Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/179



Deschutes, and the desert to the rid^e between Burnt River and the Malheur. They were compelled to abandon their guide on the way, since he had evidently lost his bearings. The party of four, descending Elk Creek, came to a ravine, where Griffin sunk a prospect hole and struck gold in paying quantities. The place was called Griffin Gulch, from the discoverer of the mine, commonly accepted to be the first gold mine discovered in Eastern Oregon. As a result of the excitement produced by this discovery, there was a stampede lor Eastern Oree:on, and many rich ^old mines were subsequently discovered throughout the Blue Mountains. Rut no one since has been able to locate for a certainty the Blue Bucket Mine, if such a mine ever existed.

Other Gold that Came to Oregon. Because of the gold excitement of 1861 and 1862, Portland, Oregon, became almost depopulated by the wild rush for the mines. The press of Oregon published many sensational reports such as the following, which convey an impression of the remarkable discoveries made, the severe privations endureci, and the sensational conrlitions that pre\ailed.


 * 'A miner while on his way to Salmon River struck rich ditrgini^s and havinc^ no bnc; for his erathcred gold, filled one ol his mdiarubber l)oots with it and at last date waS fillln^ the other."—Mountaineer, /\prii 18. 1862. **A man by the name of Wiser, of Benton County, Oregon, took out $3,000 in two davs in Salmon River diggings. "— Walla Walla News, Dec. 4, 1661., . "Nine packers

came with $30,000 in hand, the result of their summer's work in the mines."—Washington Statesman, Dec. I. 1861.

"Scarcely a miner here (Florence) would stay by his claim if he were not sure that it would pay him $25 a day in good weather. When rockers could be used, miners frequently made from $300 to $5U0 per day, and less than $30 was not spoken of. As high as forty ounces a day have been taken out."—Walla Walla Statesman, June 14. 1862. . •, . "Seven men arrived yesterday at The Dalles from