USA > Idaho > Owyhee County > A historical, descriptive and commercial directory of Owyhee County, Idaho, January 1898 > Part 3
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A meeting of the citizens of Silver City was held at Champion hall on June 4, 1878, and a band of volunteers was at once organized for the immediate protection of the settlements. The original members of this volunteer company were Captain J. B. Harper, O. H. Purdy, Chris. Steuder, Tom Jones, Guy Newcomb, Frank Martin, Ole Anderson, John Davidson, Ben White, William Nichols, Peter Donnelly, Mark Leonard, John Posey, W. Cooper, George Gra- ham, J. M. Brunzell, Sr .; John Anderson, Nick Maher, William Manning, W. W. Hastings, Al. Myers, M. M. Rogers, Joe Rupert, J. J. Outhouse, J. M. Dillenger, Alex. Wellman, Frank Armstrong, and Piute Joe and his brother. They were subsequently joined by W. H. Angell, Billy Williams, A. J. Palmer, George W. Palmer, Con. Shea, Tim. Shea, Dave. Shea, John Catalow, Dennis Driscoll, R. Z. Johnson, Charles Miller, C. Sprowls, L. McIntyre, J. Laurie, Joe Oldham, L. Richardson, Joe Brown, Ezra Mills, J. W. Posey, Tim Regan, Jack McKenzie, John Conners, Mike Rohan, Bronko Bill, J. Gusman, Jake Deary, Ben. Davis, Jack Stoddard, Charles M. Hays and several others.
The Silver City volunteers left Silver City for the front on Friday, June 7. 1878, and that evening camped at O'Keefe's ranch, seven miles from South mountain. Early on Saturday morning they broke camp, and about noon dis- covered the Indians ambushed at South Mountain creek, who attacked the party. In the engagement that ensued, O. H. Purdy was unhorsed, but stood his ground and fell, bravely fighting, with his face to the foe. Chris Steuder was also unhorsed, and received a mortal wound. The balance of the party, finding
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAIIO.
themselves surprised and overwhelmed, retreated to O'Keefe's ranch, and the following day recovered the bodies of Purdy and Steuder, and found that the Indians had fled to Oregon. In this engagement the Indians lost their leader, Buffalo Horn, who, it is believed, met his fate at the hands of the gallant Purdy.
Near the sheep ranch, two miles below the Owyhee river, the stage from Winnemucca was attacked by the Indians, who were on their way to Oregon to form a junction with the Umatillas. There was only one passenger, named il. E. Hamilton, on the stage, and he escaped on one of the leaders, but the stage driver, George MeCutchan, was tortured, killed and mutilated, and the stage cut to pieces and burned.
Upon reaching Oregon the Bannocks failed to induce the Umatillas to join with them, and, meeting with Bernard's party at Malheur river, and being badly defeated, they made a disorderly retreat, scattering in small, demoralized bands over the country, on their way back to their reservations, plundering and mas- sacring defenseless whites at every opportunity, and it is said that over 100 per- sons were killed by the savages during this time.
On July 31, 1878, the stage for Silver City, when at a point about two miles this side of Snake river, was attacked by a small band of Indians, and the driver. William S. Hemingway, was mortally wounded, but turned the stage and drove back to the ferry, there being no passengers on the stage. Hemingway, who was a son-in-law of "Father Dryden," of Reynolds creek, died of his wound the same day.
Gradually the Indians reached their respective reservations, where they were welcomed by "Uncle Sam," forgiven, and gently nurtured back to robust health on government beef and flour.
FIRST AND ONLY LEGAL HANGING IN OWYHEE COUNTY.
The morning of Friday, October 15, 1881, the day appointed for the execu- tion of Henry McDonald, dawned dark and disagreeable, a heavy snow storm prevailing, as if nature was angry that man, created in the image of God, should fall so low as to make capital punishment a necessity. All preparations for the execution had been completed by Sheriff Springer, and at one o'clock p. m the prisoner was taken from his cell, and in company with the sheriff and dep- uty, walked down to Jordan street, where a wagon was in waiting to carry him to the gallows and the grave. He showed no signs of emotion; walked very crect, and got in the wagon, in company with the sheriff, deputy and Father Nattini, and was driven to the place of execution, at the old Ruby City cem- ctery, which has been unused for many years. About 300 people gathered about the scaffold, many having come in from the adjacent valleys. At seven- teen minutes past 1:00 o'clock the prisoner firmly ascended the scaffold, and
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until 1:45 remained in consultation with Father Nattini, at which time Sheriff Springer read the death warrant. McDonald shook hands with those who had guarded him while in jail here and the priest, bidding them goodby, but had nothing else to say. James T. Griffin pinioned his hands and feet, and Father Nattini adjusted the black cap. At six minutes before 2 o'clock the sheriff sprung the trap, and thus without a sign of emotion or word of complaint the bloodstained soul of Henry McDonald was ushered into eternity. In fourteen minutes life was pronounced extinct by Dr. Belknap, and the remains were buried within a few yards of the scaffold.
The evidence in this case is well known and the law has been vindicated. Not only should the youths of this place remember, but those men who are ready to draw the deadly knife and revolver, that "He who sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." This is the first execution by law in this county; may we hope that another will never be required .- Avalanche.
THE MARION MORE TRAGEDY.
As there are several versions afloat of this lamentable affair, by special request we present to our readers such facts as we have been able to glean from the sources at our command, which will probably be new to the rising genera- tion and will refresh the memories of the old timers.
During the winter of 1867-8 a dispute arose between the celebrated "Ida Elmore" and "Golden Chariot" Mining Companies as to the respective bounda- ries of their mining lines which at first it was thought would be settled by com- promise or litigation.
To the urprise of all, however, force was resorted to, and each party secured the services of well-known fighters, heavily armed, to protect their interests.
March, 1868, found both parties strongly fortified and closely watching each other, and on the morning of March 25 hostilities were commenced by the Golden Chariot party storming the works of their opponents.
Desperate fighting ensued and during the charge John C. Holgate, an owner in the Golden Chariot, was shot in the head and died instantaneously.
Shooting was kept up at intervals during the night, and the next morning Meyer Frank, one of the Ida Elmore contingent, was fatally wounded and died a few hours subsequent. At noon another Ida Elmore man named James Howard was seriously wounded and several others on both sides received slight wounds.
On the twenty-eighth Governor Ballard issued a proclamation commanding both parties to disperse peaceably and submit to the proper authorities, and a squad of United States cavalry was sent from Fort Boise to the seat of war.
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OWYHER COUNTY, IDAHO.
On the morning of the twenty-ninth, however, the principal parties on both sides effected a compromise and hostilities ceased and the armed men were withdrawn.
On the evening of April 1, 1868, Sam Lockhart was seated in front of the stage office at the Idaho hotel, when Marion More, accompanied by one Jack Fisher and two or three others, came up, and an altercation ensued between Lockhart and the More party, and shooting commenced on both sides.
Several shots were exchanged and Lockhart was wounded in the left arm, Fisher receiving an ugly wound in the left thigh. More was shot in the center of the left breast and ran about fifty yards, falling in front of the then called Oriental restaurant, into which he was taken and promptly attended to, but he was pronounced in a dying condition, and death ended his sufferings the follow- ing afternoon.
More was well known in Idaho as a member of the firm of More & Fogus, and his death was universally regretted.
His remains were conveyed by the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, to Idaho City, where they were interred.
Subsequent to the affray several arrests were made, but proceedings were afterwards quashed and peace and quietness again reigned in the town of Silver City.
Lockhart's arm was amputated, but blood poisoning ensued, and he died on the thirteenth of July following.
THE BALDWIN AFFAIR.
The failure of the Bank of California in August, 1875, led to the closing of several of the prominent mines on War Eagle mountain for lack of funds, causing considerable distress and destitution among the miners and their fami- lies, a good many of the miners being forced to quit work upon seeing no prospect of securing their pay.
For a while the "Golden Chariot," which since November 15, 1875. had been under the superintendency of M. A. Baldwin, met its engagements in due season, but eventually allowed two months to elapse without a pay day, though making many promises which did not materialize. Certain actions on the part of the officers, such as removing the valuable property of the company and the peremptory closing of the mine, were looked upon as rather suspicious by the miners, who were smarting under their grievances and roused to action by the destitution of their families, which they justly attributed to the conduct of the company, and after a cool and deliberate consultation they concluded to take action themselves, and not wait for the uncertain and tortuous windings of the
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law. About midnight Friday, June 30, 1876, about one hundred men comprised of the "Golden Chariot" employees, and miners from other mines, assembled and proceeded to the office of the company, located near the mill, and conducted the superintendent, M. A. Baldwin, to a house at Fairview and placed him under guard, at the same time informing him that he would not be released unless assurance was given that the employees of the company would receive their just dues. Everything was conducted in a very peaceable manner, and Mr. Baldwin's wants fully provided for. On the assurance of the San Francisco officials of the company that the pay of the miners would be forthcoming, Mr. Baldwin was released from durance vile on July 21, 1876, and allowed to proceed to San Francisco. He returned from there a month later, and the miners were paid off as promised, and operations for a short period resumed, but eventually the mine was closed down and has, with the exception of an occasional spurt, remained in statu quo ever since.
SILVER CITY.
Silver City is a flourishing mining camp in Southwestern Idaho, containing a population of nearly 2,000 people. It was laid out in 1864 and through its mining interests is known in nearly every quarter of the globe. The town lies in a canyon, on the headwaters of Jordan creek, and at an altitude of about 6,300 feet. War Eagle mountain on the east, and Florida mountain on the west, rise to heights of about 8,000 feet, the former being the higher and the most promi- nent peak in Southern Idaho. From the summit of War Eagle mountain, on a clear summer's morning, with the aid of a telescope one can see the Teton range in Wyoming, the southwestern corner of Montana, the Wasatch range in Utah, a butte in Washington, 425 miles northwesterly, and glimpses within the state lines of Nevada, California and Oregon.
The climate during the summer months is nearly perfect, the days never getting very warm, and the nights so cool that quite a weight of clothing is necessary for comfort. Mosquitoes, gnats or fleas are unknown. In the winter the snow sometimes falls to considerable depth, but the cold is not severe, and teaming of any character can be done at all seasons.
The social life of Silver City is free from the petty jealousies and heart- burnings that are so common in small places, where the "upper ten" and "cod- fish aristocracy" swell over their inferiors. Here there is a pleasant, natural commingling between all classes, and a cordial hospitality rules society. Church services are conducted at odd intervals, there being no resident ministers. The Masonic order has two lodges in Silver City-Chapter and Blue Lodge- and Odd Fellows three-Encampment, subordinate and Rebekah. The Knights of Pythias are also represented with a strong lodge.
Silver City has six general merchandise stores, two hardware stores, a tin shop, two meat markets, two hotels, four restaurants, eight saloons, bakery, one
ATIANSON-WARENIN. DENVED
Silver City, looking North.
Silver City, looking South.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
-
shoe shop, a photograph gallery, brewery, soda bottling works, two livery stables, a feed store, three drug stores, a jeweler, three blacksmith shops, a furniture store, two lumber yards, a tailor shop, three barber shops, a news- paper, four lawyers, two doctors, etc., etc., most of whom have cards in this Directory.
Silver City is essentially a mining town and is wholly dependent upon this industry for its support and prosperity. The whistle of hoisting and mill engines, and the sullen roar of giant powder blasts, are music to her people. - She
OF
CICAR
M.MIGETCHELL. STATIONERY. CONFECTIONERY. & TOBACCO.
POST OFFICE
WILLIAMSON NAFFNEN LINTEN
Post Office and Court House, Silver City.
has four stamp mills carrying an aggregate of fifty stamps, and two arastras. The mines are about equally divided between War Eagle and Florida moun- tains, each being covered with a network of veins carrying precious metals.
War Eagle mountain is of granite formation. The veins lie generally north and south and the mountain is traversed east and west by numerous porphyry dykes. Generally speaking, the bonanza ore bodies found in that locality have been where the veins came in contact with these dykes. The ores of this moun- tain are free milling and carry a nice percentage of gold, the bullion running from $3.50 to $13.00 per ounce. War Eagle has a credited production record of about thirty millions of dollars, taken out during the first ten years of the camp's history.
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Florida mountain, until very lately, was considered to be of porphyry forma- tion with some granite upheavals, but the deep mining now done by the compa- nies operating thereon has exploded this idea, and demonstrated that the rock masses are of granite, capped with porphyry. The veins of this mountain also maintain a north and south course, but dykes are not as common as on War Eagle. The ores, too, generally carry more iron, requiring concentration before amalgamation. Some of the largest and most exclusive gold veins in the camp are found on Florida mountain, which furnished the rich auriferous deposits that attracted the attention of the early prospectors to this camp. Florida
Ge ral Merchandise.
WILLIAMSON-HAFFNER ITINA
Dave Adams' Store, Silver City.
mountain is covered to considerable depth by gravel and loam, making it extremely difficult to prospect, but when access to her treasure vaults is once obtained, powder, steel and muscle are sure to win.
The country surrounding Silver City abounds in game of all kinds, and the mountain streams are plentifully supplied with speckled trout, making it a grand locality for camping parties in the heated term. Grouse, sage hens and prairie chickens are numerous. In the higher mountains deer are found in large num- bers, and antelope are frequently seen in isolated valleys near South mountain, and on the lava beds which skirt the southern boundary of the county.
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
TRADE DOLLAR MINING AND MILLING COMPANY.
The Trade Dollar Mining and Milling Company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Kentucky, in July, 1891. The headquarters of the com- pany are at Pittsburg, Pa., and the present officers are: President, Hon. J. M. Guffey; vice president, A. W. Mellon; secretary and treasurer, T. B. McKaig: superintendent, James Hutchinson; foreman. Joe H. Hutchinson; accountant, L. J. Weldon. The company owns the following mines located on the southern slope of the Florida mountain, all of which are patented: Colorado, Sierra Nevada, Jumbo, South Pluto, Black Bart, J. G. Blaine, Pluto, Pluto millsite, Trade Dollar, Fraction, Blaine Extension, Caroline; and the following claims unpatented: Alpine, Harrison, Alleghany, Standard and Little Chief.
MILLANSDA NASTAIN, DENVPA
Trade Dollar Mining and Milling Company, Silver City.
The company did not have a patented claim when Mr. Hutchinson assumed charge, and three-fourths of the producing territory at the present time is from claims acquired since he assumed charge. The property today ranks with the best paying properties on the Pacific coast.
At the present time there is over three miles of track laid, railed and tied: and over five miles of tunnels, drifts, adits, etc. The main tunnel is 3,854 feet in length, and connects with the Black Jack tunnel at its northern boundary.
The company plant is very complete, consisting of a ten-stamp combination mill, office buildings, department shops, bunk and boarding houses, Ingersoll-
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
Sergeant air compressor, compound Corliss engine, drill press, lathe-in fact, a full and complete mining and milling outfit.
OMCUTASNAFFNER. LENYER
Thomas B. Mckaig, Sec'y-Treas. Trade Dollar M. & M. Co.
The officers at the Eastern end have been liberal and progressive, and the management at this end conservative and intelligent. While it may seem prepos- terous, the facts are that the Trade Dollar in 1897 paid larger dividends than any one mine in Cripple Creek, according to published records of dividends.
The following is a list of attorneys practicing at the present term of court: E. Nugent, R. Z. Johnson, E. J. Curtis, R. T. Miller, T. H. Smith, W. H. Dav- enport, L. P. Higbee, J. H. Lucas, C. G. Stafford, I. D. Haines, James Miller, T. G. Murphy, J. S. Reynolds, H. Martin, H. L. Preston, J. M. Murphy, W. G. T. Vault, A. A. Moore, J. H. Watson, A. Huggan and A. Heed .- Avalanche, October 2, 1865.
Coyote Chase .- On Wednesday evening a coyote appeared on Main street, and the sound of revolvers would have done credit to a well-regulated free fight. Mr. Coyote, astonished at his reception, took to his heels, and soon left Ruby in the distance .- Avalanche, September 16, 1865.
Hay is now selling here for $100.00 per ton. Several loads have arrived in town during the week. There was probably 250 tons cut during the summer in Jordan valley, which will likely supply the demand in this section .- Ava- lanche, September 23, 1865.
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Mr. James Hutchinson was born in Yorkshire, England, November 17. 1837, and is, therefore, sixty years of age. He came to America with his parents in 1848, and settled in Dubuque, lowa; moved to Shullsburgh, Wiscon- sin, in 1852, and resided there until January, 1863, at which time he was married to Susan ('Neil; and started for Colorado territory, settling in Central City. Gilpin county, and from that time to the present has been engaged in gold and silver mining.
He was superintendent of the famous Gregory lode for twenty years: superintendent of the famous Robinson and Aspen mines, and was appointed state inspector of mines for the state of Colorado by Governor Cooper, in 1889. He came to Idaho to take charge of the Trade Dollar mine on January 1. 1894. and since his arrival it has been a continuous and regular dividend payer.
James Hutchinson.
Joseph H. Hutchinson.
Joseph H. Hutchinson, foreman for the Trade Dollar Mining & Milling Company, was born in Central City, Colorado. May 21. 1864. When sixteen years of age he moved to Denver and attended the public schools of that city. While in the high school there he was twice elected president of their lyceum, and won the famous Woodbury medal in 1883 for oratory. He worked his way through school as janitor of the Twenty-second avenue primary school, and as "route carrier" on the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Times. He was elected "chairman of the board" at the Colorado Mining Stock Exchange in 1890, and in 1893 left that institution while occupying the position of secre-
3
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
tary and treasurer, to help his father in Idaho. The Colorado Springs Mining Stock Association making him a handsome offer to preside over their board in 1896, he returned and handled the stocks through Cripple Creek's stock boom, and returned to cast his lot with Idaho January 1, 1897.
Mr. Hutchinson has been in mining camps all of his life except the periods of Denver school life and business, and in practical mining is quite an aid to his father as superintendent. Mr. Hutchinson wedded a native Owyhee girl (Miss Helen Hays), and both are western people in thoughts, deeds and actions. In politics "Joe" has been a silver man as against party distinction, and has the unique honor of being secretary of the first silver club ever formed in the United States; also secretary of the first national bimetallic convention held in Chicago in 1893, and secretary of the bimetallic union formed in Salt Lake in 1895.
THE IDAHO AND PITTSBURG MINING AND MILLING COMPANY.
The Idaho and Pittsburg Mining and Milling Company was incorporated in 1890, under the laws of Kentucky, with a nominal capital of $2,500,000.00, divided into 250,000 shares of $10.00 each. The officers of the company are: John Irwin, Jr., president; Edwin Bindley, vice president; James McKay, treas- urer; Lloyd L. Little, secretary, residing at Pittsburg, Pa. The local officers are Frederic Irwin, superintendent; J. B. Mattenson, mine foreman; James Inglis, mill foreman; Bert Haug, assayer and accountant. The company are the owners of the following mines: Black Jack, Empire State, Phillips, Sullivan, Belfast and Independance, all of which are patented, and the unpatented claims are Virginia, Bay State, Industry, Economy and Sun Flower.
The "Black Jack" was the first mine located on Florida mountain, and in the "palmy days" of Owyhee prior to 1875, is said to have produced $1,600,000.00, and kept three mills busy.
The failure of the Bank of California, which proved disastrous in general to the mining industries of this locality, also had a like effect on the "Black Jack," and for years nothing was done in the mine except assessment work and an occasional small shipment by chloriders.
In 1890 the present owners purchased the property and prosecuted work vigorously by starting a cross-cut tunnel to tap the ledge 540 feet below the lowest previous workings, and the following summer commenced to erect a ten- stamp mill. At first the outlook was very discouraging, the ledge after a drive of 950 feet being cut at a barren spot, but the company prosecuted the work with renewed energy, and in due time their perseverance was rewarded by the uncovering of a large chute of ore, which fully justified all the expense they had undertaken. This was followed by the discovery of several more good chutes of ore, and warranted a further outlay on the part of the company, and they concluded to cut the ledge at a greater depth, and with this end in view, pur- chased the Idaho tunnel of Herndon and Mattenson, and through this tunnel cut the ledge May, 1895, 306 feet below the old tunnel level, opening into about four feet of good ore. A shaft has since been sunk from the Idaho tunnel level
Idaho and Pittsburg Mining and Milling Company .
.. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
*
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
to a depth of 100 feet, and crosscuts run east and west from this point, the east cutting the Black Jack ledge fifty-three feet from the shaft, and the west driving for the Empire State ledge, which it is expected will be cut twenty to thirty feet further in at a distance of ninety feet from the shaft. This Empire State ledge has been cut 370 feet above this point and there shows about three feet of good milling ore. The shaft is in two compartments, each 4x4 in the clear, one com- partment used as a cageway, in which a Fraser & Chalmer's cage is in operation, the other being used for a pumpway, counterbalance slide and manway. The hoisting engine is a Fairbanks, Morse & Co., thirty-horse power, power being furnished by an Ingersoll-Sergeant air compressor, located at the mill, 2,600 feet distant. A pump, of a capacity of sixty gallons a minute, is also operated by compressed air, and handles the water easily. There are at present ninety men employed in the mine and mill. The mill is a Fraser & Chalmers, ten stamps, three vanners, six pans and three settlers. Two sixty-inch boilers furnish the steam to a 14x12-inch Cooper-Corliss engine. The combination process is used, the vanners taking out sixty-five per cent. of the values in the form of con- centrates, which are shipped to Denver for final treatment. Mill and mine run steadily, only recognizing two holidays-the Fourth of July and Christmas. The company has uninterruptedly paid dividends for the past five years, but being a close corporation figures are unattainable ....
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