USA > Idaho > An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day > Part 42
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
Wagontown district, and Rising Star, Astor and Twilight in Flint district.
The Owyhee mines, up to 1881, were worked to a depth which varied from one hundred and fifty to one thousand five hundred feet. The Owyhee Treasury, at a depth of one hundred feet down, yielded ore worth seventy-five cents per pound. A "stringer" in the mine, worked in a common mortar, yielded forty-six dollars to a pound of ore.
The mining camps for several years flourished and enjoyed a continuous run of unparalleled prosperity until the year of 1875, when the sus- pension of the Bank of California and other causes for a while paralyzed the mining indus- tries of the county, and resulted in the withdrawal from the field of a number of large companies who had been in active operation here.
While it was considered somewhat hazardous in the early history of this county to follow the pursuit of what might be termed "experimental farming" in a country which was generally re- garded as the home of the miner, and a locality where the sage brush blossomed as the rose, nev- ertheless a few hardy pioneers of agricultural pro- clivities, like their worthy congeners, the honest miners, prospected the soil with good results; others followed in their footsteps, and to-day, where formerly the hardy sage brush flourished and the wary coyote trod, we find thousands of acres covered with thrifty farms and orchards, . yielding annually almost fabulous quantities of cereals and esculents. The valleys of the Bru- neau, Reynolds creek, Castle creek, Catherine creek and Sinker creek are unsurpassed for fer- tility and productiveness of soil, and the moun- tain slopes in season are luxuriant with the most nutritious grasses, affording the best of ranges for stock raising. With irrigation scientifically applied, Owyhee farmers have succeeded in trans- forming what was termed in immigration days the "God-forsaken country" to an earthly para- dise. Wheat is always a sure crop, and great success has been met with with barley and oats. Hay of all descriptions, mostly alfalfa, is pro- duced in large quantities; and potatoes, cab- bages and all the smaller garden vegetables grown in great profusion. Fruits, vines and shrubs, wherever planted, have turned out thrifty and produced largely.
To the weary traveler crossing the dreary, monotonous and arid plains of Owyhee, the emerald and picturesque ranches, sequestered in the deep canyons of the creeks, are a source of joy and beauty.
It was early discovered that cattle that were fed on the nutritious bunch grass and white sage that abounded on the plains and mountain slopes of Owyhee county attained a perfection of bone, muscle and flesh not equaled by any other lo- cality, and this led to a rapid settling of the ranges of Bruneau, Reynolds, Castle, Catherine, Sinker, Cow and Sucker creeks, which were speedily covered with immense herds of hardy cattle. In 1882 the number of cattle assessed in the county was 24,559, which was believed to be 6,000 short of the actual figure. In 1885 it was estimated that there were over 60,000 head of cattle within the confines of Owyhee county. In 1888-9 the cattle interests in the county reached their maximum, and, as we are reliably informed, there was at that date over 100,000 head of cattle in the county. At that date the principal cattle owners were: Murphy & Horn, 12,000 head; Scott & Company, 18,000 head; Grayson & Com - pany, 16,000 head; Hardiman Bros., 5,000 head: Sommercamp, 5,000 head; Jack Sands, 3,500 head; Con Shea, 5,000 head; Sparks & Harrell, 5,000 head; Bruce Brothers, 2,500 head; total, 72,000 head. Add to this several stock raisers with herds numbering 500 to 1,000, a very low estimate would be 18,000 head, making a grand total of 100,000 head. These were the flush cattle times of Owyhee, when the cattle kings viewed with swelling pride their increasing herds and pocketbooks; but a couple of severe winters, the inability to find sufficient suitable food for such large herds, and several other causes, created a great loss of cattle, and the cattle trade gradu- ally shrank to its present condition, there not be- ing, it is believed, at present date, over 15,000 head of cattle within the county.
But the loss of one industry has been the gain of another, viz., the sheep industry, which from small beginnings has gradually risen to its pres- ent proportions, and it is generally estimated that at this date there are over one hundred and fifty thousand head of sheep in Owyhee county.
The first settlement in the county was made at
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
Booneville, now Dewey, which took its name after Boone, one of the discovery party of twenty- nine. A little later the town of Ruby City sprang into existence, and by the summer of 1864 boasted of a population of eight to nine hundred, and was made the county seat upon the organi- zation of the county on December 31, 1863. Its location being an unfavorable one, a rival town sprang up, which was named Silver City, which not only gradually absorbed Ruby City, but be- carre the county-seat in 1866. Fairview, located on the apex of War Eagle mountain, was also a thriving little burg, and would have been made the county seat were it not for its inaccessibility. It was destroyed by fire October 16, 1875, loss being about one hundred thousand dollars, and never recuperated from the disaster.
De Lamar, another flourishing town, with a population nearly equal to that of Silver City, was first settled in 1888, and has since shown con- siderable improvement. Guffey, the baby town of the county, and the terminal point of the B. N. & O. Railroad, is rapidly increasing in popula- tion, making extensive improvements, and giving great promise for the future.
The United States census of 1890 gave the population of Owyhee county as 2,021. At the last presidential election, in the fall of 1896, there were 1,240 votes cast, and the estimated popula- tion of the county at present date is about 5,000.
The total value of taxable property in Owyhee county, as per assessment roll of July, 1896, amounted to $795.549.00, which embraced 10,- 769 head of cattle, 122,777 sheep, 8,299 horses, 170 jacks and mules, and 188 hogs. The total value of taxable property in Owyhee county, as per assessment roll of July, 1897, amounted to $894.786.00, which embraced 11,636 head of cat - tle, 118.705 sheep, 8,687 horses, 238 jacks and mules, and 231 hogs.
THE ONLY LEGAL HANGING IN THE COUNTY.
The morning of Friday, October 15, 1881, the day appointed for the execution of Henry Mc- Donald, 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 neces- sity. 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 deputy, 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 erect, 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 cemetery, which has been unused for many years. About three hundred people gath- ered about the scaffold, many having come in from the adjacent valleys. At seventeen minutes past one o'clock the prisoner firmly ascended the scaffold, and 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 good-bye, 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 two o'clock the sheriff sprung the trap, and thus without a sign of emotion or word of complaint the bloodstained soul of Henry Mc- Donald was ushered into eternity. In fourteen minutes life was pronounced extinct by Dr. Belk- nap, 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 re- volver, that "He who sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." This is the first execu- tion by law in this county; may we hope that another will never be required.
THE MARION MORE TRAGEDY.
As there are several versions afloat of this la- mentable affair, 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 generation and will refresh the memories of the old timers.
During the winter of 1867-8 a dispute arose between the celebrated "Ida Elmore" and "Gold- en Chariot" Mining Companies as to the respec- tive boundaries of their mining lines, which at first it was thought would be settled by con-
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
promise or litigation. To the surprise 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 dur- ing the charge John C. Holgate, an owner in the Golden Chariot, was shot in the head and died instantaneously. Shooting was kept up at inter- vals during the night, and the next morning Meyer Frank, one of the Ida Elmore contingent, was fatally wounded and died a few hours subse- · quently. At noon another Ida Elmore man named James Howard was seriously wounded and several others on both sides received slight wounds.
On the 28th Governor Ballard issued a proc- lamation 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. On the morning of the 29th, however, the principal par- ties on both sides effected a compromise and hos- tilities ceased and the armed men were with- drawn.
On the evening of April 1, .1868, Sam Lock- hart 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 received 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 pro- nounced in a dying condition, and death ended his sufferings the following 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 con- veyed by the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, to Idaho City, where they were in- terred. 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 13th of July following.
THE BALDWIN AFFAIR.
The failure of the Bank of California in Au- gust, 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 families, 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 superin- ·tendency 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. Cer . tain 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 fam- ilies, which they justly attributed to the conduct of the company, and after a cool and deliberate consultation they concluded to take action them- selves, and not wait for the uncertain and tor- tuous windings of the law. About midnight Friday, June 30, 1876, about one hundred men comprised of the "Golden Chariot" employes, and miners from other mines, assembled and pro- ceeded 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 assur- ance was given that the employes of the com- pany 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 pro- ceed to San Francisco. He returned from there a month later, and the miners were paid off as promised, and operations for a short period re-
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
sumed, 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 two thousand 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 moun- tain on the west, rise to heights of about eight thousand feet, the former being the higher and the most prominent peak in southern Idaho. From the summit of War Eagle mountain, on a clear summer's morning, with the aid of a tele- scope one can see the Teton range in Wyoming, the southwestern corner of Montana, the Was- atch range in Utah, a butte in Washington, four hundred and twenty-five 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 char- acter 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 "codfish aristocracy" swell over their infe- riors. Here there is a pleasant, natural commin- gling 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 Rebekalı. The Knights of Pythias are also represented with a strong lodge. Silver City Union, No. 66, of the W. F. of M., was organized August 8, 1896, the first officers installed being: O. D. Brum- baugh, president; Simon Harris, vice president; W. H. Hutchins, financial secretary; D. C. Wil- son, recording secretary: Thomas James, treas-
urer; T. W. Drew, conductor pro tem .; and J. McLeavey, warden pro tem.
Since its organization the union has paid out in benefits to members and their families about six thousand dollars, and also expended fourteen hundred and fifty dollars on the Miners' hospital, of Silver City, which was opened during the latter part of October, 1897.
Besides the social position which this associa- tion holds in the community, it has ever been ready to preserve the harmony which exists be- tween the large mining companies and their em- ployes. Its membership in 1898 was five hun- dred and twenty-five, all in good standing, and financially the union has ever kept itself in a flourishing condition.
Silver City has six general merchandise stores, two hardware stores, a tin shop, two meat mar- kets, two hotels, four restaurants, eight saloons, bakery, one 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 lum- ber yards, a tailor shop, three barber shops, a newspaper, four lawyers, two doctors, etc., etc.
This is essentially a mining town and is wholly dependent upon this industry for its support and prosperity. The whistle of hoisting and mill en- gines, and the sullen roar of giant-powder blasts. are music to her people. She has four stamp mills carrying an aggregate of fifty stamps, and two arastras. The mines are about equally di- vided 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 bonan- za ore bodies found in that locality have been where the veins came in contact with these dykes. The ores of this mountain are free milling and carry a nice percentage of gold, the bullion run- ning 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.
Florida mountain, until very lately, was con- sidered to be of porphyry formation with some
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
granite upheavals, but the deep mining now done by the companies 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 moun- tain, which furnished the rich auriferous deposits that attracted the attention of the early prospect- ors to this camp. Florida 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, mak- ing 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 numbers, and antelope are frequently seen in isolated valleys near South mountain, and on the lava beds which skirt the southern boundary of the county.
THE IDAHO HOTEL.
The Idaho Hotel, of Silver City, was first erected at Ruby City, Owyhee county, as early as 1863, by J. K. Eastman; and the following year, when Silver City was started, the building was taken down and moved to the latter place. Mr. Eastman conducted the hotel for a time and then sold it to Tim Regan and M. McGregor, who were the proprietors and managers until December, 1889, when S. T. N. Smith purchased the establishment. He conducted the hostelry until April, 1898, when it was bought bv Shea, McLain & Getchel, who are now running it as a first-class hotel.
It has sixty well furnished rooms, a large and commodious sample room, a stage office and an express office. The present proprietors, ener- getic, ambitious and polite, take great delight in preserving the fine prestige of the institution and even of making all the improvements that may be demanded by varying circumstances. They have a large patronage of the first class.
TRADE DOLLAR MINING AND MILLING COMPANY.
The Trade Dollar Mining and Milling Com- pany was incorporated under the laws of the state of Kentucky, in July, 1891. The head- quarters of the company are at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and the present officers are: President, Hon. J. M. Guffey ; vice president, A. W. Mellon ; secretary and treasurer, T. B. McKaig; superin- tendent, 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.
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 as- sumed charge. The property to-day 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 com- pany plant is very complete, consisting of a ten- stamp combination mill, office buildings, depart- ment shops, bunk and boarding houses, Inger- soll-Sergeant air compressor, compound Corliss engine, drill press, lathe-in fact, a full and com- plete mining and milling outfit.
The officers at the eastern end have been liberal and progressive, and the management at this end conservative and intelligent. While it may seem preposterous, the facts are that the Trade Dollar in 1897 paid larger dividends than any one mine in Cripple Creek, according to pub- lished records of dividends.
CUMBERLAND GOLD MINE.
This mine, which is located on the eastern side of War Eagle mountain, is owned by James Shaw, and has been operated under bond by Sonnenian & Branscombe, of Spokane, since
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
September, 1897, since which time the property has been equipped with hoist, shaft house, ore house, and other improvements made necessary for extensive work.
The situation is on the mineral zone which contains all the famous properties of War Eagle mountain, and on the system of veins on which are located the Oro Fino, Elmore, Golden Chariot, Minnesota, Mahogany, the aggregate production of which, amounting to thirty-six mil- lion dollars, did much towards producing the enormous amount of gold bullion produced by Owyhee county in the past. The Cumberland is the southerly extension of the Oro Fino, a cele- brated producer, and a parallel location to the Golden Chariot, which carried pay ore to a depth of one thousand five hundred feet, and has a rec- ord of shipments through Wells-Fargo express of fourteen million dollars. The Cumberland is virgin ground, and is proving on development to be as rich as any of the adjacent properties. It is the second quartz property to have been opened in Owyhee county, the Oro Fino, on the same vein, being an earlier location. In the early sixties, a 110-foot shaft was sunk on the Cum- berland vein, and some stoping done on the richest ore; but, on account of the large amount of trouble from the placer miners, and the depth demanding a power hoisting plant, work was stopped, and the shaft quickly filled to the collar with the debris washed down the canyon. The property eventually passed into the hands of Shaw, who has run upwards of 200 feet of tunnel on the vein above the collar of the old shaft. Most of the ground above this tunnel he has stoped, and, in spite of large expense attached to hauling, arastra milling, and large loss in tail- ings, the greater percentage of the silver value escaping, has averaged a clean-up of over one hundred dollars per ton.
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The ore is quartz, occasionally stained by small percentage of copper, and carrying nothing else but silver and gold, in proportion of one ounce of gold to ten of silver, or, at present quo- tations, eighty per cent. gold and twenty per cent. silver. Very often the gold percentage will exceed ninety, but never less than eighty. The gold values are entirely free-milling, the sil- ver occurring as silver glance (argentite), and occasionally as native silver.
On securing the property, Sonneman & Brans- combe immediately commenced to secure depth, by sinking a winse in the Shaw tunnel, and by cleaning out and sinking to greater depth the old shaft, unentered for thirty years. Besides the increased value and size of ledge in the winse, the showings uncovered in the old shaft are most pleasing. Considerable stoping had been done to within forty feet of the bottom, but, in the faces of these old stopes, a vein is left which pays well to extract, and below these stopes, to the bottoni of the shaft, and in the bottom, is a good vein ready for stoping and of high-grade ore. During the winter the work will be continued by sinking shaft, which has a present depth of one hundred and seventy-five feet, by three shifts, and pushing both the one hundred foot level and the Shaw tunnel ahead. These developments are made jus- tifiable by the presence of ore in the faces of both tunnels, the vein in the shaft being nearly two feet in width, and running over two and one-half ounces in gold and thirty ounces in silver.
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