Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-01-01

middle age, although his hair was as
white as snow. He gave his name as
Robinson, and to some old acquaint-
ances he told the following singular tale
OF blood and gold, which has about 1t all
the glamour of Capt. Kidd's exploits, or
the treasure-hunting legends of classic
story, so dear TO the heart of man, It
was narrative of a kind that always
leaks out in spite of all precautions of
secrecy and-well, here it is:
"You have doubtless all heard of that
wild region known as the Clearwater
country. 1t is to this day for the most
part wilderness. 1t is region most
difficult of exploration because of the
exceeding steepness of the hills, the
density of the forests and the early
coming Of snow on the SUBMITS oft
Bitter Root range. Yet as long ago as
1851 gold hunters swarmed to the Pierce
City diggings by the thousands. NY
story has to do with that country Who'll.
ly, and it begins at that early day when
the Orc Fino mines were turning out
their millions.
GUARDS TURn TRAITORS
Everybody was making money then,
but 1t cost like smoke to live. Supplies
were brought from The Dalles, Oregon,
distance of 400 miles, and SIS was
considered moderate price to pay for
sack of flour. Early in the eos 1t was
the practice of the various companies
operating at Pierce City to make large
shipments of gold dust over the Lo Lo
trail. In the fall of 1862 shipment Of
nearly 81 ,000,0 900 was made, and a de-
tachment of United States troops was
secured to guard the enormous treasure.
was member of the detachment.
Gentlemen, you have heard this
part OF the story, no doubt; il is mat
ter OF history; how two soldiers formed
the diabolical plot of butchering all
their associates In order to seize the
colossal fortune in their charge. Well.
the two monsters rose silently In the
dead of night. when the detachment
was encamped far up in the Bitter Root
range, and put their scheme into execu-
tion with swiftness and success. To
make their savage work more secure
they threw the supposed corpses of
their companions over a precipice into
deeply wooded glen, and then Staying
all surplus horses and pack mules threw
them over also. have confused re-
collection of the horrors of that night.
| awoke from a dreamless sleep and no
words can describe the sensation of
horror experienced upon seeing the
blood flowing from my slain bedfellow.
blow on the head and / knew no
more until l recovered consciousness
some hours later at the base of the cliff.
A dense fir tree had eased my fall and
my injuries were slight. / crawIed
away into the forest and soon recovered
from my wounds.
History tells of the subsequent ca
reer of the murderers; how they were
apprehended, captured near Lewiston,
Idaho, and promptly executed. Butt
did not appear against them. Why, do
you ask? Ah, my friends. as lurked
about the murderers camp heard them
talk of burying the treasure in that vi
cinity. The work was already done, but
l knew the cache could not be far dist.
ant, and resolved to find it.
DISCOVERY OF THE TREASURE.
with this object in view 1 prowled
around in the brush near the murderers
camp for hours, heard them DISCUSS
ing their plans, but though / listened
with all my ears, not a word could 1
catch as to the precise spot where they
had buried the treasure. Finally, they
rode away, and l began my search.
which has lasted nearly thirty years,
that is, l have spent nearly three
months ofevery summer in the quest
the snow falls so early at the summit of
the range that no longer than three
months of the year is the ground free
from snow for examination. The first
season had no difficulty in procuring
supplies. as the murderers had necessa-
rily left behind them great quantity of
OF provisions, ammunition and arms.
when l was boy / remember
reading 'The Count of Monte Cristo,"
and remember particularly that portion
of the narrative where Edmund Dante
discovers the treasure vaults in the
lonely isle of Monte Cristo, and how he
ran bareheaded among the goats over
the rocky submits of the isle and
shouted like man gone daft. Well, I
think that l cut up some such capers
when at last beheld that vast quantity
of the pretty yellow stuff in the bottom
OF the excavation had made. 1t was q
dull. damp afternoon and melancholy
autumnal rain was falling. but l never
knew brighter day. The deep forest
solitudes where I was toiling were drip
ping with moisture, but for me it was
the Fourth Of July, May day and elect
ion day all in one. was beside my
self. and have dim recollection OF
climbing trees and standing on my head.
: There was over 1900 pounds troy
weight of the dust, which amounts to
just about 100000. As l could carry
but very small portion ON my single
sayuse, shall now return with a suit.
able pack train and guard. and bring out