GOLD CAMP

This is a thorough account of the enormously rich gold finds made in Alder Gulch and on Alder Creek in 1863-1864, and of the town that grew up on their site, Virginia City, which never degenerated into a ""ghost town"" and is today very much alive. Following the initial stampede, there came outlaws, disorder and adventurers of both sexes, then business men and their wives who imposed law, order and a functioning town government. Writing of life in the early days of Virginia City, the author tells of mining methods and of miners (whom he insists on calling ""b'hoys"" throughout) and of various outstanding personalities, among them the notorious Henry Plummer whose activities were ended by an anonymous, efficient Committee of Vigilantes.... Based on contemporary records and well annotated, this biography of a gold camp will appeal for the most part of Montanans and to those who write about gold in them thar hills.