, 1885-11-26
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
A Small Party of Canadian Gold
Seekers
Killed by Indians in the Wind River
Mountains.


Pecihi toffeSponuenct OF litE LEADER.
LANDER, Wyo., Nov. 23.-The deser-
ted cabin, decayed and ruined, On the
banks of a stream in the Wind noun
taiDs, has given up its secret. 1t is known
who used the rude pick and shovel, who
hewed and put up the logs of the cabin,
and who washed the gold from the bar
across the stream. And it is also known
that the bones of six men lie somewhere
in the near vicinity. Over forty years ago
Louis Victor, Jean Cardillac, Armand
Mussull, Eugene Potion, Louis Devoix,
John Yignaux and Charles Vidal, all in
the full and lusty prime of early manhood,
left an inland and secluded Canadian vii
lage for a jaunt to the far South, in search
of furs and gold, those magnets that have
always led the old Canadian voyagers so
far afeld. Starting with tho spring, the
middle of the summer saw the young and
adventurous party in the midst of the
Wind River mountains. Here they were
not long in finding the gold scanned bar
that crossed the little creek on which the
ruined cabin now stands. The gold was
plentiful, was easily washed, and their
rough but effective working process
soon brought them a rich return. Then
the gold suddenly increased beyond their
widest dreams, and by the time the
storms Of winter had enveloped them.
each mar was possessed OF a fortune that
would buy outright a whole Canadian
settlement. The SHOWS became heavier
and they built the cabin and with an
abundance of the noblest game at their
very door, they passed the winter in COM
fort and plenty frightened by happy pic
lures of the future that lay before them
among their kindred in the Canadian vii
lagos far to the North. Spring came, the
snow was melting, and the voyagers were
getting ready with joyous activity for an
early departure. All was about ready,
when early one morning in May, there
came a blood curdling yell on the clear air.
The cabin door was burst open and a
deadly volley poured into the room. The
Indians were upon them. Vignaux, Mus
sull and Potion died in their blankets.
The others with a desperation borne of the
occasion, drove the swarming red-devils
back and barricaded the door. Here they
fought all day and when evening came
decided to make a dash for freedom or a
quick death. Pouring through the door
into the open air, Vidal, Cardillac and
Devoix were shot to death at once by the
bullets Of their ambushed foes. Victor
fell dangerously wounded into the hands
of the savage enemy. This man, contrary
to all customs of the Indians, was well
cared for. He was placed under the pro-
lection of a medicine man. and in about
six months was well again. At the end
OF another six months he made his escape
and bore to the relatives of the slam the
first intelligence of their fate, and an nc.
count of the fortunes so hardly won and
so bloodily loss.
A few days agoa silver tip bear invaded
the camp of the French Mining company,
on Christina lake, Wind mountains. One
Of the civil engineers, attached to the
party constructed a scientific trap, and
the following night the big manuder was
captured. He was very large and when
he found himself caught his angry yells
could be heard for several miles.
Anew oil district is being organized in
the country surrounding the rich spring
50 recently discovered by Messrs. Conant
and Auten, in the Big Horn country. 1t
will take the name of the spring and be
called the Bonanza OIL district.