The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-07-22
DEAD MANS CABIN.
Grin Ramaneee in tho Wegtorn Noun.
taius in the Sixties.

For many months past reports
have been received in Cheyenne re-
garding . strange discovery in an
abandoned mine several miles from
Newcastle on tho banks of creek.
More than twenty years ago the
FIRST lurid tales of what is termed
the "Lost Cabin" mine commenced
to attract the attention Of prospect
ors. Its exact place was unknown,
and as years passed the story of it
sank into oblivion until December,
when several miners, while grub
stalking along Castle creek, came
upon a rusty tablet. On close in
spection it was found to contain an
inscription which read, "God Help
Us-1867, August 4th. We can
never get out alive. This hill is
rich. Below we have walled up
our minerals. 0 Lord, hope some
body find this. Eight Of US.
Signed Fritz Duke, Germ"
It was clearly evident that the
words had been cut into the sand
stone with some sharp implement.
The name signed was recognized
as that of a former resident. At
the time of the Newcastle mining
excitement in the SOS party of
prospectors are said to have discov-
cred rich mine. On frequent oc-
casions they came to town with
valuable specimens, but never re-
vealed the locations of their proper
ty. Some months later the pro-
longed absence of the prospectors
became gossip and fruitless search
was made. The matter was then
almost forgotten until about five
years later, when communication
was received from the German Min
lister at Washington requesting the
Governor of Wyoming to ascer-
tain if possible the whereabouts
of a party of Germans who had
come West and written home fire.
quently for several weeks, when
suddenly all correspondence ceased.
An Investigation was again made,
with no result.
The finding of the tablet last De-
cember gave renewed hope and a
vigorous search has resulted in the
unearthiug Of an abandoned mine.
In one of the deep recesses Of a
shaft the bones Of four men were
discovered and the mystery of the
Lost Cabin mine unfathomed. An
other mine of the same character
was discovered in the vicinity of
Lead City. 1t is said that the dis
covery looks like a mine that a
crazy Hebrew located about that
time. The man, who was mysteri-
Gus character, lived alone in what
is now known as Dead Mans Cabin
located on Castle creek in 1877. He
packed his grub stake from Lead
City on his back and wended his
lonely way to Dead Mans Cabin,
where no other human being was
ever known to visit. He went in
the winter in the early part of 1877 ,
and was not seen during the long
and stormy season that followed.
Nobody ut Rockford thought any
thing about his absence, and he new
er put in an appearance unless be
went on his way to Lead City. He
made confidant of man there
and told him he had rich mine,
but was afraid to let anyone know
lest he might be killed and his prop
erty stolen. The man did not turn
up in the spring, and party pro-
ceeded to his cabin to ascertain
what had become of him. He was
found in his cabin alone, cold, stiff
| and dead. He was buried in the
prospect hole that he dug so silent
ly and lonely, and the body COW
cred up with the dirt his own hands
had dug out.
These are but two instances OF
many similar experiences which
have befallen unfortunate prospec-
tors throughout the Rocky noun
tains. Scarcely a week passes
where in some portion of Colorado,
Utah, New Mexico or Wyoming
report is not received of the locat-
Ing of an abandoned claim and the
unearthing of bones. How these
men met death can only be sur
missed, but in more than one In
stance it has been due to the greed
of others.-Cheyenne Corr. New
York Tribune.