Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-12-04
TIE LOST BIG HoRN MINES.


oloi9 bl lilti htilOclto Oh BOlu luNuU ID
the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming,
juss over the Montana line and not far
from the southern border Of Custer
county The story of the discover
rivals that Of the fabied Lost Cabin
mine, and differs from that mythical
affair in that, while the later much
written-of eldorado was seen but once
am then seems to have disappeared
from the face of the earth, the treas
ures OF the Big Horn hill have been
again unearthed after being lost
for twenty years.
In the summer Of 1889 Michael Rap
ley, lily Upham and John Eads, the
latter brother Of the great Missls-
sippi River engineer, equipped with
prospectors' outfits, rode into Hyatt
vile, on Point Rock Creek, near
Buffalo, Wyoming and stopped over
night. They were ali pretty well
along in years to be beating about the
country, but explained that they had
come from Montana and were going
into the mountains. They left early
next morning, were gone two months.
At the end of that time they returned
to Hyattyille, worn out and detected,
and told their story to the men with
whom they happened to spend the
evening They said that eighteen
years before, in company with several
others they went into the Big Horn
Mountains on a prospecting tour.
They were well equipped with mules,
carts, prospecting tools and pro-
visions. 1t was not lony before they
found plenty Of coarse gold. Timber
being plentiful they built several log
cabins ard made themselves generally
comfortable. At the close OF the
season, having enough dust, some SIS,
OO0, to take them east aud keep them
in one style for same time, they stow
ed their tools away, and taking every
thing else but two dirt carts with
them they went east and had big
time.
The next summer the Indians were
hostile, and fearing to venture back
to their camp, the party went their
several ways, with the understanding
that as soon as the coast was clear
they would return to their flnd. The
three who related the story at Hyatt
vile went to Montana and there be-
came interested In other mining prop
critics. 1t was eight years before
peace again settled over the Big Horn
regiua, and the three forgot for the
time the camp that had paid them SO
we'll Nov they had just returned to
Big Horn. But their search for the
old landmarks were vain. They could
and no trace Of the carts, and a very
tall mountain, but sparsely over
grown with vegetation. from which
they were to take their bearings,
could not be located.
After telling Of their unsuccessful |
search The trio left for Montana. On
the day OF their departure, Lum
Williams. a resident OF Paint Rock
Creek happened along along and was
told of the prospectors' experience. |
The narrative made his heart leap. |
Like fash came the rememberance
that eight years previous, while ramb-
ling over the range With companion, |
be was SURPRISED TO run across two
carts In a sort of gulch. In the bed Of
one, which stood on the hillside,
squirrel had evidently held possession |
for years as it was filled With parts Of /
their nests, the other was lower down |
the gulch and great weeds and shrubs,
the growth OF years, has
sprung up through the spolses of the |
wheels and the cracks in the bed.
Williams said nothing to anybody at /
Hyattyllle about the carts he had |
seen so many years before. lie dlsap- |
peared next day and began a search |
for the place. During the Interview
Ing time nature had been busy chang
Ing the appearance of the landscape, |
and the undergrowth and shrubbery |
had completed the work of hiding the
camp from him as successfully as it |
had from those who preceded him.
Disappointed in his search he began |
and found placer gold |
where now Bald Mountaia camp is
dourishinp
lie stopped right qhele and built
himself hut. While hunting his
horse, which had strayed away over
night, Williams one day ran across
the crumbllng ruins Of half dozen
cabins In thickly wooded part Of the
rayine. In imminent danger Of the
rotted beams falling about the ears Of
the man whose footsteps disturbed the
silence and decay of tlme be entered
one Of the open doorways. A store
and cooking untensils, miners picks
and other things usually found in d
outfit were there, covered
with the rust Of neglect. ON the earth
iloor was crumbing piece Of paper
lie picked 1t up. IL proved to be the
rofnnrf ~ an oII onraIopn Olorn