The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
GATHERING GOLD.
A Remarkable Story as Told Us by
Mr.. John Lepley,
OF Early Prospecting and Discoveries IN
the Bears Paw Region.


three or four persons, John Lepley, the
cattle king of the Big Sag, being one OF
the number, the matter of the probable
ity of striking rich diggings in the
Bears Paw came up, when Mr.. Lepley
turned to the reporter and said:
II want to say to you that there will
be a big stampede into that country, and
some bonanza placer mines are certain
to be found. [ base this opinion upon
personal knowledge of an event that
came very near turning the course # my
career in Montana, or rather of winding
up my career before / had passed the
pilgrim period ia the territory. When
| have told my story you will under
stand why I predict a stampede to the
Bears Paw as we'll as my belief in rich
diggings in that region.n
MR.. LEPLEY's STORY.
In 1854 a prospector named Chris.
Reyes and myself, as partners, discov-
cred the first gold in Lewis and Clarke
county, on Silver creek. We did not
strike it very rich, but could make six
or seven dollars a day very easily. We
worked away for some time at this slow
rate. / thought we We're doing pretty
well, but Reyes became impatient and
wanted to move ON in search Of some
thing better. He carried in his pocket
at that time three small nuggets of gold
that he picked up in the valleys Of the
Bears Paw two years prior while en-
gagged in hunting for the fur company
at Fort B%enton), and his constant talk,
night and day, was about prospecting
these mountains, expressing his utmost
faith in finding rich diggings. / adj
vised him, however, to stick to what he
had, and, to tell the truth, I was not
very anxious to invade the Indian coun-
try at that time, the country down here
being then alive with hostile red men.
Keyes was too restless to rema SSsfon Sill
yer creek, however, and leaving me in
charge Of the work he started along the
main range towards the head of the Ma
sias on a prospecting tour, with the UNI
Outstanding that we were to share equal
ly in whatever he found.
After some months he returned, more
down-hearted than ever, and now
fully resolved to no longer delay his
trip to the tempting Bears Paw country
and all his persuasive powers were tried
to induce me to accompany him. But
it was in vain. thought too much of
my scalp to take the risk. He then de-
cided to go alone. / was to stay On Sill
yer creek, and if he struck anything
big [ was to join him and share in the
profits, and [ never saw q man so i'm
bued with confidence and with such i'm
plicit faith in the successful issue Of his
undertaking.
In February, 1865, we shook hands,
Keyes starting for Fort Benton, en-
route to what he believed was a glitter
ing gold field, while I remained in the
gulch, content to earn my six and seven
dollars a day. We had been partners
about a year then, and I had learned to
esteem Reyes highly. | was new at the
business of prospecting and mining and
had to rely much upon nina reliance
that was never misplaced. I placed
great confidence in hi. Judgment, and
when he said-the last words he ever
spoke to met will not send for you
unless / find something big" I knew
that he would not.
Well, he came on to Fort Benton, and
after securing such an outfit here as he
needed, left for the Bears Paw, and it
was several months before / heard a
word from him. Then came the mes
sage:
drop everything and ONE on. You
don't Odnt any horses or money; aOe can
get all OF the latter that zoe a carry.
Come quick"
This was enough to make the blood
boil in the veins Of a gold hunter, and
my first impulse was, indeed, to sdrop
everything and strike out. Meantime,
however, our diggings had become OF
some value and others had come into
the camp. [ talked the matter over
with my comrades, who united in their
efforts to dissuade me from going, repre-
senting that the country was held by
hostile Indians, and that no matter how
rich the diggings should prove they
could not be worked. The Indians
would not allow it, and it was simply
certain death to go there. This kind of
talk, kept up for about t%wenty-four
hours, caused me to weaken, and 1 sent
word to Keyes that / would not go. Tt