The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-10
THE LOST MINE FOUND.
a Story That Is As Romantic As
Any Written by the Nov
elists.
How Proprietor Kies Found a
Rich Gold Mine and Then
Died.
4. W. Alexander. After Searching for the
Lost Mine foe Years. Pound ~ Last
January.

/ Some time ago TnE INDrrFspESr printed
"a telegram telling Of recent gold finds Ia
the northern part OF the state. The Havre
Herald gives the following interesting
story Of the find.
/ Tho lost mine. It's original and .ubse-
qusnt discovery. SURPRISES tho most in
Renious fiction. In 1864 Kies started with
his squaw down the Missouri river on a
buffalo hunt lie was an old aRd oonsid-
cred very inc prospeotor. lie had been
absent about ak weeks from Fort Benton
when he returned with 80 900 ia gold dust.
The gold was "A reouliar kind. not found in
northern mines. IL was what IL known as
cube gold
John LepleY. now a millionaire Of Hell
ena. was then partner Of ks. and the
men had digsines in ths Little Rockiee
worth @l2 a day 60 man. la vain did
kies attempt to get LspleY to leave the
digg nRs for tho new rich mines lie told
him one summe : work would make them
o. ulent and they would leave the west
with its hardships AMI SPEND their remain
ing days IN tho efieto eost.
I At that time tho Indians were bad, aud
Lsploy SAID so attempt the trip would be 10
defy almighty God.
/ Kies, with bis two b. Others and three
/ sq0aws. started down the river with lumber
and six months provisions. The tragic
death Of all save one squaw occurred five
miles below the mouth OF the n usse shell.
ladians SURPRISED thsm and their barbsrio
toftutes soon robbed them Of life.
/ Many of She old-umers believe that the
| Assassins wer8 hired 90 do the bloody work
I bE Wlalfuu a rra He ard ~
/ kies' discovery. Just before the murder
\ kies told his party 10 was two mo days
travel on boat and two days iaok over
/ land.
/ Hundreds OF men have been grub
stsked" by Commodore Power aud others 10
discover the mine. They made mistake
| 10y always hunting for Il near the Mnssel-
she'll. kiss said the mine was near big
sprIuR with FISH Ia u.
l.. W. Alexander, an old proapsctor,
Vuen the Indians became friendly with the
whites. vent among them, sacrificing HE
llfe, practically, to learn their secret. They
were the on.y ones who knew where the
mine was. Loaded with provisions he went
among them. lie was great man in their
couueils; he interpreted dreams and visions
| for them with an accuracy that made him
god in their eyes. About ten years ago
he saved the life OF the daughter Of Many
Medicines. chief Of one OF the I ihe.
The chief wanted him TO take the dauRhtsr
as reward. Ibis Alexander refused to
do claiming that living with womaa
would rob him Of the favor OF the Great
/ flasher and he would no longer b. able 10
inter ROT visions. he chief sorey
/ disappointed. but gave AlcxR a mag
/ nircent horse that had been st o during
"a raid. ami told him to come bAcz when the
SHOWS weIe gone with wagons aud pfoVis-
ions. and be would guide him to what the
white man loved-the gold fields OF kies.
ID was enioined as part OF their religion
. that tbs dIarnWeFV ghouln bn rrtaHa
known. Many Medicines was reluctant
about making his promise; he told AleIan-
der 90 ask him for ANYTHING else and Il
would be freely granted. But the proph-
cts consistency finally won n promise. In
the splnR Alexander returned with PROS
pectinR outfit. wagons and provisions TO
/ lea n the aickening news that Many Medt-
zines had been dead tor a week. he In
dams believed this TO be a judmsnt upon
him by the Great Father 10 keep him from
revealing their secret TO the whites.
Indian like. the Corsicans Leave debts Of
vengeance aud gratitude 60 their sons 10
repay. Many Medicines, before his death,
told his son TO take Alexander 20 the mine.
The son preferred death and committed
suicide.
Disheartened. but not discouraged, Alex
ander prospsotsd. lie worked in the sun
mer months hunting ths mine. and in the
winter mRkinQ summer grub stake"
For the past SIX years he has pfospected all
/ "
lie went up 10 about mile once. and and
ing no water returned. Once he was az the
head OF tie creek, but II, like the mouth.
was without water.
Last summer several prospect0rs from
around eat Falls were with him In the
quest. They returned late ia the fail 20
NrihAft.
The lst Of January Alexander. while
hunting horses. discovered cement bar
aud the spring kirs described. lie kept
the mine. but u vas almost impossible to
work IN the I. Oxen ground. lie discovered
gold. however. 10y panuinR lie was then
staying with Dave Dinslow, at a shack
al out four miles ON there. Dave was OF
course let into the secret.
When ". ). Griffith aud 81. ID. Hoyt
were hunting this spring they stopped at
the shack with the miners. who claimed so
be coyoting. One dag A. they were chasing
some antelope thev run over AleIRnder's
outdt. Both fell on their horses aud
began hunting for gold nuggets the
size of watch charms. knowing nothing
about psnninR they did not discover gold, |
but succeeded IN making Alexander aud
Dins.ow believe they fonnd ~. Z hsv we're
taken in and they all stHked on claims /
wGding IN siush 10 their knees with a tape
line. The Missouri liver was impassIb O. /
and theT we're kept away from town several /
weeks. They finally crossed horses aud I
wagons With the ice still running IN she
fiveT. lt was necessary that they should I
cross in order to make oLt their all iavits /
and Die before tho time expired by Law after /
posting their notices.
thus the secret leaked out that caused the 4
exodus 20 the gold feds. The reports OF I
tho richness OF the no.ds have Teen con- /
trmed ~ every miner who has prospected /
them.
legal blanks 81 tits otBoe
Settling corseta At =. A. tishcr's