The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-10-20
GRIM ROMANCES.
Stories of Unfortunate Prospector@
and Lost Mines.
Abandoned Claims That Contain the BoneN
of the VeDturesome Men Who
Hoped to Get Riches
from Them.

For many months past, says Chey-
enne letter to the New York Tribune,
reports have been received here re-
garding a strange discovery in an
abandoned mine several miles from
Newcastle, on the banks of a creek.
More than twenty years ago the first
lurid tales of what is termed the "Lost
Cabin mine commenced to attract at
tention of prospectors.
Its exact place was unknown, and as
years passed the story of it sank into
oblivion until last December, when
several miners, while grubstaking
along Castle creek, came upon rusty
tablet. On close examination it was
found to contain an inscription which
read: ''God Help Us-1S76, Aug. 4th-
We can never get out alive. This hill
is rich. Below we have walled up our
minerals. Oh, Lord, hope somebody
find this; of u.s." Signed, "Fritz
Duke, Germ
1t was clearly evident that the
words had been cut into the sandstone
with some sharp implement The
name signed was recognized as that of
former resident. At the time of the
Newcastle mining excitement in the
Cos party of prospectors are said to
have discovered rich mine.
On frequent occasions they came to
town with valuable specimens, but
never revealed the location of their
property Some months later the
prolonged absence of the prospectors
became gossip and fruitless search
was made.
The matter was then almost forgot
ten until about five years later. when
communication was received from
the. German minister at Washington re-
questing the governor of Wyoming to
ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts
of a party of Germans who had come
west and written home frequently for
several weeks, when suddenly all cor
respondence ceased An investigation
was again made with no result.
The finding of the tablet last Decem-
Der gave renewed hope, and vfgor
Gus search has resulted in the unearth-
ing 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 un-
fathomed. Another mine of the same
character was discovered in the vicini-
ty of Lead City.
1t is said that the discovery looks
like mine that a crazy Hebrew To-
Gated about that time. The man, who
was mysterious character, lived alone
in what is now known as f'Dead Mans
Cabin" 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 fol-
lowed. Nobody at Rockford thought
anything about his absence, as he
never put IN an appearance unless he
went on his way to Lead City. He
made n 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 property
stolen.
The man did not turn up in the
spring, dHu q parry PloceouSu W hlo
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 covered up
with the dirt his own hands had dug
out.
These are but two instances of many
similar experiences which have befall-
en- unfortunate prospectors through
out the Rocky mountains. Scarcely a
week passes where in some portion Of
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico or Wyom-
ing a report is not received of the To-
eating of an abandoned claim and the
unearthing of bones. How these men
met death can only be surmised, but in
more than one instance it has been
due to the greed of Others