The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-03
THE SHADOWGRAPHER.
IA TRUE STORY OF A FAST.

A TRU STORY OF A FAST, M
Nine days without food should fairly test
the strength of any man. It is true that
were made in comfortable apartments with
at hand, all sorts of delicate
edibles within easy reach and all possible
conditions to contribute to the ease and
comfort of the faster. Fasting nins days
in the mountains with the shadow of death
closer each hour is a different matter.
At least it would appear 80 to John Healy.
Sitting in a big leather chair in a quiet cor
ner at the Montana club, and surrounded
by old friends, the sutferings of nine terri
BILE days in a hostile Indian country coms
back to him like a strange dream. Every
trifling incident of the siege against death
was keenly impressed on his brain made
sensitive by long suffering. and he recalls
the scenes of thirty years ago with wonderful
minuteness. Healy's love of adventure and
new scenes has carried him into many diff
ferent fields and brought him through many
thrilling experiences and it is this fascin-
alton that drew him to his present home in
Alaska, whore he is prospering. In August,
1862, when barely twenty-five years old, he
and eight others discovered the camp of
Florence, near the Salmon river in
Idaho. Now the glory of the place
has disappeared but, in those days
it was a wonderfully rich find. Healy and
his partners determined to keep the camp
to themselves, but the news of gold always
leaks out and in a short time the nine men
had thousands for companions and the
diggings were being worked from end to
end. Healy did we'll and was taking out
$1,000 day from his claims when news of
another Eldorado reached the camp. 1t
was a vague. uncertain rumor, but the sup
posed richness of the discovery more than
balanced the paucity of facts to the minds
of these rowing gold hunters. It was
learned that a great ledge of gold quartz,
running $4,000 to the ton, had been found
in an unexplored country sixty miles up the
Salmon river. The location was sufficiently
determined and an expedition was planned.
1t was not a general stampede. because the
trip involved dangers ana difficulties form
liable enough to keep back the crowd.
Twenty-Five men agreed to 90 and Healy
was invited. They wen to the river. eight
miles away, and spent some time III building
five rude boats. These were filled witt
provisions aud the party was divided iutt
companies, each under the charge of
leader. The leader Of the first compan,
was jeff Standiford, who afterwart
became a famous Montanian ant
is we'll remembered by old-timers
He was an ideal mountaineer brave, sensi
BILE and experienced. In later, years no lei
the disastrous expedition into the Big Horl
mountains and was finally killed in Wyom
ing. Thu others of the party were pickle
men M Trustworthy. Two men, one G
whom is George Orr, now living in Beave,
head county, were sent ahead to r%econnoitel
Filled with the promise of future richie
they started up the river which WAS the
high on the banks with the spring waters {
mountain streams. II was H tiresome vo,
age. The boats were hauled with rope
along the shores and carried around watel
falls, and one boat was lost in the torren
l With slow progress this work continue
many days and the stock of provisions b.
I came low.
Healy grew tired of the voyage and toll
8 the boys he would strike out alone. Th
: declaration aroused discomfort, but he W,
determined, and packing some provision
OF his back he started alone with his ~
. for the promised land. The next evenir
d he WAS Joined by Tim Driscoll, who, it a
tsrward appeared, had been sent out by Il
party to watch Healy and prevent hi