The weekly tribune., 1894-05-18
THE NEW GOLD FIELDS.
How the Rich Gold Fields in Daw'
son County Were Discovered and
Lost by Kies.
The Tale Told How They We're Re-
discovered This Year by l.. w.
Alexander. l..
Great Excitement in Eastern Montana
Miners FlOcking to Alexander
City From All Points.

son county are causing cOnsiueraDle eN
element in eastern Montana, both il
the Yellowstone and Missouri valleys
Glasgow, Miles City and Glendive, will
other towns in those sections, will fee
the effects Of men congregated on tn
Big Dry creek.
The following graphic history of tn
loss and rediscoyery of the historical
"kiee" mine is taken from the columns
Of the Valley County Gazette, at Glas
gov, Montana:
In 1864 Kies started with his squav
down the Missouri river on a buffalo
hunt He was an old, and considered {
very fine prospector. He had been alb
sent about six weeks from Fort Benton
when he returned with $500 in gold
dust. The gold was a peculiar X. nd, not
found in northern mines. 1t was what
is known as cube gold.
John Lepley, now millionaire cf
Great Falls, was then partner of Kies,
and the men had diggins in the Little
Rockies worth sl2 day to man. In
vain did kies attempt to get Lepley to
leave the diggings for the new, rich
mines. He told him one summers work
would make them Opulent and they
would leave the west with its hardships
and spend their remaining days in the
effete east.
At that time the Indians were bad
and Lepley said TO attempt the trip
would be to defy Almighty God.
Kies with hle two brothers and three
squaws started down the river with
lumber and six months provisions. The
tragic death of all save one squaw oc-
cnrred five miles below the mouth of
the Musseshell Indians surprised
them and their barbaric tortures soon
robbed them of life
Many Of the old timers believe that
the assassins were hired to do the bloody
work by someone wishing to reap the
reward OF kies' discovery Just before
the murder kies told his party it vas
Two more days travel on boat and two
days pack overland.
Hundreds of men have been grub
staked' by Senator Power and others to
discover the mine. They made a mistake |
by always hunting for it near the Mussel- |
shell. Kies said the mine was near a
big spring with fish in it,
L. w. Alexander an old prospector,
when the Indians became friendly with
the whites, went among them, sacrificing
his life practically, to learn their secret.
They were the only ones who knew
where the mine was. Loaded with pro-
visions, he went among them. He was
great man in their councils; he inter
preted dreams and visions for them with
IN accuracy that made him god ip
heir eyes. About ten years ago he
'aved the life of the daughter of Many
Medicines, chief of one of the tribes
The chief wanted him to take the daugh.
er as a reward. This Alexander refused
o DO, claiming that living with woman
would rob him of the favor of the Great
'ather and he would no longer be able
interpret visions The chief was
orely disappointed, but gave Alexander .
magnificent horse that had been stolen ,
uring raid, and told him 10 come back
him when the SHOWS were gone with
'agons and provisions, and he would
uide him to what the white man loved Y
ne gold fields of Kles
Ii was enjoined as a part Of their re- +
gion that the discovery should never l.
Q made known. Many Medicines was
'iuctant about mailing his promise. he
'id Alexander to ask him for any :
ing else and it would be- freely granted y
ut the prophets persistency finally won
promise In the spring Alexander =
turned with a prospecting outfit. WAC. ),
is and provisions, to learn the gicken-
g news that Many Medicines bad beer
'ad for week. The Indians believed b
is to be a judgement upon him by the q
reat Father to keep bun from reveal. C,
their secret to the whites.
Corsican like, the Indians leave debts r
vengeance and gratitude 10 their sons =,
repay. Many Medicines before lis \
attn told his son to take Alexander to
mine. The son preferred death and
mmitteed suicide v
Disheartened, but not DISCOURAGED t.
exaDder prospected be worked in the q
INNER months hunting the mine and
the winter making a summers "prub r.
IKE" For the past six years he has ao
all the creeks and coulees n,
ng the Big Dry. He went up il
out mile once and finding no water
urned Once he was at tne head of ca
J. creek, but it, like the mouth, was te
.hout water. 5.
LAST summer several prospectols from II
und Great Falls we're with him in
guest; they returned late in the fall II;
Neihart. ~ ".
Tho first OF January Alexander while In'
ntlDg horses, discovered a cement har 81
the spring Kies described. He kent 'a, lm
matter quiet and attempted 70 pros- '''
I the mine, but il was limos, bic To .
* in the frozen ground. lie dis bo
cred gold, however, by panniny. He di'
]. then staying with Dave Ding'ow at G,'
'hsck about four miles fro m there to
ve Of course was let into the secret ha
Vhen w. s. Griffith and NJ. ID. Hoyt
. hunting this spring they STONED at w
shack with the miners who cjgimed ~
Y were coyoting. One day as thew ~, wo
Q chasing some antelope they ran ho
Alexander's prospecting ou.ht. H. Ti,
hoy were taken, and all staked off scI
ms. Having to file their claims the ."
'et was made public, and this has
Ded the stampede 10 these gold fields yes
he excitement has reached Great CIR
. and tomorrow parties from both 5GG
hart and Great Falls will leave by Dal
way for Glasgow en- route t. the gold sGC
q. we
The Copper Market. !
he Engineering and Mining Journal Il