The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-08
A STRANGE DISCOVERY.
Finding a Mine Once Worked by the
ADcIenfS.
LSilver Cliff (Col.) Prospect.

lSilver Cliff (Col.) Prospect.
On last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
severe snow storm rhged in the mountains,
extending to the valley below. The pros
pectors in the range who were out Of sight of
their camp were forced to seek shelter in the
canyons and under the large Lodges of rock,
it being impossible to follow guides to any
designated point, all traces of paths being en-
tirely obliterated.
Three miners were prospecting in the SAM
gre de Cristo range, on the San Luis side,
about two miles north Of what is known as
Dead Mans camp, on Sunday afternoon,
fury, rendering it dangerous to travel. Be-
ing near a deep canyon, they sought shelter
from the wind by entering. Not far from
where they stopped, on the same side, they
noticed an opening and concluded to make
an examination. Drawing near, by feeling
around, they found that there was quite a
long tunnel, though not very deep. They
determined to enter, and proceeded to gather
dry pine for torches. After getting a sufi-
cient quantity they entered on hands and
knees in single file. The second passage,
however, was not over ten feet in length,
when they emerged into a somewhat deeper
and much larger chamber, the walls widen
ing to such an extent that il order to tell the
size of the room it was necessary to follow
them up from either side of the entrance.
About ten feet to the right one Of the men
who was in advance, struck his foot against
something that moved very easily, which
proved to be a human skull. A fire was then
kindled on the floor out of extra fuel, in order
to get a better view of the floor and Of the sur
%roundings. Not far off lay four other skulls.
Not being satisfied with this discovery, they
retraced their steps, and, obtaining fresh
fuel, reentered, being determined to know the
of the cave. Returning to their fire,
which was still burning, they lighted their
and continued their exploration.
feet to the left, and near the west
The cave extended to the north, and, is in the
previous chamber, contracted somewhat,
nothing but a narrow passage. This
passage was much longer and wider than the
others, and leading them into a smaller cham
Der, the walls of which were very irregular, |
having large projecting rocks resembling in
respects the shelving in a store room,
On the western side of this chamber near the
North end, one of these shelves extended to q
width from the wall, about ten
inches from the floor. Mr.. Melton, who was
Examining this particular spot, out Of idle Gu
iosity, lowered this light, and, STOPPING
looked under the ledge, and, noticing
seemed to be peculiar shaped stones,
concluded to draw them out, and to his
'mazement, he found them heavy enough to
his entire strength to remove them.
lie pulled them out, however, and called his
companions who were examining the other
ide Of the room. They were not long in
iscovering that he had found three gold
that have since proved to be worth about
900. Elated over that strange and rich dis
overy, they remained long enough to notice
lat the cave extends in a northerly direction,
nd through another small passage. They
id not, however, follow it, but secured their
and retraced their steps to the first
hamber, where they camped until morning,
hen they shouldered their gold and depart
or their camp, which they reached in safety.
hey refuse to tell the exact locality of the
I've, but declare their intention to return to
as soon as the weather moderates, and !
axe q more thorough examination. +,
u