The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1893-08-03

Setoldi Sldyo Ny Lle StliQt WuO lOuuu
various excuses for delay in breaking
party, who, at last, during consultation
one evening, decided to start out the
next day regardless of the unaccount-
able obstinacy of their leader. pleas
ant surprise awaited them the following
morning when the guide, whose obdur-
acy had given place to geniality, in
formed them that he was now ready to
reveal to them the afore-m entioned SUBJ
ject of interest. providing they would
first promise to follow his directions in
all things which arrangement was will
ingly acquiesced to.
"Now,' said he, 81 am going to show
you what is left of the race that worked
the copper mines of Lake Superior, and
still hold the great secret of tempering
copper. All of their implements and
tools are of copper and are far superior
to steel, fer their knives are as keen
edged as razor and can as nicely be
used for shaving purposes. Now there
are only few families left and they are
camped about five miles from here, and
[ have succeeded in gaming their con-
sent to allow you to visit them and CLEAN
a little Of their past and present history
| by their strange mode of living and
other peculiarlties. You will be the
only white men besides myself who has
ever haa this privilege, or who has even
seen any of their tools. They avoid
white people, who always take them to
be the common Indiana very natural
mistake, for there is strong resem-
blance. My first meeting with them
came about in strange way: Five
years ago was prospecting in this same
locality, and, shouldering my rifle one
day, started out for some fresh meat, and
ere long discovered newly made bear
track. ( followed it up for about Two
hours when I suddenly heard great
growl, and the underbrush cracked, and
| realized that my game was near Ad-
vancing surreptitiously my astonished
at the mercy of another enemy, an
| for dear life with knife as the animal
had succeeded in disarming him of @
spear that lay about twenty feet distant.
AS soon as could get an opportunity
without injuring the Indian gave the
brute the contents of my rifle, at which
it made dash at me, skriking my shoul-
der with such force as to knock me
senseless. When I recovered conscious
ness I found myself in dimly lighted
cave, with my left arm and shoulder
bound up in bucksk1n and the Indian
watching over me. He Immediately left
me and returned in few minutes with
some water and dried meat, which he
placed near and left me again. After
partaking sparingly Of this kindness Of
my. good samaritan, and convincing my
self that l was not injured other than
my arm and shoulder, that being quite
serious, however, and extremely painful,
proceeded to explore my prison-like
quarters, that abounded In queer look
ing implements-spea heads, knives,
axes, rock hammers and chisels,-and
my surprise was great on finding them
all made of copper. My first thought
was that | had struck a bonanza, and
in imagination | saw my pack horse
carrying away these new-found treasures.
My host soon returned and, finding me
on my feet, motioned me to follow him.
Instead of leading me to the outer world,
as expected, we came to large room
at least one hundred feet wide by two
hundred feet long. The ceiling, or roof,
was supported by pillars, and IN the
center shaft was raised to the surf ace,
soon saw that what / had taken for a
natural cave was the work of man. At
the foot of the shaft refectors of polished
copper shed warm light over the room,
from which we're numerous passages
leading to smaller rooms occupied BY
people whose compilations were similar
to that of my guide and who took no
more notice OF my presence than if I
had been the most insignificant creature
Q earth. Wherever went | saw tools
for working rock; implements of war,
nc RI
axes, knives, etc, all made Of copper.
Ny explorations we're made unattended.
but my rescuer was always in sight, and
as night drew near he motioned me back
to my room, where he again brought me
the same bill of fare I had been in the
place about week when one day during
my wanderings through the different
passages [ heard the ring of black
smiths anvil and following the sound
found one of the men making a huge
knife. stood watching him for some
time when hand was laid on my shoul
der and turning around found my guard
ian who led me away and gave me to
un lerstand through signs that was not
allowed to watch their process of making
and tempering their tools. I don't think
the blacksmith did any more work dur
ing my stay as ! never again heard his
hammer. Much Of my tine was spent in
examining what he had already manu-
factured until one day my friend led me
to the shaft, where the light was good,
laid down a large bundle, united it, and
left me to study It's contents found
it to be finely dressed buckskin, covered
with pictures that revealed to me at
once the history of the strange race who
had befriended me. The first landscape
showed these people N boats fleeing for
their lives from tribe resembling the
Mongolian, standing ON the shore armed
with rocks and clubs, and was probably
IN foreign cline. But the next and
following scenes we're on American soil,
for many a lively skirmish with the
Indians was portrayed, in which they
were plundered, their homes. burned and
some OF their number scalped. But at
last they seemed to be travelling over an
extensive rolling prairie. then into a
mountainous country, and the last pic
ture showed my present surroundings.
That piece Of buckskln proved an inter