Of excitement, when
the lust for gold ran riot in the
minds Of men. 1t was caused by
the finding of particles of virgin
gold, by Marshall, in the mill race
at Suffers mill on the Sacramento
river, California. And the marvel
Gus reports of its untold quantity
was the spark that started the first
and greatest of those series Of wild
mining stampedes which took place
in the west, extending over a per-
iod of sixty years and more; en-
bracing all the greater part Of the
North American continent.
In 1849 California became the
Mecca of a pilgrimage for all ma
tionalities Of people from the four
corners of the earth. They used
every conceivable mode of travel at
that time. Each vying with the
other to get there first that they
riches which had frenzied their
minds. The American people of the
east used three principal routes OF
travel to get to this goal of their
aspirations. One route was by sail
ing around the Horn. Others took
passage to Panama, landing at As
pinwall and transporting over the
| isthmus to Panama, then reshippine
to San Francisco Many had a hard
time in getting across the isthmus,
Some were carried on the backs of
natives. Many were taken down by
maleria in their struggle through
the swamps. Others We're met by
the disappointment of finding the
ship they hoped to take already ov-
erloaded and long delays ensued
waiting for another. But the people
of the Mississippi states mostly
outfitted, and trudged overland.
Cowen in 1S49 reached his ma
jority. He. too, like many others
was seized with the grip of the lure
of gold: and he resolved to go to
this land of promise. He bought
transportation with family by the
name of Taylor, who had rigged ur
four vehicles; they then combined
with an emigrant train consisting
of 70 different vehicles and l7c
souls. The wagons were of the
linch-pin type drawn by horses. OK,
en- and mules. Some Of the ligh'
vehicles We're drawn by cows.
|, The outfit was properly organized
as all expeditions crossing the con
tinent at that time had to be, Il
they expected to successfully reach
their destination, for the overland
at this time to California wa.
frought with many dangers. no
only from lurking savages wht
would clean up an unsuspecting, un
prepared outfit by stealing theil
| horses, or mules. and raising theiI
scalp when opportunity offered. bu
the roads were extremely bad ant
, unfmproved. The streams were un
| bridged and there were treacherou
, crossings. Then. buffalo We're
menace in stampede. Cowen sal,
the nearest to mishap their eXpe
. dition has was from this source. !
. vast herd was on the stampede an,
, 1t caught the rear end of the train
, One light wagon was completely de