The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-09-26

n Spur lie auNatiictu rs near thc
edge of the cliff as he dared, to see how
deep the ravine was, and having satisfied
his curiosity, sat down on a boulder to
rest. While sitting, he noticed almost
at the outer edge of the cliff, partially
concealed by 4 bush, what appeared to
be an opening in the rock, and examin-
ing it closely, discovered a step in the
construction of which tools had evil
IDENTIFY been used. This aroused his
curiosity, and investigating still
further he found a series OF steps,
roughly hewn out of n slaty sandstone,
and leading into the cliff itself. Fol-
lowing the steps downward, he came
at the depth of ten or twelve feet into
a rudely excavated cave, the fioor OF
which was piled with bear and other
skins, with three rough stools and a
table, cooking utensils, and other
evidences of occupancy. But what
riyeted his attention most was a long
row of little buck-skin bags, ranged
upon a stout shelf running around
three sides of the cave. Each WAS well
filled out, and there seemed to be near-
ly one hundred and fifty of them, but
before he could count them or examine
their contents, lie heard heavy steps
above. and thinking of his rifle, which
he had left on the ground, he started
for the narrow opening, but was met by
n man, closely followed by another, the
latter bearing in his hand Mr..
| Williams rifle. For a moment or two
neither party uttered n word, and it
was no gentle tone that the leader in
quired the cause of Mr.. Williams
intrusion. OF course he had no diff
fculty in convincing them that his dis
covery was purely accidental, and then
found himself treated with the utmost
cordiality. They explained that they
were miners, who in the spring of the
previous year had struck it rich in a
gulch near by, and for two years had
worked quietly, taking out with moth
ing but rockers, from $50 to $40 per
day per man. They had found q small
cave, occupied by wolf which they
had killed, and then charging the
cave, which they did quite easily, the
rock being a soft, slaty sandstone, they
occupied it, preferring it to a cabin
which served to attract the attention
of n chance traveller. SIT amt much
of u place to look at" said one, land
when snow commences to melt in the
Spring then we have to skin out, and
use n tent, but it's out of the way, and
that's what we want just now. We've
got a good thing, and we want to keep
it just as long rs we can"
Mr.. Williams learned, during the
conversation, that during the winter
months they seldom went out of the
cave except to get irewood, of which
they cut a winters supply during the
fall. A portion of the wall has been
excavated for a Fireplace, and a hole
knocked through the face of the cliff
permitted the smoke TO pass out. They
had lived mainly on game, going to
Denver once q year for such other
articles as they needed. There were
three in the party, the other being in
Denver purchasing provisions for the
next year, and tools. He would bring
with him, on his return, if he could do
so without attracting attention, some
large separator, and with this, and
such luck as they had heretofore, they
calculated on taking out $500 to $1,000
per day. In regard to their plans, they
stated that they had set out to work
out their claims, or until theyhad taken
out a million apiece. After that, if
there was anything left they didn't
care who got it. Since they commenced
they had taken out about $60, 900 which
was in the little buckskin bags. They
would make it $780, 900 next season,
and then they would put in men and
machinery, with the intention of max
ing their pile in n year or two. They
showed w. some of the gold, which he
describes as very coarse, large nuggets
being quite plentiful. They said that
they had discovered another cave
nearer their mine, the mouth of
which they had walled up, making Il
much more comfortable dwelling than
their present one. They claimed to
have worked out not more than Il hun
dredth part of the gulch, which had
PANIED out rs above noted from the
time they had put in the first shovel.
Before they suffered their visitor to
depart they made him promise that he
would not tell his companions of his
discovery, and would make no effort
himself to discover their mine. They
then blindfolded him, and conducted
him to within Il short distance of his
camp. lie was the first human being
beside their comrade that they had
seen since they first struck their claim.
Mr.. Williams says that though he
knows the general locality in which the
men are ut work, he would be utterly
unable to find the cave again. Denver
Times.