Moy Davis

Moonshine

Prospectors

Robinette Fire

Snake River History Short Stories

Counterfeiting
The Baker City Herald on August 28, 1901 describes Mr. Coon's infamous occupation carried on at the Speake's ranch at the mouth of Hibbard Creek: "What is regarded by the secret service men of the treasury department and the government officials as being one of the most dangerous dens of counterfeiters in the United States, was raided yesterday by United States Marshal.....

Moy Davis

One of Baker County’s early pioneers and daring Indian scouts was Christopher Columbus (Lum) Davis born in Greencastle, Putman County, Indiana, February 20, 1836. He came to Baker County, Oregon in 1862 and mined at Rye Valley and Morman Basin. When mining in exposed situations, for protection against Indian attacks, he kept a Henry rifle over his shoulder. In 1865, he was engaged as a scout with Captain Stanford’s command, and in the Indian War of 1878, he was employed as a scout under Miles and Howard. He was quite successful in recovering stock stolen by the Indians and acquired quite a reputation as an Indian fighter. One time when on pursuit of Indians to recover stolen horses, he came upon a party of.....

Moonshine
One summer during the early 1920's, Albert spent more time than usual visiting Ferguson whose place was located south of South Vale Creek near our old homestead. While I was gathering the eggs one morning, I became alarmed for the chickens were cackling and staggering about and the hogs too, were weaving to and fro grunting gleefully. I dashed to the garden calling for Albert to come, but he was no where in sight.....

Prospectors
Another prospector, William Smith, mined on the Idaho bank of Snake River south of the old Flick Bar diggins. In July of 1901, he was getting out coarse gold pieces worth $2.00 and wheelbarrows of pay dirt worth $5.00 a load. His claim was at Smith Bar on the Idaho side of Snake River across from our ranch. His find was a deposit of very coarse placer gold, with many very large nuggets. One nugget was worth $186.00 when gold was only worth $20.67 an ounce. This nine-ounce nugget was .....

The Robinette Hotel fire occured one Monday in October, 1920. I was a seventh grader and had walked to the Richiand elementary school when my mother heard on the telephone about the fire. She always wanted me to see happenings and learn about them, so Mother and my father came to the school, got me excused for the morning and we drove in our 1918 four cylinder Buick to Robinette to see the disaster.....