Misplaced Pages

#262737

25-437: In late 1863, a group led by Joe Findlay collected either large gold flakes or abundant nuggets when panning at the mouth of Wild Horse Creek . Various versions exist regarding the members of two parties arriving the following spring, but Bob Dore and Jack Fisher are two of the key players staking claims. The tent community was called Fisherville and the towering peak later became Mount Fisher . A nearby contributory creek, which

50-432: A lull, claims were being worked with a new vigour from 1884, with the population steadily increasing each year. In 1887, Chief Isadore and 25 warriors sprang a murder suspect from the jail, but the prisoner was returned to custody and found not guilty. In 1888, five quartz claims containing grained galena were staked. In 1889, Skookum Joe discovered a significant gold quartz ledge, which he revealed to George Cowan. In

75-400: A new river, to be given its own name, perhaps one already known to the people who live upon its banks. Conversely, explorers approaching a new land from the sea encounter its rivers at their mouths, where they name them on their charts, then, following a river upstream, encounter each tributary as a forking of the stream to the right and to the left, which then appear on their charts as such; or

100-460: A river in the Interior of British Columbia , Canada is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tributary A tributary , or an affluent , is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ( main stem or "parent" ), river, or a lake . A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean . Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they flow, drain

125-586: The East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia . The river flows southwest from the Canadian Rockies to the mouth, which lies immediately south of Fort Steele . On his 1814 map, David Thompson called the stream Luissier. In late 1863, a group led by Joe Findlay were gold panning at the river mouth. Observing either a black wild stallion or a cayuse on the hillside, which possibly showed interest in one of their mares, they called

150-699: The 1860s found a 1,021-gram (36 oz) gold nugget, which was the largest one recovered from the river. Mining methods have included hydraulics, tunnels, and shafts. The river experienced major mining activity from 1863 to 1868 and from 1885 to 1900. Accessible by a hiking trail, the major sources at the upper level are warm and cold springs. On Crown land, the water is clear and odourless. Water temperatures range from 21 to 33 °C (70 to 91 °F), being warmer on colder days and vice versa. Several former springs have dried up. 49°36′02″N 115°37′03″W  /  49.60056°N 115.61750°W  / 49.60056; -115.61750 This article related to

175-527: The 1890s, the adoption of large pump machinery created a revival in placer mining , which attracted thousands, but again later became primarily Chinese. In 1901, nine individuals returned to China each with $ 15,000. Claims were then worked intermittently for almost two decades before a revival in hydraulic mining 1919–1925. By 1929, the earlier wooden grave markers were indecipherable and the log houses reduced to remnants. Wild Horse, Fisherville, and Toneyville are identifiable as separate sites. The mining area

200-502: The ditch to flush the Fisherville bench, which yielded exceptional recoveries. Dore installed the first hydraulic plant, his claim producing $ 521,700 over the first three years. As the ground was progressively worked, cabins in the way were moved, demolished or torched. That year, Peter O'Reilly was appointed gold commissioner at Fisherville. A camp called Wild Horse was created closer to the new activity. Halfway to Galbraith's Ferry

225-513: The following years. In spring 1867, a horse thief murdered Constable Jack Lawson, but some accounts ascribe the year as 1864. The Hudson's Bay Company , wanting to exit the local market, sold the Wild Horse store to John Galbraith of Galbraith's Ferry in 1870, making Galbraith Bros the most significant traders in the district, having stores at Perry Creek, Joseph's Prairie (later called Cranbrook ), Galbraith's Ferry, and Wild Horse. After

250-451: The handedness is from the point of view of an observer facing upstream. For instance, Steer Creek has a left tributary which is called Right Fork Steer Creek. These naming conventions are reflective of the circumstances of a particular river's identification and charting: people living along the banks of a river, with a name known to them, may then float down the river in exploration, and each tributary joining it as they pass by appears as

275-424: The joining of tributaries. The opposite to a tributary is a distributary , a river or stream that branches off from and flows away from the main stream. Distributaries are most often found in river deltas . Right tributary , or right-bank tributary , and left tributary , or left-bank tributary , describe the orientation of the tributary relative to the flow of the main stem river. These terms are defined from

SECTION 10

#1732794054263

300-407: The only practicable trails. However, that year, a glut made beef the cheapest food. During an argument in late July, Tommy Walker shot off the thumb of William "Yeast Powder Bill” Burmeister, who returned fire killing Walker. When Gold Commissioner John C. Haynes and Constable Harry Anderson arrived a few days later, a formal jury was convened. The evidence insufficient for a conviction, the defendant

325-469: The opposite bank before approaching the confluence. An early tributary is a tributary that joins the main stem river closer to its source than its mouth, that is, before the river's midpoint ; a late tributary joins the main stem further downstream, closer to its mouth than to its source, that is, after the midpoint. In the United States, where tributaries sometimes have the same name as

350-476: The perspective of looking downstream, that is, facing the direction the water current of the main stem is going. In a navigational context, if one were floating on a raft or other vessel in the main stream, this would be the side the tributary enters from as one floats past; alternately, if one were floating down the tributary, the main stream meets it on the opposite bank of the tributary. This information may be used to avoid turbulent water by moving towards

375-666: The river into which they feed, they are called forks . These are typically designated by compass direction. For example, the American River in California receives flow from its North, Middle, and South forks. The Chicago River 's North Branch has the East, West, and Middle Fork; the South Branch has its South Fork, and used to have a West Fork as well (now filled in). Forks are sometimes designated as right or left. Here,

400-418: The smaller stream designated the little fork, the larger either retaining its name unmodified, or receives the designation big . Tributaries are sometimes listed starting with those nearest to the source of the river and ending with those nearest to the mouth of the river . The Strahler stream order examines the arrangement of tributaries in a hierarchy of first, second, third and higher orders, with

425-412: The stream Stud Horse Creek. A year or two later, the official rename was Wild Horse Creek. Around 1950, Wild Horse River became the common name. In 1864, an important mining camp was established at Fisherville . Placer mining yielded close to $ 7,000,000 in gold during the goldrush. Worked by both European and Chinese miners, the river has been a significant BC gold producing stream. Mike Reynolds in

450-432: The streams are seen to diverge by the cardinal direction (north, south, east, or west) in which they proceed upstream, sometimes a third stream entering between two others is designated the middle fork; or the streams are distinguished by the relative height of one to the other, as one stream descending over a cataract into another becomes the upper fork, and the one it descends into, the lower ; or by relative volume:

475-547: The surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater , leading the water out into an ocean. The Irtysh is a chief tributary of the Ob river and is also the longest tributary river in the world with a length of 4,248 km (2,640 mi). The Madeira River is the largest tributary river by volume in the world with an average discharge of 31,200 m /s (1.1 million cu ft/s). A confluence , where two or more bodies of water meet, usually refers to

500-434: The winter but some stayed, including William Young, the constable. When heavy snow prevented the delivery of supplies, a chronic food shortage developed. The 8-kilometre (5 mi) Victoria ditch was excavated. In 1865, the snow melt flooded the creek and half the summer was wasted. Only a third of the 1,500 miners were gainfully employed. Most left on news of better prospects elsewhere. Those who stayed used water supplied by

525-500: Was Toneyville, known for its brothels . In 1865, a decline was evident. Falling demand meant supplies were overstocked. However, the Wild Horse valley remained capable of supporting 600 miners, creating an opportunity for the Chinese. About 100 Caucasians and 20 Chinese stayed the winter. A post office, initially called Kootenai, existed 1866–1899 near the Wild Horse camp. The adjacent land was good for agriculture. In 1866, enough wheat

SECTION 20

#1732794054263

550-476: Was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1996. Later blank crosses are the only markers in the main cemetery. Tommy Walker's grave, outside the cemetery, has a headstone. The Chinese cemetery is separate. In 2021, signs were posted to discourage recreational panning, which was damaging the historic site. Wild Horse River Wild Horse River is a tributary of the Kootenay River in

575-424: Was expelled from the district. Law enforcement erected a cabin, then jail, collected government tariffs, and maintained the peace. Dave Griffiths, prospector and storekeeper, who settled a mile away, stayed for 50 years. Some of the apple trees he planted continue to produce fruit. The fireplace and chimney base at his residence remain standing. By late summer, the population was an estimated 700. Most departed before

600-432: Was grown to satisfy the local flour demand. In June 1866, John Boles Gaggin arrived as assistant to O'Reilly, but was made redundant that November. After a lengthy illness, he died the following May and was buried in the cemetery. By fall 1866, Caucasian numbers had dropped, but the Chinese had risen to 300. Caucasians continued to dwindle each season and Fisherville became known as Chinatown. A Chinese presence remained over

625-464: Was the water source for a brewery operation, became Brewery Creek. The product was consumed in the numerous saloons that sprang up. The Dore, Cuddy and Fisher, near the mouth of Brewery Creek, would prove to be the richest claims. By May 1864, 150 prospectors were working the main waterway. The two general stores struggled to keep up with demand and charged high prices. Most supplies came from the US, linked via

#262737