Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-08-08

The Fate Of Some Early Prospsetsrs and
Miners.
Montana Mining Review. ]


The discovery of gold in California
during the year 1S4s, one OF the most
important event = in American history,
through and by which the great, west
has become populated and large citiss
have come into existence, ruined the
discoverer and the owner OF the land
upon which the metal was found.
This is also true OF most OF the dis
cOverors OF rich localities and famously
rich mines. Peter O'Rilsy and Patrick
Mclaughlin, the discovsrsrs OF the
famous Comstock mine, both died poor
men-O'Riley in an insane asylum and
Mclaughlin while tramping the state
Of California hunting for odd jobs as q
cook. Henry Thomas as Paige Com
stock, after whom ths great mine was
named, and who was associated with
ORiIsy and Mclaughlin in the discov-
cry OF the mine Though by no means
the original discoverer) died by his
own rash act at Bozeman, Mont. :, Sept.
%, 1870, by blowing out his brains
with q six-shoOter. At the time the
deed was committed "Old Pancake"
as ComstOck WAS familisrly known,
was the leader OF the famous Big Horn
expedition, sent out by Nevada cap
italists i'm search of the Lost Cabin
mines, traditionally located some
where in the Big Horn mountains. The
expedition was II complete failure, and
Comstock, probably from disappoint-
ment or some other cause, concluded
hs had followed the groupings Of his
varied success far enough, and termi-
mated his existence, rs above stated.
Conlst ock was buried at Bozeman, and
his grave is unmarked and unknown.
George II. Fryer, from whom the
celebrated Fryer Hill' OF I.sadville
derives it's name, died at Denver, Colo,
from AN overdose oi morphine admin
istered by his own hand. Two years
before his death he was reported to he
worth more than "a million OF dollars,
but he died u miserable pauper and
almost without a friend in the world.
Near the wild spot which twelve
years before the hidden treasure Oi
Alder Gulch, Montana, was first re-
vealed to him, Old Bill Fa.rweather
was laid down to rest. Like "Old
Pancake" this erratic soul stranded
on the shoals of dissipat ion, although
each in his day had turned n key--the
one silver, the other gOlden-which un-
locked millions for Others, but moth
ing for themselves.
'Old Virginia, after whom the Con
solidated Virginia was named and of
whom it is authOritativelys stated that
he sold his claim for $25, a pony and
by an overdose administered by u
bucking broncho, near Dayton, Neva-
da.
Bill Bodis, the discOverer OF the
great standard mine in Mono county,
California, slept his lite away in IL snow
storm, while making his way to the
mines.
VIM. Farrell, who struck Meadow
Lake, died victim to remOrse in one
OF the leading hospitals OF San Francis
co, haunted by the spirits ola thOus-
and deluded and disappointed pioneers
and prospectors, passing and repass-
ing his dying bed
Col. Storey, who gave his name to
the county in Nevada where the great
ComstOck group OF mines IL sit uated,
was killed by the Pyramid Lake lndi-
ans
The locator of the famous Home
sta ae mine in the Black Hills, Dakota.
is said to have afterward turned road
agent. Times going hard with him, he
attempted to stop II stage loaded and
prepared for Just such an emergency.
lie was planted along side the road
by the tender-hearted express agent
whom he had attempted to rob and
kill.
Homer, OF the now famous Homer
district, followed IN the suicidal tracks
OF C0mstock. After squandering a
small fortune IN all sorts of dissipa-
tion, he blew his brains out on the
Streets of San Francisco.
Doughnut Bill, "Old Eureka" Kelse
Austin, Lloyd Margruier, "Nine-M Mile"
Clark, George Hawkinson, Henry
Plumner, and scores OF other pioneers
in American mining history, met vio-
lent deaths in one way or another,
aud reaped nothing from the rich
finds" luck had put in their way.
They mt least saved nothing for old
age, and but for the fact that their
finds" have been instrumental in tine
settlement of the country, and the he
ginning Of the extensive mining opera
tiOns as now carried on, they would be
as completely forgotten as they are
unlnpnruI N