Alder Gulch Discovery and the 1863 Gold Rush
The Madisonian’s Christmas number recounts the Alder gulch discovery by William Fairweather and companions in May 1863. From Bannack to the Madison headwaters, their tests yielded early nuggets and a 25 ounce day, prompting rapid district organization and Virginia City’s swift growth as miners staked claims in Nevada, Adobe Town, Junction, and other towns along Alder Gulch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Virginia City
Alder Gulch
William Fairweather
Bannack
Willam Fairweather
Madison Activide
James Stuart
Yellowstone
Granite Creek
Fairweather
Deer Lodge
Stuart
West Gallatin
Madison
Wigwam Creek
Alder
Henry Edgar
Tom W. Cover
Michael Sweeney
Barney Hughes
Harry Rodgers
Edgar
Beaverhead
Fairweather District
W. L. Steele
Helena
James Fergus
Fergus
George Gohn
Virignia City
Nelson Promey
Summit
Nevada
Adobe Town
Junction
Beartown
Highland
Pine Grove
No Report This Year From State Mine Inspector
State mine inspector John Byrne will not issue his annual progress report this year due to alternating reporting law. Deputy inspector John J. Barry has compiled district data, noting deepening at Pittsburg & Mortana Copper No 2 to 1200 feet and No 3 to 900 feet, Clark and West Stewart shafts, United Copper Cora to 1200 feet and Belmont to 700. Other shafts at Anaconda 200, Parrot 187, Raven 200 feet. Twenty two fatal accidents reported in Silver Bow County since last year, listing victims including Smayzee, Robinson, Harrington, Grant, Frity, Mehnnis, McCone, Gallagher, Boutheller, Martin, Cunningham, Noren, Bartle, Clinch, Lowney, Ionkin, Davis, Comba, Doyle, Zucco, Pishkur, Cattiline. Last deaths occurred at Minnie Healey shaft on Oct 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Byrne
John J. Barry
Byrne
Pittsburg
United Copper Company
Belmont
Anaconda
Parrot
Raven
Silver Bow County
Joseph Smayzee
George Robinson
James C. Harrington
Fervis Grant
Joseph Frity
Miles Mefnnis
John McCone
Anthony Gallagher
Emil Boutheller
Jonn H. Martin
George L. Cunningham
James Noren
Isaac Bartle
William J. Clinch
John J Lowney
W. T
Ionkin
Meiklejohn inspects Oregon mine in Pony lease deal
David Meiklejohn Jr a Butte mining expert spent days in Pony examining the Oregon mine under lease to Charles Weidman. Reports say the mine is paying with recent ore shipments netting Weidman about 4830 per carload and that he has taken 82820 from the vein. He plans more inspections in Idaho and will return to Butte around January 6. A small mill is being built to crush low to medium grade rock once finished.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Meiklejohn, Jr
Butte
Pony
Oregon
Charles Weidman
Idaho
Weidman
Rich Copper Ore Hinted In Big Sheep Creek Claims
The Dillon Examiner reports P. M. Sweeney road supervisor for Dell and Lima districts owns mining claims in Big Sheep creek basin. Veins of low grade copper ore average about 10 percent. He has driven a 760 foot tunnel into the mountain and plans to add a helper to push the tunnel to tap the vein. He previously sunk a shaft to the water level along the ore shoot.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dillon Examiner
P. M Sweeney
Dell
Lima
Big Sheep Creek
Sweeney
Copper ore transition in Big Sheep creek district
In the Big Sheep creek district, red oxidized copper ore yields to water depth. The ore then changes to iron pyrites and the miner Mr Sweeney stops, unlikely to pierce pyrites for copper again. Experts expect copper ore to return richer upon pyrite piercing in this granite basin similar to Butte.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sweeney
Big Sheep Creek
Butte
Dredging Property Sold In Beaverhead County Case
The Montana Gold Dredge company on Grasshopper creek had its personal property sold to partly satisfy a 106000 judgment by Clarence A. Hand of Colorado. Sheriff Gist conducted the sale. K L Hall bought for 1600. The dredge boat remains owned by Montana Grasshopper company. Real estate and telephone line facing sale later. The suit arose from internal company misunderstandings and plans to reorganize for future operations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana Gold Dredge Company
Grasshopper Creek
Beaverhead County
Clarence A. Hand
Colorado
Hand
Sheriff Gist
K. L. Hall
Montana Grasshopper Company
Bannack
Western News reports Collins visits Libby for mining supplies
J F Collins, manager of Spokane and Montana Mining, toured Libby last week gathering about two tons of supplies. He holds a contract to drive a 150 foot tunnel on the Wonderful group claim near Fourth of July creek. The ore is free milling with gold values, four feet of vein material yielding about 25 to 30 in gold. Collins says the district looks strong, with ongoing development and a promising next season. Also noted is lively skating at Holland street rink with 1 nickel admission.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Western News
Libby
J. F. Collins
Spokane & Montana Mining Company
West Fisher
Wonderful Group
Collins
Bee Hive on West Park street shuts down on note default
Sheriff closes Wilson's Bee Hive on West Park street amid money market strain. Attachments issued for 500 dollars to State Savings Bank and 76 dollars to Montana Hardware Co. Deputy McKenna served the writs and found the owner unwilling to bond, leading to indefinite closure. Leading cigar brands Christie and Leys are among stock.
Lost ore car tale echoes Comstock gold rush legend
The San Francisco Call recalls a Nevada tale of a missing Carson & Colorado ore car. In Virginia City days, two prospectors on the Carson sink found a rich quartz float, shafts followed, and at 15 feet they struck a timbered ore mass revealing about 10 tons of Comstock ore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco
Carson & Colorado
Comstock
Nevada
Virginia
Reno
Carson
Last Week of the Year Promises Busy Commercial Life
The article notes a busy final week before the new year with books to balance inventories to finish, New Year preparations, and self denials in smoking drinking and gambling. It mentions dancing watch night services, mining claims delinquency, and a Broadway motel misread, plus school vacation and the Boston Montana band's 16th anniversary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston & Montana
Sunset Twice at Leek England Jagged Mountain
A quirky fact from Leek England claims the sun sets twice in a day. The sun drops behind a jagged mountain, then reappears an hour later through a gap, shining again until the final sunset.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leek
England
Also Mentioned on This Page
Iory
Edr
Cover
Hughes
Rodgers
State Inspector of Mines
Coal Cutters
Cortlandt St
New York
Meiklejohn
P. M. Sweeney
Big Sheep Creek Basin
Spokane
Montana
Holland Street
West Park Street
Christie & Leys
Hen Ness
Hennessy
Our Nation Dept
Amo
Elks
Standard Office
Broadway
the International Hotel
Jay
Canyon Ferry
A. Itkin
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