The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-12-17
ALL KILLED BUT ONE.
The Sole Survivor Tells the Sad Story of
How HIS Party Of Gold Seekers Ws.e
Mssssered by Sioux Ten Years
Ago in the Bear Lodge
Mountains.

In The LEADER of Nov. 23rd an ac-
count of the finding of the skeletons Of
six men by a party of prospectors, who
had set out from Deadwood in the lat
ter part of October last for the New
Wolf Mountain diggings, but, attracted
by the evidences of gold in the Bear
Lodge range, only go miles west of
Deadwood, stopped, found gold in pay
ing quantities, an abandoned shaft
and cabin, and the skeletons of six
men. Since that publication we
have endeavored to obtain from early
settlers in this region a clue to the iden
tity of the party, now lying in lonely
and unmarked graves neal the scene of
their mining operations, but our efforts
proved fruitless until yesterday, when a
reporter visited the depot and circula-
ted among the passengers of the east
bound overland express.
Boarding the train, the reporter pass
ed through it, and on reaching the
smoking car, his attention was ~attacted
by the singular appearance of a prema-
turely old man who occupied a seat
therein. The mans face was SCARED
by the marks of some tragic encounter;
his head vas as smooth as a billiard ball,
his ears had been mutilated and he
bore every appearance Of having been
N of those brave men who dared all
the horrible dangers of the wild west in
years agone, lured by love of adventure,
or thirst for gold, or both. Approach
ing the stranger, the reporter made
known his vocation, and listened to an
Unexpectedly thrilling story, which we
give herewith:
II am glad to meet you, sir. I saw
in a late Frisco paper an extract from
THE LEADER, detailing the finding OF
the skeletons Of six men in the Bear
Lodge range. l myself was a member
of that party, and can tell you all about
our trip and the terrible fate which
befel my companions. Early in June,
1856, l left Omaha with a party of six
men-Henry Ganson, of Pennsylvania,
Albert Roger, of Kentucky, Jerry Det-
rich. Of Michigan, Michael Powers, OF
New Hampshire, John Farrell, OF
Maryland, and James Mcintosh, of
Missouri. Powers and DIETRICH had visi-
ted California in 40, and were therefore
experienced miners, but the rest of the
party knew nothing of the business.
Reaching the North Platte river, we
followed it up toward Fort Laramie,
and just before reaching that post, an
Indian boy came into our camp. He
had a bow and lot of arrows, one OF
two of which were tipped with gold.
Powers asked him where the gold came
from, and the boy pointed northward,
indicating by signs that gold abounded
in the mountains in that direction.
Powers and DIETRICH became excited
and proposed that we start in that
direction at once. All were satisfied
with the proposition except Mcintosh,
who at first refused to accompany us,
saying we would all be killed, but was
finally prevailed on to go.
1--WE travelled northward for fifteen
days, before we found any indications
of gold, finding it first in what is now
known IS Beaver creek, in the Bear
Lodge range. The prospects were very
fine, and we decided to stop. Building
a cabin, we set at work, Powers and
DIETRICH teaching the rest of us how to
do the work, and We were soon taking
out plenty of gold. One night we
gathered our pile and Powers said we
had about seventy thousand dollars.
Most Of us were satisfied to quit with
this, but Mcintosh and Farrell insisted
on staying another week, when, they
said, they would agree to quit.
Cup to this time we had seen no In.
dams, and we began to think that our
presence in the country was not known.
The last weeks work proved the best
one. We were taking out over three
thousand dollars a day, and had de-
cided to stay longer, when our pleasant
dreams were dispelled by the sudden
appearance, n afternoon, Of a large
band of Indians. At the time, Powers
and Farrell were in the mine, while
the rest Of us had just finished dinner
and were on our way to resume work.
| We were unable to warn our compan.
ions, but fed to the cabin, followed by
a shower of arrows.
1--WE fought until u ammunition
gave out, when the redskins charged
upon us, broke into the cabin, and
after killing my companions, scalped
and mutilated me, and left me for dead.
1t was a long time before l awoke from
mydeath-like sleep of insensibility caus-
ed by almost fatal wounds. 1t seemed
years before, by slow and agonizing
efforts, / managed to drag myself down
to the creek, where I slaked my raging
thirst and bathed my cruel wounds in
the cool, clear, blessed water. 1 lived
on a small store of provisions we had
fortunately cached, the Indians having
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