, 1888-03-29
~ CTHINC IN IT.
The Report OF an indian Massacre
on Priest l. ,ka aC srard.

on Priest l. ,ks aC arard.
w. NJ. Pitkin, one Of the triunsi-
rate who WAS reported M murdered by
Indians ON Priest lake, arrived in the
city Thursday night and WAS met yes
terday by REVIEW reporter. Mr..
pitkin is an intelligent and agreeable
conversationalist aud robust speci-
men OF physical manhood. IL struck
the reporter at the time he met Mr..
Pitkin that II he figured as II corpse in
II massacre there would be good
many Indian stifis founi scattered
around, as hc is not the kind OF man
who would surrender up his existence
without "a pretty lively struggle. While
all that was necessary to disprove the
report OF his death was his presence
! in the city, he was asked II there bad
been any rumors oi other miners hay7
| ing been killed by Indians. He had
heard of nothing Of the kind. His
party was the only one that wintered
ia that part OF the country. Ii seems
that man named Geo. Francis, at
Sand Point, who understands the In
dian language thoroughly, overheard
the. Indians talking about three pros
pectors having been killed by the
Kootenai Indians, and the conclusion
was ut opoe reached thHe the murdered
men wore the Pitkin party, and word
to- that effect was at once .e)egraphed
to Judge Hagan, oi this city.
Thb party conssted Of w. Nj. Pitkin,
a. Rolky and VI. D. Pennleton. They
October. Prior to leaving Sand Peint
Mr.. Pitkin met Father Jacquet and
told him Of his intention of going out
prpspecting aud told him To advise
the, Indians OF the fact and use his in
huencc TO prevent them from inter-
fering. This Father JaCquet did, and
as the priests have a great deal of in
iluence with the Indians il is to be
presumed that il was largely due to
Father Jacquet's efforts that The
Indians kept away from the camp.
From Sand Point the party went to
the. head Of what is known as Little
Lake, northwest from Sand Point
about sixty five miles and about thirty
five or forty miles north Of Me,alinc.
The location Is some eight miles south
Of the 49th parallel and is known Us
Priest lake district. Here the party
worked at placer digging and also
located very promising galena ledge
They remained IN camp all winter
and are out now ior provisions and
supplies. They Travelled from camp
to the foot of the big lake on the ice,
which is still twenty inches thick. The
main Priest lake is about twenty.
five miles long. II is connected with
little lakes by stream that is termed
the thoroughfare, some three miles in
length and the smaller lake is about
three miles long. From the foot Of
Priest lake il is thirty-tive miles to
Sand Point. There is a good trail
easily Travelled when the snow is OFF
the ground. Priest lake is also con-
nected with Pend d'Orilie lake by
stream called VermillIan river. This
can be traversed with some iron IL by
boats, although Whipple Falls, He'll
Gate and Bedrock Rapids are consid
erable OF an unpleasant impediment.
Mr.. Pitkin Is II prospector OF sixteen
years experience and is competent to
pass judgment upon mineral. He is
well enough satisfied with the claim
he now holds, but does not advise peo.
pie To 90 into the country. He does
not believe in exaggerated reports Of
the value of mining property, and re-
grets that any highly .colored state
ment of the district bad ever been
given publicity. He will return to
Sand Point in Il few days but it will be
several weeks before the party can
reach their winter quarters, as it will
be that long before winter breaks up
in the mountains.