Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-13
a DESERTED MINE.
After Twenty-Four Years Bozcman
Outfit Retmrns After II.

Strange things, says the Buffalo,
(Wyo.), Echo, are happening daily to
attract the public's attention from tho
prosy subjects of life. 4 matter OF uu-
usual interest and little out of the
ordinary run of events was brought to
our attention recently by Mr.. Delos
Babcock, whose ranch is located on
Shell Creek, about eighteen miles north
of Buffalo. and which. rs related by him,
is substantially as follows.
On Friday last there came to Mr..
Babcock's ranch, afoot. white haired
Old man whose age was subsequently
learned TO be 20 years, who begged the
privilege of short rest under the
ranchman' roof. While refreshing
himself with tho things that tempt
the inner man, the stranger told his
story.
Twenty-four years ago he Joined the
famous Bozeman party, composed OF
over five hundred miners and Il corrc-
spending complement of teams, which
set out for the then new mining fields
Of Montana by the way of the eastern
slope of the Big Horn mountains. Two
or three days drive from Powder river
the old man didn't remember which
the outfit went into camp near the noun
tans. The miners instinct told them
that the formation Whereabouts was fa-
vorabe to the presence of precious
metal, and they proceeded to do
expected. a ledge of gold bearing
rock was found in close proximity to the
camp and it was believed to be very
rich. Forgetting the objective point Of
their journey for the time being, the
fortune-hunters began preparations for
permanent camp. Then il occurred to
Il few that perhaps still richer harvests
awaited them in Montana, and council
was held to decide whether they should
go or stay. Upon mature reelection 1t was
decided to push on to where great re-
turns had been proclaimed by miners
gone before. To divide the party meant
death to all at the hands of the indians,
| who then held sway in all of the Big
| Horn region. The majority ruled and
| the journey was resumed.
The old man had made and lost for
| tunes in Montana and California, and
| finally, after travelling about from camp
| to camp, he had secured stake, settled
| down IN a town near Columbus. o.,
| and embarked in the grocery business.
| Reverses came and he lost about all OF
| his property. Thinking over his past
| life, u vision of the gold-bearing ledge
| rose before his eyes as u friendly legacy
| left him by his departed hopes of for
Jubt. Ilt llOIC llC OilbuS III vi III UIt
more vivid became the recollection of
| that half thousand of eager miners, re-
| joicing over the discovery of rich min
eral before they had completed two
| thirds of their journey; the hesitation
| as to the best course to pursue, and the
| final abandoning of a visible wealth of
| quartz for unknown possibilities be-
| yond. These stirring thoughts created
a determination to again go over the
trail and endeavor to find the spot
where twenty-four years ago fortune
| had titfully smiled upon him and his
| comrades. The result of it all was that
he had come with u mining outfit and
| team as far as Powder river. Crazy
| Woman, Clear creek and the other trib-
| utaries were unnamed in that earlier
| day, and he had to trust to his memory
| of the route to lead him to the charmed
| place. He had walked from Powder
river and feared it had been past. He
described to Mr.. Babcock the natural
| peculiarities of the region where the
followers of Bozeman camped when the
| mineral was found, and so clear was the
| description that his host advised him to
| proceed northward for another day, be-
| licviug it were highly improbable that
| the location could be missed. Accord
ingly, the aged but still robust and
strong prospector resumed his tramp,
| but with mlsgivings as to the outcome.
Saturday morning bright and early a
| knock at the door brought Mr.. Babcock
face to face with his visitor of the pre-
vious day, who was now all smiles and
enthusiasm. He had come to say that
he had found the old camp and the
ledge and was putting out for Powder
river, where his outfit had been left.
The sequel to this chapter will be in
teresting, and MIR. Babcock believes it
will startle the entire west.
Portland. Oregon, and all points in