Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-05-15
George W. Keeler's Vain Search After
Hidden Gold.

A1uuCn
With the death, few days ago, OF
Col. George w. Keeler, Montana
pioneer, ended one OF the most pecu-
liar searches after gold ever heard of,
even in the wierd romances of H. Rid
er Haggard or the entrancing stories
OF Clark Russell. Col. Keller had an
idea, and 1T cost him q fortune. It
was pronounced by nine men out OF a
ten a regular will. o. -the-wisp. The
tenth man only thought there was q
possibility OF there being afoundation
for the phantom which Keeler pursued
tor 10 years with afaith deserving sue
cess.
Col. Keeler went to Montana with
the rush that followed the discovery
of gold in Last Chance gulch in the
early sixties. He had been in Calfor-
MIA, where he made some money.
From there he drifted into Idaho,
where, hearing of the discovery ofgold
in that region, he stocked a wagon
train and came to Helena across the
Rocky mountains. Disposing of his
goods he engaged in mining with pref
ty fair success. From here he went
to Oregon. but drifted back, and about
10 years ago he got the idea which
clung to him until his death at Alham-
bra Hot Springs, near Helena, in April.
Some old-timo miners, in sinking a
shaft at the foot of the gulch, so the
story runs, had struck a large body of
running water at the depth OF about
40 feet. They pulled up stakes and
went farther north toward the valley.
They sunk another shaft, and again
struck running water. The matter
was talked OF and commented on
among the old timers, but no one con.
sidered the thing worth botheripg
about. They were looking for gold,
not water. Keller, however, turned
the thing over in his mind, and came
to the conclusion that there was an
Underground stream cross. cutting the
bottom of Last Chance gulch. The
more he studied the matter, the more
he became convinced that there was
something more in the discovery than
g. natural curiosity. He reasoned
that an underground stream cutting
across ground where millions OF dol.
lars OF gold had been panned, must
necessarily contain more or less of the
precious metal In it's bed. When the
surface working began to pan out. he
determined to make an effort to un-
earth the supposed hidden millions.
His first shaft struck the rim rock
and his underground explorations be-
gan. This was 10 or II years ago.
By that time what had been placer
diggings began to be more valuable
for building than for mining purposes,
and Keller had to secure from the
owners OF the ground the right to con
tinue his Investigations. This he did
in 20 year lease. One of his shafts
was covered up by the county com.
missioners, as it stood in the line of
a contemplated road. Later the citv
turned the road into q street and 6li.
ed in theshaft. Keeler sought redress.
but was only laughed at Tor his pains.
People had begun to look on him as q
dreamer, and Hidden Gulch channel.
as it was by that time known, became
a nightmare to the owners of property
on the West side,. where MANY lash.
lonable residences were being built.
They never knew for sure at what
moment Keller might sink his shaft
in the middle of the adjoining lot, and
turn the quiet and fashionable neigh.
borhood into mining camp. Under
such circumstances, it is no small won.
der that the city authorities refused
to listen to his demends for redress.
r.