Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-30
Miscellaneous.
Aria Tens Of hidden Geld.
WONDERFUL LOST CABIN AND It's AURIF-
EROUs TREASURE.

wife one of party of three men who have
spept The past summer in searching tor the
.lost Cabin" about which there was so
much discussion in this Territory several
years ago. It was built by party OF
four men, who in 1868 made wonderful
discovery of gold at a point supposed to
b somewhere near the line between
Montana and Wyoming. In less than a
week after the discovery was made party
Of hostile Indians made a descent on the
discoyerers and killed all but one of them.
The SURVIVOR, q man named Thompson,
made his appearance in Alder Gulch and
set the camp on fire with the tale OF the
wonderful discovery which he and his
companions had made. The discovery
Was said to consist of ledge OF quartz
several feet in width, with streaks Of pure
gold running through it averaging from
one to seven inches wide. The story was
marvellous, and if the public pulse had not
been at that time in a feyerish condition on
account Of the vast quantities Of the
precious metal then being taken out weekly
from the placers Of Alder Gulch its truth
might have been questioned. But under
the circumstances no one thought Of doubt
ing it for an instant, especially when
Thompson exhibited several ragged
chunks of gold that had the appearance
of having been broken from mass of the
glittering metal, and this Thompson as
serted was the case. The camp went
wild. A hundred men stood ready and
anxious to follow Thompson to the spot
il he only would lead them. But ThOmp-
son suddenly disappeared, and afterward
news came Of his death in the Big Horn
country.
'.Ihad been in California several years"
said the last reporter. yesterday. when
in company with friend, visited the
State Lunatic Asylum. This was last
winter. While going through the asylum
the Warden called our attention to q Pc
culiar case in his charge. 1t was of a
man who occupied all his time in drawing
rough maps or diagrams on the walls Of
the cell. These drawings were all alike,
and the walls and floor of his cell were
covered with them. They were of some
mountainous country, with river run
ming through it from the South. and a
smaller stream putting into the river from
the east in about the centre of the map.
From the point of junction of these two
streams line was drawn due south to a
peak, marked 'three miles, and thence it
continued in zigzag line in southerly
direction with the length of each straight
line marked. At the extreme end of the
line circle was drawn with cross in
the centre. As soon as | looked at the
crazy mapmaker l recognized him. 1t
was Thompson. l was subsequently, told
that after going from Montana to Calfor-
MIA he had lost all his money and then
was taken down with fever He was
adjudged insane and sent to the asylum.
where found him. He had been there
three years.
We stepped into the cell. | examined
the maps on the wall and asked Thompson
about them. He seemed willing enough
TO talk about other matters-in very dis
jointed manner, however-but concerning
his map he would not say word. On
finding that the man was Thompson it
Immediately occurred to me that tn, map
was intended to show the point at which
the Lost Cabin and the wonderful deposit
of gold were located. and the questions
which asked were propounded with a
view to getting clue. After questioning
him unsuccessfully for some time, I put
my finger on the circle in the map and
asked him:
us that gold2
His answer was to spring at me in wild
rage. knew from this that had guessed
his secret. We all withdrew from the cell.
and ut the first opportunity had an inter-
view with one of the physicians of the in
stitution and told him what knew about
Thompson. ! also told him that there
was little doubt about the existence of the
deposit OF gold. and that Thompson could
lead us to it. The physician had previ
ously informed me that the patient was
sometimes to all purposes perfectly sane
for weeks, and l now suggested that the
next time one of those lucid intervals oc-
Cured we should see what we could do
with him. The doctor agreed
''In about two weeks a note was sent to
my hotel. informing me that Thompson
had entered upon one of his lucid spells.
l Immediately went up to the asylum. In
company with the doctor. Ientered Thomp-
sons cell and entered into conversation
with him. His talk was quite rational.
he appealed to me to get him out Of the
asylum. This was our chance. The
doctor Immediately offered to free him
from the asylum ii he would show us
the way to that point it
with his finger on the map. Thompson
hesitated for moment. but presently con-
was no difficulty in getting him out of the
asylum. The doctor certified that he was
cured. and discharge soon followed. We
Immediately started to Montana, whence
we intended to proceed to the Big Horn
Mountains for the purpose of hunting the
treasure. We reached Dillon on the Sd
of last June and took the stage to Virginia
City. There we QUILTED, ostensibly for
the National Park. and found ourselves IN
the park and well on our way to the Big
Horn Mountains. in which Tn, mpson
said the gold mine was located. In three
more days we reached the Big Horn River
and travelled up it to the south. This was
on the 18th of June.
Thompson had up to this time acted
~ naturally As any Of us Gin addition to
the doctor and myself We had brought
along one Of the asylum attendaats).
Thompson said that he would be able IA
reach the gold deposit the next day. and
we were all wild with excitement. We
camped on the night Of the 18th in wild
place few miles from the river. Aside
from Thompson we were all very tired
and slept soundly. When we arose in the
morning Thompson was gone. The en-