The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-01-31
Anaersnt& Ynts1Iigenter.
A PROSPECTOR'S PRIZE.
Robbing Robber of his Treasure.

Robbing Robber OF his Treasure.
In Idaho in Jauary, in 1892, a story
was told of the finding of FIVE hun
thousand dollars worth of gold dust
in robbers cave by a prospector
named Robinson, who, with others,
after great hardships and incredible
dangers, succeeded in landing the
treasure safely to Lewiston, Idaho.
The treasure had been buried by the
robbers on the Bitter Root mountains
thirty years ago, and Robinson arrived
with thirty thousand dollars worth Of
it, and formed a party to go in search
of the rmainder.
One of the party, named Anderson,
tells the following story of the ezpe-
dition:
"When was asked to join the par
ty," said Anderson, with an air Of
pardonable pride, II was told that
only men of tried nerve, unquestiona-
BILE integrity, and unhinching courage
should compose the guard. The wa
ges were large and the dangers great.
Each man on the force received twen-
ty dollars day and expenses. We
had fourteen guards, armed to the teeth
and we'll mounted twenty-five pack
mules and five trained packers, the
whole cavalcade being under the
charge of Robinson, the man who
found the six hundred thousand dol
lar cache of the robbers. This guard
was necessary, as we anticipated being
waylaid -highwaymen.
GAS the snow was already too deep
to go into the country by way Of Mon
tana and the St. Regis Valley (the
nearest route to the cache), we were
obliged to take wide detour through
the State Of Washington. Then pass
ing through the potlach country, we
forded the north fork of Clearwater at
its junction with the south fork, on
the Nez Perce reservation and
entered upon the historic Lo Lo
trail. which would take us to our des-
tination.
"Our camp every night had the ap-
pearauce of veritable fortifcation.
Martial law was the rule of the camp.
Seven guards were on duty while their
associates slept. We were all in
great state of excitement, and as we
entered the wild region back Of the
reservation, in what is called the
Wieppe country, and began to meet on
the lonely trails Indians and uncouth
savage-looking backwoodsmen, 1 for
one began to wish hadn't come.
"Well, our trip into the mountains
was uneventful enough, although the
snow proved terrible obstacle (it was
then late in November). We found
it impossible to get nearer than within
twenty miles Of the cache, so we made
snowshoes and sleds, and leaving two
men to guard the horses, we set off
for the cache. Snow was falling CO.
piously. Our camp was far up the
range, and had it not been for the
abundance of grain we had brought
with us, our animals would certainly
have perished Of starvation. The ne
cessity for haste in securing the cash
and getting out Of the mountains be-
fore the snow rendered travelling i'm
possible added not little to our ex-
citement and agitation.
"Without suspicion of impending
calamity, except on the part Of our.
leader, he believed that we were be-
ing followed, our party set forth. Be-
fore we had gone five miles party Of
twenty masked men swooped down
upon our camp, killed the two guards,
took possession of the premises, and
there lay in wait for our return.
Meanwhile we proceeded up the
mountain to the robbers cache. We
were supplied with long Norwegian
snowshoes and drew a handsled with
broad runners, upon which we propos-
ed to load three thousand pounds Of
gold dust.
''In due time we reached the cache
and SO thoroughly had Robinson
marked the spot that he had no diff
Guilty in finding it. With shovels we
cleared away six feet of snow, made
an excavation, and the pile Of mouldy
old buckskin sacks filled with precious
dust lay before US. Since my return
from this expedition J. have had tender
feeling for the old pirates of bygone
days. They were madmen and ire
sponsible.
GAS we looked upon that colossal
Fortune in that lonely mountain pIen.
with the thick storm sweeping around
US and no one to take note Of our ex-
ploits, no ears to hear the death-cry
of the victim suddenly smitten, only
the tall, senseless forest trees to be-
hold possible deed of horror and in
justic, each man glared horribly at his
neighbor.
''Once when one of my associates,
a close friend of mine, too, made some